The strength of strap friction on trees

[heyyou]

Long ago, Tom Hennesey hung from long lengths of webbing wrapped several times around a tree, then just loosely tied off. The friction of the webbing on the tree bark is what supported the hanger, not the modern method of one wrap of webbing guided back through to a loop or to hardware. He called the webbing "slap straps" since that is how they were slung around the tree.

Try that sometime just to see how the friction is all you need. Hardware is lighter than several yards of webbing, but there is a learning curve to use it correctly. By learning how well the friction works alone, you will see how you can optimally align your light straps and hardware to increase friction and keep them from being damaged from high stress due to bad positions.

Practicing good methods will make your hanging safer for you and your gear.

[tangara]

When I first started hanging, I would use a length of webbing and a lumberman's hitch to attach to the hammock with a becket hitch. It was how I'd seen it done where I first used hammocks. I never had it fail on me. A couple wraps of the loop end around the tree strap would hold it secure. I only added hardware later for the convenience of setting up a few seconds more quickly at home.

[nothermark]

FWIW Any time one can do multiple wraps of webbing it makes a better setup. Also beats several feet laying on the ground.

[airbud]

I'll have to give it a try..

[Rain Man]

I have hung by wrapping at tree strap around a tree and not attaching it any other way (no hardware, no loop, no knot). Held just fine.

BTW, I never hang any excess strap or cord on the ground where critters and insects might chew on it or use it as a highway up to my hammock, or where it might simply get wet and dirty.

[OneClick]

FWIW Any time one can do multiple wraps of webbing it makes a better setup. Also beats several feet laying on the ground.

I cut a good deal of my straps down so there isn't a lot of extra. If I come across huge trees or 16'+ spaces, I'm in trouble! But that's never an issue where I hike. Plus it gets me that much closer to the lighter whoopie sling system without having to use it.

[Tacblades]

Minimum webbing for me too a little as possible.

[Afterparty]

I carry one adjustable length and one short stock HH strap. The adjustable one is a waist belt from a hunter safety system its like a lineman's belt but works just fine for my hammock. I can get it around a pretty big tree makes for good hanging locale's. I want to invest in a couple cams and find a spot I can use them.

[cougarmeat]

I keep the bag my straps come in connected to the connecting carabiner to the hammock. On the other end of the hammock I have the Bishop (double ended) bag the hammock packed it - I leave it at the end of of the hammock and connect the straps to the ring coming out the end. That gives me to "pouches" I stuff any extra strap at one end in the strap bag (hanging on the carabiner) and I stuff any extra strap on the other end in the bishop bag that holds the hammock. All tidy; no reason for shorter straps.

[OregonJim]

Long ago, Tom Hennesey hung from long lengths of webbing wrapped several times around a tree, then just loosely tied off.

Where I camp, the trees can often reach five feet in diameter at the base. That means thirty feet of strap just to go around the circumference of both trees ONCE. I can't imagine carrying enough strap to wrap several times. Just three wraps leaving a tiny 5' tail would require 100' of strap!