Ridgeline Terribles

**terceiro** · 09-11-2007, 08:19

+1 on the double sheet bend. It's strong, quick, easy, difficult-to-get-wrong, pretty easy to untie and relatively quick to adjust. I also find it one of the most elegant of knots, which is itself a reason to learn it (and use it at least occasionally).

btw, ridge line lengths are on the comparison chart at hennessy's site: http://www.hennessyhammock.com/comparisonchart.html.

**trailale** · 09-17-2007, 09:34

Originally Posted by johnnyquest

hey, can i get in on this?
nothing wrong with the ridgeline of my hh but im very curious about the idea of cutting it and replacing it with biners to facilitate the sitdown. can someone who has done so talk to me about it? pictures?

I also am considering doing this but am a little confused. It's been said in these forums that using HH hammock without the ridgeline will tear the bug net. Others havn't expressed such concern. Is it just a matter of tossing the netting to the side? After the disconnect are you able to lounge/sleep in the hammock without the net covering?

**angrysparrow** · 09-17-2007, 10:02

Originally Posted by trailale

I also am considering doing this but am a little confused. It's been said in these forums that using HH hammock without the ridgeline will tear the bug net. Others havn't expressed such concern. Is it just a matter of tossing the netting to the side? After the disconnect are you able to lounge/sleep in the hammock without the net covering?

In my HH, I haven't had any issue with the bugnet tearing. That being said, I am careful not to exert too much weight only on the bugnet. I fold it back out of the way for camp lounging with the ridgeline disconnected. When it's time to go to sleep in the hammock, though, I reconnect the ridgeline and get inside.

**BillyBob58** · 09-17-2007, 10:50

What size or strength mini biner would you need? Something less than a camp nano-biner?

**angrysparrow** · 09-17-2007, 10:55

Originally Posted by BillyBob58

What size or strength mini biner would you need? Something less than a camp nano-biner?

Certainly something as strong as the CAMP biners isn't needed. Most of the recommendations I've seen here say that ridgeline components rated from 200-300lbs is sufficient. I use a VERY small quicklink/screwlink from a hardware store, and it has been perfectly adequate.

**2Questions** · 09-17-2007, 10:55

I've been intrigued with the idea of cutting the ridgeline for some time but haven't convinced myself I would use the HH as a lounger all that much. I typically find myself only using the HH when I'm ready for sleep and the rest of the time somewhere else sitting around the fire, a vista rock, etc. Anyway, I was wondering about the physics involved if the ridgeline is not the proper length after cuttiing it and adding a biner or whatever. Am I correct in assuming that the bugnetting may be unduly stressed if the ridgeline is too long? Too short just increases the "sag" but shouldn't be a problem with bugnetting? Therefore a shorter ridgeline may be preferable? What say ye?

**angrysparrow** · 09-17-2007, 11:01

Originally Posted by TDWeaver

I've been intrigued with the idea of cutting the ridgeline for some time but haven't convinced myself I would use the HH as a lounger all that much. I typically find myself only using the HH when I'm ready for sleep and the rest of the time somewhere else sitting around the fire, a vista rock, etc. Anyway, I was wondering about the physics involved if the ridgeline is not the proper length after cuttiing it and adding a biner or whatever. Am I correct in assuming that the bugnetting may be unduly stressed if the ridgeline is too long? Too short just increases the "sag" but shouldn't be a problem with bugnetting? Therefore a shorter ridgeline may be preferable? What say ye?

The bugnetting of a HH isn't cut so precisely that it should create a problem to have a variation in ridgeline length of a few inches in either direction. JMO

**johnnyquest** · 09-17-2007, 11:03

i am sooooooo close to cutting my ridgeline........but just havent been able to bring myself to do it yet.

**aerorider65** · 09-17-2007, 11:51

I cut my ridge line and use the hammock as a lounger. I flip the hammock over and lay on the bottom. This keeps me off of the bugnet. I was scared that the netting would but it hasn't. It seems to streach just fine. I have enjoyed my this way quite a bit.