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you could cut the line of the hh past 8" or so(i know jeff's point was to keep it stock) you could attach the rings to this short 8" piece, then you can tie the remaining line (or replacement) permanently to one tree strap loop so you have one long strap/line suspension piece. put a biner in the free end of the tree strap and thread the rings with the free end of the line. this enables the rings to be under the tarp, you can use a single strand of line and eliminates the the worry of a short tree strap, and since there's a biner on the end, you just unclip from the tree and leave the line in the rings. still all one piece. this is the exact method most people use with ring/cinch buckles. it does require you cut the line though, which you might not want to do until you were sure you liked the garda hitch. it would be easy to try jeffs way to see if you like the garda, that way if you don't, you still have the stock susp.
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http://www.rei.com/product/471123
http://www.rei.com/product/764094
There are other ways to do it. Jeff's method is really for those hesitant to cut the stock suspension line. What you could do is to cut that line and tie the rings directly to that and then make new straps that run from the tree down to the hammock. You'd just need a loop in one end. Hook the biner in that, go around the tree once or twice and back through the biner and then down to the rings. Tie the garda hitch and finish off with a half hitch for safety.
WBG beat me to it....
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This is what I am thinking now, which I can do without cutting the stock cord:
I can attach two rings to a biner with a short piece of cord, then use the hammock cord to make the Garda hitch in the rings. To set up I would wrap the tree hugger around the tree, thread one end through the opposite loop to snug the tree hugger against the tree, clip the biner onto the hanging loop and tighten the Garda hitch.
In the event I have to hang from a tree too large for the tree hugger to go completely around, I could simply undo the Garda hitch and run the hammock cord through the two loops and tie the standard Hennessy lashing.
Both of these choices would keep the biner away from the tree and remove any chance of it damaging the tree.
When I look at the choices of cord on the REI site it rates them all in kN. What rating would I need for the cord tying the rings to the biner?
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I've gone back to a simple set up. Eliminate the rings and if you want to eliminate the carabiner. Just use a slipped buntline knot hitched directly through your tree hugger loops or carabiner. Does require retying a knot for adjustment. But the knot is quick and easy to tie. No more effort than a Garda hitch to tie. With the rings (44gm total weight) and CampNano (46gm total weight) the suspension package had gained a few ounces. Choice either for the slick quick adjustablity of the Garda hitch on rings or a save few ounces.
I went back to a non Garda hitch due to some concern regarding flattening of and the slippery nature of the suspension line on the Blackbird. AmSteel blue. Not sure if this flattening is of any importance regarding long term structural integrity of the line.
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afreeman, that will work well too.
koaloah, don't think the flattening of the line is really bad for it, it will not stay that way permanently in my experience. the buntline is pretty darn fast, good point about being able to tie it directly to a webbing loop too, i've not used it that way yet.
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Glad to see the Garda Hitch getting some press! Works well with stock HH suspension lines in any number of configurations. Simple, easy. I'm a fan!:D
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Bump - just updated the page with a couple other methods.
http://www.tothewoods.net/HomemadeGearHHGarda.html
affreeman - sorry I didn't see your questions when you posted them but it looks like they were answered. One note, though - the prussik adaptor slides up and down the spectra, so the line doesn't have to be doubled up for its entire length. If the tree are really far apart, just slide the prussik closer to the end...this should take a lot less cord than using the Figure-8 lash so you'll still be ahead of the stock system. But the stock system is still intact so you're no worse off than when you started.
Same deal for the clove hitch system that's on the page now.
One strength I like about these systems is that I don't remove any pieces during setup or teardown. It's all one piece...no threading, no looping, etc - just one click of the biner on each end, then pull to adjust. Of course, the cost for this convenience is weight.
And there are obviously other ways to do it...your cord method is one. I'd use a double larkshead on the rings to keep them stable rather than just tying them on, though. And then if you want to cut the spectra, it gets even lighter.
My first post in 2009...Happy New Year!!
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garda setup
my first post too---HNY---about that garda setup....what i'm trying is even simplier--camp biner ,loose smc rings on small end,strap loop on bigger end---then i can use HH cord stock, or speer strap stock with same strap and biner ...
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I saw a pic of someone doing that once. Does it work well? No slippage? Do you have pics?
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maybe have pics in a few days---waiting for the descending rings to show up--have a few nanos around since they came out--real nice little biner, and the small end looks like it will pressure the rin gs together under tension....if not, then plan B is just clamp the rings together w/a little spec. cord on the inside...big thing is i can hitch w/strap or cord and not alter stock hammock in case i need the length...sounds like it will work anyway.