Lightweight Toggle for Marlin Spike Hitch Suspension

[SilvrSurfr]

If you are like me, you don't throw out old camping gear without salvaging anything re-useable. As I built my suspension system, I liked the Marlin Spike Hitch but I didn't really like the idea of using a stick for the toggle. At first my toggles were solid aluminum, salvaged from some IKEA furniture. I immediately didn't like them because they weighed a couple of ounces.

Then I got the bright idea of using the hollow aluminum connecting sections from old fiberglass tent poles. I cut them off the tent poles with a hacksaw, and was so proud of myself for reducing the weight of the toggles.

A couple of hours went by, and I realized that I could reduce the weight even further by making toggles out of the fiberglass pole itself. You can use a hacksaw to cut your toggles and you don't even need to sand the ends since fiberglass cuts so cleanly. So now I have fiberglass toggles that weigh next to nothing.

Ignore this post if you are a "I use a stick for a toggle" guy. If you're an anal-retentive type like me who wants to bring lightweight toggles rather than hunt for them once you get to the campsite, then enjoy! I don't have a scale, but I would guess that fiberglass toggle weighs considerably less than an ounce.

[LilDutchBoy]

I think i saw a bunch of posts in DIY of guys making them out of hollow fiberglass or carbon fiber arrow shafts. This is, however, far passed my limited personal experiences.

[bradclarkston]

I think i saw a bunch of posts in DIY of guys making them out of hollow fiberglass or carbon fiber arrow shafts. This is, however, far passed my limited personal experiences.

You can buy a set of them from whoppiesling.com with a loop attached for $6

[Catavarie]

Yep a number of people use carbon fiber arrow shafts and fiberglass poles cut down to size. And if great minds think alike then you are certainly among them.

[the_gr8t_waldo]

everyone thinks that fiberglass is in inherently lighter than aluminum. ah if it were only so! solid fiberglass is suprisingly heavy, compaired to tube aluminum.you probably will be suprised after actually weighing 'em both. for what it worth- the repair tubing the rei sells , what i consider, the smallest wall section making it very lite