Which is material is better for support straps? The HH Expedition I have uses 1.5" nylon tree-huggers. But I have read in places (like Ed Speer's site) that polypropylene webbing should be used. But now I see that there is polyester webbing as well...
So much to think about, please help clarify.
Thanks in advance. I am a noob to hammocking. If there is already a discuss on this topic, please feel free to direct me to it and then the moderators can close the thread if they so wish.
Thanks
Same questions I had. Found the data at Strapworks.com helpful.
There is one other thread about it here.
Personally, I use polyester webbing. I can say for certain that Nylon stretches far too much to be ideal. And, while I only used polypropylene for a couple of hangs, I did experience some initial stretching with it too. I haven't had that problem from polyester. JMO.
“I think that when the lies are all told and forgot the truth will be there yet. It dont move about from place to place and it dont change from time to time. You cant corrupt it any more than you can salt salt.” - Cormac McCarthy
yeah guys, i talked to ed about this the other day because i'm so dissatisfied with nylon straps. of the three, polyester seems to have the best specs for hammocks, but it is harder to find, especially at volume discounts. this why ed told me he uses polypro instead. i'm gonna call some manufactures tomorrow, but they often don't carry inventory and require minimum orders of several thousand yards. i did just check out the 1" polyester from strapworks, and i'm gonna get a sample and check it out, but it costs 10 times what i can get 1" polypro for, although since polypro is weaker i might have to go with the 1.5" polypro, this makes the 1" polyester look better.but from what i understand, strength wise strongest is nylon, polyester, polypro. but nylon stretches way too much. for this reason the choice is really only between polyester and polypro. polyester is stronger for its weight and thus lighter for a given strength, that is if you can find the exact strength you need. it seems polypro (heavy duty) is 750-800 lbs/inch where as polyester is 3500 lbs/inch, don't know yet which is lighter, and these ratings could vary based on the thickness of the webbing. i know the 800 lbs heavy duty polypro is 1/16" thick, not sure the specs on the 1"polyester from strapworks though, but will soon...Brandon
i got some of the 1.5" polypro from ed to try something different & one thing i noticed is a noticeable increase in weight.
i don't remember how much, but it caught my attention.
I too will something make and joy in it's making
Just a side note, Brandon, but I'm pretty sure Ed has been using/selling his 1" polypro webbing for hammock use for quite some time...seems like it's probably at least adequate, given that.
"Physics is the only true science. All else is stamp collecting." - J. J. Thompson
well that's what i thought at first, but i looked at ed's book, the way he uses webbing, there are no knots or hitches to reduce strength (no larks head at the hammock's end and the 4 wrap knott) with tree straps, inserting one loop through the other creates a girth hitch/larks head and reduces strength by almost 50%. ed told me he was able to break the 1/2" polypro, and i'm assuming it was with his no knott/hitch 100% strength method, so with a larks head on the 1" it would be about the same strength as no knott/hitch 1/2" polypro which ed claimed he was able to break. i'll ask ed the circumstances that broke the 1/2"...Brandon
Originally Posted by blackbishop351
All of the references I have seen list nylon and polyester equal in strength. Tubular nylon is stronger than flat polyester, but then so is tubular polyester.
i think nylon and polyester are alot closer to each other as polypro is alot weaker. i think they make the polyester a bit thicker/heavier to achieve the same strength as the same width nylon version, so nylon is a bit stronger # for # but i could be wrong, because i'm not positive. i think it is pretty close though, it's odd that it's harder to find, it seems people have a much better variety of nylon and polypro. as for the strapworks, that stuff is 3500#, i don't know the strength of my 1.5" flatweave nylon, but i don't think it's near that much, which means it's probably quite a bit heavier as well. i would think 1500 lbs would be plenty even if you planned on putting a larks head around the tree (like a knott reduces strength).1500# polyester webbing would be less than half the weight of the strapworks, but i'll bet the stronger polyester would stretch less than weaker. also someone mentioned sturgesstraps, they have large minimum orders. i've got 4 or 5 different samples from different places coming in the mail as of today. hopefully i'll find something good...Brandon
I have bounced around a lot with my 1" Speer webbing without any issues. I would be curious it's strength though.
Is that too much to ask? Girls with frikkin' lasers on their heads?
The hanger formly known as "hammock engineer".
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