Unhappy with WBBB suspension

[redrob]

I got a WBBB for my birthday and while it is a great hammock, I am disappointed in the suspension. It has the two triangles and as I am sure most of you are aware, these are easy to tighten, but difficult to loosen, especially one handed. I previously used a Hennessy as well as a DIY hammock that used whoopie slings and marlin spikes on Harbor Freight tie-down straps. I was unhappy with these as well because once the hammock had been loaded, the sling lodged itself underneath the knot on the strap and couldn't be adjusted without pulling it free. I was considering reversing the whoopie sling, so that the adjustable end went through a carabiner or a descender ring or a continuous loop or something and the fixed loop went over the hitch. Has anyone tried that? I am also considering getting a couple of pairs of descender rings and feeding the WBBB straps through that. It seems like that should be easier to adjust than the two triangles. True, you have to add a slippery half hitch to secure it, but I am comfortable with knots. I believe there is also a cinch buckle for sale somewhere. How does that compare?

Thanks,
Rob

[lymphocytosis]

I'm with you. I hate those cinch buckles. I actually had to cruise the forum to pick up a different set of buckles that Brandon used to use. Instead of being flat triangles, they are round. A lot easier to loosen up. Completely trumps needing the half-hitch in my opinion.

I have seen the fixed loop over the marlin spike. You could set up the adjustable end just as you describe. Works well. Just check out the all-in-one whoopie kit. Similar principle.

There are also different buckles out there. Onrope1 has 1" buckles for sale that I believe are a little easier to adjust. You'll just need a loop of some kind to attach it to your hammock. Amsteel or similar would probably work best.

Good luck on your quest!

[Mustardman]

I'm with you. I hate those cinch buckles. I actually had to cruise the forum to pick up a different set of buckles that Brandon used to use. Instead of being flat triangles, they are round. A lot easier to loosen up. Completely trumps needing the half-hitch in my opinion.

I have both, and have found the opposite - once you learn how to place your fingers to hold the two flat triangles apart, they are MUCH easier to loosen than the round wire triangles. I switched to whoopie slings on my blackbird a year or two ago, and am actually thinking of buying more of the new flat buckles and switching back. It's a bit more bulk, but I do really like the "one piece" approach, where I never have to worry about whether my tree straps are big enough.

[Boothill]

i actually changed from whoopies to the strap and buckle system from brandon and like it better for a few reasons

1. no tree straps to worry about, so that is one less thing to haul around and forget at camp

2. i find the adjustment easier than with the whoopies

3. the set up/take down time is quite a bit quicker which i really like

4. i find i have a wider variety of tree distance's that i can use them with, both closer together and farther apart

boot

[harleynemo]

I just switched to a suspension from Dutchware with whoopie hooks . I like that the whoopies are attached to tree straps so I don't loose (forget) them, but I can unhook from hammock if straps are wet and pack them away from hammock. The original suspension was too bulky and too wet when it rained.

[UrsaMajor1887]

My advice as a fellow WBBB hanger is get rid of the straps and add a Dutchwear suspension system. http://www.outdoortrailgear.com/featured/whoopie-hooks/

It took about 5 min to change the suspension. It is supper easy to adjust. Just make sure you don't forget your tree straps on the trees! Best $39 I have spent on hammock stuff.

[louisfb]

My advice as a fellow WBBB hanger is get rid of the straps and add a Dutchwear suspension system. http://www.outdoortrailgear.com/featured/whoopie-hooks/

It took about 5 min to change the suspension. It is supper easy to adjust. Just make sure you don't forget your tree straps on the trees! Best $39 I have spent on hammock stuff.

I just made this same change to my WBBB and really like it. Saves a lot of weight as well.

--louis

[gmcttr]

FWIW...I thought the strap and buckles were hard to adjust as well until I learned the right way to release them shown at about 0:42 here.

I've never had a whoopie sling get under the MSH knot and cause difficulty adjusting.

[Bubba]

FWIW...I thought the strap and buckles were hard to adjust as well until I learned the right way to release them shown at about 0:42 here.

I've never had a whoopie sling get under the MSH knot and cause difficulty adjusting.

I do the same on my BB as the video and its easy enough but I do find descender rings easier to adjust and as you said, a slippery half hitch is no biggie.

I have my descender rings on my ENO's secured with a prusik instead of just a larkshead. The couple of extra turns around the rings really keep the rings tight and aligned and I actually do not need the slippery half hitch back up. The trade off is the rings do not come apart that much and so feeding the webbing through takes a bit more effort initially. I leave the webbing fed through the rings for set up and take down so its not really an issue though.

[oldgringo]

The onrope1 buckles are the best solution. Except. They are relatively heavy.

Descender rings are good, but bulky.

Whoopies utilize tree straps, two extra pieces of gear that can be left behind when you pack up. Like tent stakes.We've all done it.

I agree that the WB buckles can be frustrating, and I don't use them for that reason. Still, in a world ruled by compromise and trade-offs, they look pretty good. Light, compact, reliable...