Tree straps

**Marnoc** · 03-06-2018, 09:08

I have a friend that has tree straps that are too short. Can she use 550 chord to extend them?

**pgibson** · 03-06-2018, 09:22

Paracord is not a great choice. It stretches a lot, which will change the hang of the hammock over the course of the night. It’s also quite weak for suspension. In general you want 1000 pounds of rated strength minimum for suspension components. New longer straps are pretty cheap to have custom made. Or there are custom made extensions.

**Tyroler Holzhacker** · 03-06-2018, 09:32

7/64th Amsteel whoopie slings is advised, or 1" webbing of polyester/dyneema, or kevlar. Dutch bling is also a nice option, but by no means required. One of my favorite knots is a marlin spike hitch or a becket/truckers hitch.

**Tyroler Holzhacker** · 03-06-2018, 09:33

Maybe use 7/64th amsteel dog bones?

**Marnoc** · 03-06-2018, 11:51

I'm going to recommend to her that she orders longer straps or use a whoopie sling. The short ones came with her hammock.

**dakotaross** · 03-06-2018, 13:17

Originally Posted by Tyroler Holzhacker

Maybe use 7/64th amsteel dog bones?

That's what I use.

**cmoulder** · 03-06-2018, 15:57

In a pinch I'd use whatever is available. Three or four loops of 550 paracord would be plenty strong and wouldn't stretch much. You could even use Zing-it or Lash-it.

But I carry a 5' Amsteel dog bone just in case... and I actually used it once for that purpose, although it is regularly employed to hang my pack off my hammock CL.

**MikekiM** · 03-07-2018, 06:41

Originally Posted by cmoulder

In a pinch I'd use whatever is available. Three or four loops of 550 paracord would be plenty strong and wouldn't stretch much. You could even use Zing-it or Lash-it.

But I carry a 5' Amsteel dog bone just in case... and I actually used it once for that purpose, although it is regularly employed to hang my pack off my hammock CL.

It would have to an extreme situation for me to consider hanging from any number of loops of zingit.

No, I'm just trying to be diplomatic... I think it's a bit irresponsible to suggest hanging from zingit.. I'd sleep on the floor.

**cmoulder** · 03-07-2018, 08:06

Originally Posted by MikekiM

It would have to an extreme situation for me to consider hanging from any number of loops of zingit.

No, I'm just trying to be diplomatic... I think it's a bit irresponsible to suggest hanging from zingit.. I'd sleep on the floor.

If you loop it around enough times, you could use dental floss.

I'll do a test/demo with Zing-it next time I'm out in the woods. A couple of months ago I tested some 3mm climbing utility cord (kernmantle, a single loop of it) and it was absolutely fine, but I'll repeat that and do some photos. And some paracord while I'm at it, and maybe some 1.18mm Micro cord just for the heck of it.

Of course, my tests will be highly subjective because I don't have an actual machine to test break strength. Maybe somebody who has the proper equipment can do so.

In the meantime, as soon as the remnants of the current snowstorm are erased, I'm willing to risk life and limb for seat-of-the-pants empirical tests.