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  1. #1
    Senior Member Graybeard's Avatar
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    An alternative to 'biners

    In search of a quick, easy, do-it-in-the-dark, lightweight, inexpensive way to hang a hammock, tarp, or bugnet, the idea shown below came to mind. Before I refit my hammock to try it out, can the collective wisdom on this forum find fatal flaws in it?

    The toggle shown happened to be at hand. It's a decades old guyline tensioner. An inch and a half of 1/4" hardwood dowel would do just as well. I have in mind to use it where a 'biner might otherwise be used, but without the bulk, weight, and cost. A variety of knots would do to form the two loops, neither of which has to be at the end of the line as shown here.
    bob

  2. #2
    Senior Member gunn parker's Avatar
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    Hi
    It looks nice and simple to use, I gather one end goes to the tree hugger and one to the hammock?
    How would you tension the line? The hugger end would be fixed I guess and then you would tension up the hammock end?
    Gunn
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  3. #3
    Senior Member Graybeard's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by gunn parker View Post
    ....... How would you tension the line?.......Gunn
    Gunn; The same as you would if you were connecting with a 'biner. I imagine it providing more convenience for tasks like disconnecting a bugnet to use the hammock as a lounger, then re-attaching it for the night. If adjustability were needed, a prussik loop might serve as the open loop (the dark cord in the pix above.)
    b
    bob

  4. #4
    Senior Member GrizzlyAdams's Avatar
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    Graybeard-
    biners get used at both ends of a suspension line though, so the answer isn't entirely clear to me.

    No matter. Wherever you put this I think the diameter of the rope is going to matter a great deal. I'm using toggles up at the tree, making a Marlinspike hitch in 1" webbing. A softwood 1/2" toggle shows no sign of pressure. But if I put that same toggle on the suspension line itself I hear wood creaking, and see very visible signs of compression on the toggle. The force is concentrated in a much smaller area.

    suffice to say that I'm not using the dowel toggles on the suspension line!

    Grizz

  5. #5
    Senior Member Graybeard's Avatar
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    Grizz: That's what I'm looking for: real-world feedback from somebody who has "been there, done that." Maybe I'll give it a shot for the bugnet and see how convenient it is in the woods instead of in the mind. Then if I really like it and want to use it for the hammock suspension, I could make a couple of toggles out of bloodwood or ipe.
    b
    bob

  6. #6
    Senior Member Ramblinrev's Avatar
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    I use plastic toggles for the tieout lines from the ATHH in tarp mode. I thought they would be real easy to use, but I find that I fumble with them a lot when I am tired or in a hurry. I also use toggles to storm set my hex tarp on the hennssey. Those aren't so bad but I may go to biners just for sheer ease of use YMMV as I do tend to be quite klutzy at times.
    I may be slow... But I sure am gimpy.

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  7. #7
    Senior Member fin's Avatar
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    Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes. I like it. THIS is what I was talking about using for my tarp extenders - a toggle.

    Using it to hang the hammock, the only thing I would be worried about is as the tension on the line decreases (such as shifting around inside the hammock or entering and exiting,) can the toggle slip the loop? I'd almost want a toggle with a curve to it to hold the line edge a little better and eliminate the possibility of the toggle slipping the loop to a negligable margin, as well as making the loop a minimal size (just large enough to slip the toggle through) as well. Combine the toggle adjustment with a trucker's hitch for tie-off?

  8. #8
    Senior Member TiredFeet's Avatar
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    Toggles on the suspension

    If you are considering toggles on the suspension, you might want to read the article Hammock Hanging Method in the articles section.

  9. #9
    slowhike's Avatar
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    Just another thought... I experimented w/ using a round, easton type stake as an attachment/adjustment point.

    It worked. Using the round stake as a toggle might be easier on your cord.
    I too will something make and joy in it's making

  10. #10
    Senior Member GrizzlyAdams's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by TiredFeet View Post
    If you are considering toggles on the suspension, you might want to read the article Hammock Hanging Method in the articles section.
    straight up on that. I'd not heard of the Marlinspike hitch before TeeDee posted that article. I've found it's a great way to connect the suspension rope next to the tree every time. Takes the variability of tree diameter out of the process, which for me makes a difference when the trees are close, and not fat.

    Grizz

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