Moving to PNW. What size tree huggers?

[WWhermit]

I'll be moving to the Seattle area in a few months. At the same time I get the idea to upgrade a couple of the heavier items in my kit. Namely my tree huggers. I use huggers connected to whoopie-slings.

My question is this; for those that live near that area, what length tree huggers should I buy? Right now I'm in So Cal, and with the diameter of some trees out here, 15 foot straps are too short. I don't want to buy longer and heavier than I have to.

Thanks.

[HangingOut]

I have been hammock backpacking in the Central Cascades for five years now and tend to not use tree straps/huggers at all. With the bark on evergreen trees usually a few inches thick I use a long length of 1/8" amsteel and slip it through a 10" chunk of climbers web/tubing for tree support. I started doing that because I found myself in many situations where the trees were so big I could not get my suspension around them. Now I just carry an extra 20' dog bone of 1/8" amsteel with a whoopie hook on one end of it. That will usually accommodate any large tree situation I come across.

[WWhermit]

I was wondering if this was a viable option. How much amsteel total do you carry, other than the 20' of extra?

[HangingOut]

I was wondering if this was a viable option. How much amsteel total do you carry, other than the 20' of extra?

Well, I have been using amsteel whoopies with about an extra 15" of 1/8" on each end for my around the tree suspension. Then after having gotten myself in trouble in big trees several times I now carry an extra 20" dog bone with a spliced loop on each end with a whoopie hook on one of the loops. That will usually handle any situation in large old growth trees. But now with Dutch's new speed hooks I have ditched the whoopie's and gone with just 20' of 1/8" amsteel on each end that hook to the continuous loop around my hammock gather. But I will always also carry the extra 20' length dog bone just in case. I don't like sleeping on the ground when I have a nice comfy hammock I could be in.

[Fronkey]

I've been using 10ft tree straps while living in Nor Cal and haven't had any trouble finding trees. I've also used the same straps while hiking through Olympic National Park.

Fronkey

[Pushbrew]

I use 12' straps all over PNW and sometimes need the whole length, but usually don't.

[WWhermit]

I was looking at Dutch's site, and saw that he has pairs of 15 foot Kevlar tree straps for sale, which weigh less than 4 ounces. That, with a reasonable length amsteel dogbone should get me through just about any situation.

[HangingOut]

I was looking at Dutch's site, and saw that he has pairs of 15 foot Kevlar tree straps for sale, which weigh less than 4 ounces. That, with a reasonable length amsteel dogbone should get me through just about any situation.

Yup, I would agree. The times I had trouble was when I was in very big old growth trees and could not find two that were spaced right. Another issue you have to deal with in the NW is tree sap getting on your suspension. Especially fur trees. I now carry my suspension in a separate bag to keep sap off my hammock. Happy hanging

[Gary_R]

With adjustable strap suspension I usually carry 12-15 ft and its very rare I ever have an issue.
With whoopies you could carry shorter ones and be fine.