Poll: Which is easier to adjust your hammock with?

[Certain]

All of the talk of tree huggers vs. straps + 4-way wrap + straps w/buckles, etc. has me wondering from those of you who have tried all of these ways. Let's say you've got your hammock up and you need to either shift it up or down the tree or left or right between trees for centering. Which set-up allows for the easiest and quickest adjusting?

I hate to do this, but this poll would be best answered by those that have actually tried all 3. Right now I can see tree huggers, but I've never used anything but those (I think that's about to change though). Thanks! :D

[Just Jeff]

I voted buckles b/c they're all-around the easiest for adjustments - you can even center the hammock between the trees w/o untying it, for example.

But for moving the hammock up and down, it depends on how each system is set up. When I use tree huggers, for example, I often have a gap between the front end of the hugger and the tree - so I can just slide it up or down. Can't do that w/ a 4-wrap. OTOH, unwrapping a 4-wrap to move it up or down is slightly easier than untying the HH lashing to move it.

So it just depends on how each system is set up at the time.

[headchange4u]

I have some buckles on the way, but I have not tried them yet.

I set up my HH for the first time this weekend after I removed the Spectra and went with the strap/biner system. I took some pics and I will get them up later.

Webbing beats stock Spectar/tree huggers hands down. It's MUCH easier to get tension on the hammock, it's quicker to tie and untie, and just easier to deal with.

Webbing wins no contest, IMHO.

[Certain]

Jeff, but with buckles, can't you just loosen one, pull the slack and move the strap up or down or do you always wrap your strap around the tree twice before buckling?

[Peter_pan]

Stock works...it is easy ...never takes for than 60-90 seconds to hang the hammock.

Pan

[Just Jeff]

Jeff, but with buckles, can't you just loosen one, pull the slack and move the strap up or down or do you always wrap your strap around the tree twice before buckling?

Just one wrap, so I can do it like you say. But sometimes with the stock HH set I don't even have to loosen anything. Just pull it out and slide it up.

[Ewker]

Stock works...it is easy ...never takes for than 60-90 seconds to hang the hammock.

Pan



maybe for someone with experience but not a newbie. I had a friend who bought a hammock a few yrs ago. She had never hung it before she went on a trip. No one on the trip knew anything about one. It took forever and you should have seen all the knots in the webbing. The hammock stayed up all night...lol

[Peter_pan]

maybe for someone with experience but not a newbie. I had a friend who bought a hammock a few yrs ago. She had never hung it before she went on a trip. No one on the trip knew anything about one. It took forever and you should have seen all the knots in the webbing. The hammock stayed up all night...lol

Practice is important for anything new.... new gear without a check ride before field use is asking for trouble...newbies should practice extra to get past that phase.... Heck, even sex gets better with experience... more is always better...

Pan

[southmark]

I had used the HH tree huggers and spectra line with the recommended figue eight knot until I tried Just Jeff's buckle set up. Buckles win hands down. My grandson uses a similar set but with two "O" rings instead of buckle, a little lighter than buckles. I should add that I did not have problems with the tree huggers and really did not mind using them. I had gotten pretty proficient using them.

[titanium_hiker]

tell you what's annoying: when you realize you have to unwrap the 4wrap and tie it again... with practice you get faster

@Ewker: when you aren't used it it, it's amazing how just a little wrapping and knotting will work- I didn't trust the 4 wrap very much until I had used it a couple of times!

TH

[Miguel]

I had used the HH tree huggers and spectra line with the recommended figue eight knot until I tried Just Jeff's buckle set up. Buckles win hands down. My grandson uses a similar set but with two "O" rings instead of buckle, a little lighter than buckles. I should add that I did not have problems with the tree huggers and really did not mind using them. I had gotten pretty proficient using them.

Tell us more about the "O" rings please. I've seen them used before but not applied to anything bearing serious weight. Any problems with slippage or releasing tension? Do you tie an extra knot after the rings as a backup. I'd love to see pictures.

I just switched to a buckle system but find the buckles a bit heavy. They certainly make it simpler to hang and/or adjust. Where can you purchase the "O" rings?

Thanks, Miguel

[Aramis]

You get the good O rings at places that sell boat fittings. You can also get titanium ones. The stainless yacht O rings can handle several tonnes, so you don't really need to worry about strength.

It's basically the same arrangement as was used on belts, backpacks and motorcyle helmets in 'the old days'. They don't really slip unless you use a very slippery material.

To attach them to a line you just make a loop or tie a loopy knot like a bowline, then put the loop through the rings and then the rings through the loop. You could probably get away with a clove hitch around them, but because the rings move against each other a loop is better.

Using O rings or buckles is one of those things that seem brilliant in concept, but they can be eliminated with just a little bit of skill. Once you get the hang of setting things up so that you get it right first time, every time, then they're just an added complication that serves no purpose. Like training wheels on an adult's bike.

Skill doesn't cost or weigh anything, doesn't wear out or break and it takes up no space. Of course, one should never underestimate the universal nature of human stupidity :)

[Miguel]

You get the good O rings at places that sell boat fittings. You can also get titanium ones. The stainless yacht O rings can handle several tonnes, so you don't really need to worry about strength.

It's basically the same arrangement as was used on belts, backpacks and motorcyle helmets in 'the old days'. They don't really slip unless you use a very slippery material.

To attach them to a line you just make a loop or tie a loopy knot like a bowline, then put the loop through the rings and then the rings through the loop. You could probably get away with a clove hitch around them, but because the rings move against each other a loop is better.

Using O rings or buckles is one of those things that seem brilliant in concept, but they can be eliminated with just a little bit of skill. Once you get the hang of setting things up so that you get it right first time, every time, then they're just an added complication that serves no purpose. Like training wheels on an adult's bike.

Skill doesn't cost or weigh anything, doesn't wear out or break and it takes up no space. Of course, one should never underestimate the universal nature of human stupidity :)


Do I smell an old schooler/purist here? (meant in the best possible way of course!) It seems several people on this site have recently ordered buckles. Before I thought they were being innovative but on second thought maybe they're just "stupid" like me! :) (just kidding) I think I may just give the rings a try. My new moniker could be "Lord of the Rings"!

Thanks for the info, Miguel

[SGT Rock]

You left out one option which is very easy - stock straps and cord with a carabineer in the system. Works great for a fast set up and tear down. Wrap the strap around the tree - attach the bineer to the two holes, and then tension the hammock with the rope in the bineer using a non-slip Knot - it goes up fast. And if you have to bug out, you just unhook the bineer from one side of the strap and it is off.

[Certain]

You left out one option which is very easy - stock straps and cord with a carabineer in the system. Works great for a fast set up and tear down. Wrap the strap around the tree - attach the bineer to the two holes, and then tension the hammock with the rope in the bineer using a non-slip Knot - it goes up fast. And if you have to bug out, you just unhook the bineer from one side of the strap and it is off.

Hey!! That's a GREAT idea!!! Only thing I can think of that could prevent this from working is if the tree were too large a diameter to be able to clip the biner to the tree hugger holes. The place I go here in Michigan doesn't have very many small diameter trees, but I'm going to start going off the beaten path and stealth camp for now on, which will give me a much larger selection of trees. What load capacity biners do you recommend, what type of gate (wire, bar, screw type). **** Rock, I'm going out for 2 nights on Fri. and Sat. and now I'm going to have to stop at the outfitters before I leave! :rolleyes:

[blackbishop351]

Hey!! That's a GREAT idea!!! Only thing I can think of that could prevent this from working is if the tree were too large a diameter to be able to clip the biner to the tree hugger holes. The place I go here in Michigan doesn't have very many small diameter trees, but I'm going to start going off the beaten path and stealth camp for now on, which will give me a much larger selection of trees. What load capacity biners do you recommend, what type of gate (wire, bar, screw type). **** Rock, I'm going out for 2 nights on Fri. and Sat. and now I'm going to have to stop at the outfitters before I leave! :rolleyes:

It does work well - that's actually how I was doing it from the beginning. It definitely makes takedown quicker. I went away from it because I didn't want to have to take the time to lash and adjust.

You want climbing-rated 'biners for sure. I didn't use a locking-type or anything; pretty much any gate should work. The one snag (literally) that I had was getting the Spectra caught in the gate notch when I tried to slide the Hennessy lashing off the 'biner. You can do it, but it takes some playing with.

Sarge has been using his stock setup all along, though, so he's probably got it down to a science.

[SGT Rock]

Yep, what blackbishop says. I only use this sort of rig at work where getting torn down in a great hurry is a necessity. When I hike I only use the stock set up and save the extra ounces that the caribeeners would add. Always the gram weenie when it comes to hiking. Gotta keep that base weight under 10 pounds.

[Aramis]

I was at my local drug...um, equipment dealer's place the other day and I looked at a few climbing 'biners that could take 1000 lb + load. They were frikkin' huge, and heavy too.

[Aramis]

Do I smell an old schooler/purist here? (meant in the best possible way of course!) It seems several people on this site have recently ordered buckles. Before I thought they were being innovative but on second thought maybe they're just "stupid" like me! :) (just kidding) I think I may just give the rings a try. My new moniker could be "Lord of the Rings"!

Thanks for the info, Miguel

By 'stupid' I didn't mean that using buckles or rings was stupid - I was referring to the stupid things that every human does every day - myself included. Have you ever put your boots on, laced them up and then realised you weren't wearing any pants? Or how about coming home and realising that when you went out you put the key in the lock and unlocked the door instead of locking it? I do stuff like that all the time.

Thus I figure buckles or rings might help alleviate sudden attackes of stupidity by allowing adjustments after messing up the tie outs.

I'm going to try the simplest options first, then elaborate if necessary - rather than the other way around.

[SGT Rock]

Heavy is a realtive term. I use some of these: http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=2380&memberId=12500226

Hold 24 Kn closed - that means about 5,400 lbs for the Americans.

Work so far and only weigh 1.8 ounce (49 grams) each. Of course two of them together weigh about as much as my entire first aid kit - but for work the extra 3.6 ounces (98 grams) are worth it.

[Certain]

Heavy is a realtive term. I use some of these: http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=2380&memberId=12500226

Hold 24 Kn closed - that means about 5,400 lbs for the Americans.

Work so far and only weigh 1.8 ounce (49 grams) each. Of course two of them together weigh about as much as my entire first aid kit - but for work the extra 3.6 ounces (98 grams) are worth it.

Thanks for that info. I'm going to try to get some tomorrow from REI.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!

[alienjeff650]

I use a loop in one end of a strap, that goes around the tree, thred the other end through the loop pull tight. The loose end goes to 2 D rings with a half hitch. Time less than 40 secs for both ends(when unpacked). To adjust on the tree pull on the loop to loosen move it up or down, pull on it to tighten agn, the hammock weight does the rest lol.
I'll try for under 40 seconds ready steady GOOOOO and the crowd goes wild woot woot
**** 45 seconds time for a nap:sleep:

[swampfox]

With my Hennessy, the first thing I did with my tree huggers was add a carabiner and tied the spectra to the biner instead of lacing it through the hugger loops. It wasn't long before I replaced it with straps and descending rings.



Tell us more about the "O" rings please. I've seen them used before but not applied to anything bearing serious weight. Any problems with slippage or releasing tension? Do you tie an extra knot after the rings as a backup. I'd love to see pictures.

There is an overhand hitch tied after the rings as a stopper. Otherwise, it will put you on the ground.

http://www.hammockforums.net/gallery/files/1/5/1/2/hh_rings_thumb.jpg (http://www.hammockforums.net/gallery/showimage.php?i=6014&c=member&orderby=title&direction=ASC&imageuser=1512&cutoffdate=-1)

[Doctari]

I use ring buckles & 2 pcs of 11' long webbing with climbers carabiners (1 each). It is lightning fast (30 second set up) but the trade off is my suspension is 15 Oz.
Nearly as fast are whoopie slings, much lighter. My next upgrade with Dutch clips on the webbing.
The Jack's buckles are (as Pan says) 60 - 90 seconds, so not much different.
My best time using the Spear (or Hennessy) knot is about 2 minutes each end, and it was hard to adjust if I guessed wrong.

The first 3 are easy/fast to adjust, all will keep you off the ground if used correctly.

The importance of speed is most evident after a long day hiking with a T-storm bearing down on you. :laugh:

Side note: Figure 9s on the tarp make that set up faster / easier.

[oldgringo]

The cinch buckles currently being supplied with Warbonnets are da bomb. I like them better than rings...dunno how the weight compares.

[gargoyle]

WOW... can anybody say "BUMP". Thats a three year old thread. Kinda fun to see how things have progressed over the years. And some haven't.

Where is Wonder Woman???:confused:;):D