Using a carabiner to clip directly into a marlin spike hitch.

[SmokeBait]

There's some merit in this idea.

Agreed! It can be used on any tree hugger wether separate ones or part of an am in one system. The C.A.M.P. Nano 23 biners are the lightest weight, climbing rated biner we could find. They work well in this method.

[woodhunter]

Another possible way is to slip the loop through the carabiner so that it can't go anywhere.

This is what I am planning to do with mine also. I am keeping the 2 inch straps that came with my NX-250. Running them through seems better than just clipping the caribiner to the amsteel and possibly stressing out the rope to much in one little area versus spreaiding it out over the strap.

[Chingyul]

So just going to switch to this system.
Any more discussion on a better knot, or is the biner in the marlin spike (as long as the standing end is pulled through) still the accepted knot?

[Mikums]

And now, I don't have to use the Trucker's Hitch.

[Mahalo]

I'm a little late to the game with my thoughts, but here they are...

TinCup is correct about the use of a carabiner with a 'MSH' not really being a proper MSH. However, I do use this setup with an ENO DN that my wife and I share. I tie a MSH passing the standing end through the loop and clip in a biner. I used to back it up with a half hitch, but don't bother any longer as it comfortably holds 325lbs without any sign of slipping.

I have to disagree. It really all goes back to the history of the Marlin Spike Hitch itself, which has absolutely nothing to do with hammocking (*gasp!*).

The MSH was never meant to be used with a toggle as a means of hanging a bight over the MSH itself. Instead, the purpose was to insert a rod in a line that could be used as a handle to hold onto and/or pull on the line (as opposed to trying to hold the line directly with your hands, which could cause some serious rope burns). Often times the inserted rod was actually--you guessed it--a marlin spike.

In this sense, using a 'biner in a MSH is actually a heck of a lot closer to its *originally* intended purpose compared to the toggle/whoopie setup.

Please be sure, though, to set the MSH up by pulling the standing end through as that is the only correct way to tie this hitch. As shown in one of the vids posted, if you pull the working end through to make the bight where your 'biner hooks through, you're likely to have a problem.

[iRokk]

I tied a Solomon Bar for each whoopie so after I get the right length I just slide the Solomon Bar up to the marlin spike so the whoopie can't really go anywhere. I will try to get a pic tomorrow to better show what I mean.

[Owl]

I saw how Towellie uses this setup at the KC area hang last weekend. I like it...quite a bit actually. I toss and turn over a lot in the hammock...and have had the concern that I might bounce enough to let enough slack form in the whoopie sling to cause it to pop free of the knot/toggle setup.

What Towellie suggests allows the exact same setup as you would anytime with the whoopies, but removes the chance that the sling could come up off the knot/toggle.

Not to mention...the other possible uses of carrying a couple of lightweight, climbing 'biners makes the minor weight of a couple of ounces well worth it in my opinion.

I'll be stopping by Backwoods this weekend to pick up a couple of 'biners. There's some merit in this idea.

I've been using this method ever since this post. I've found that for me, it works very well.

[Randy Lee]

Thanks for posting, this is going to save me some headaches.

[nsutherl]

I do something similar, but instead of clipping the biner trough a Marlin Spike Hitch, I clove hitch the webbing to the biner. Super easy to loosen/untie, even after heavy loading. I use this on my slackline setup which regularly sees over 500 lbs of tension.

[MDSH]

Last night I tied my newly made mule tape straps to the carabineer using a simple overhand knot with a loop. It held just fine.

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