A Warning - Suspension integrity can be trumped by carelessness

[dirkomatic]

This thread is good to read. I'm relatively new and thought that the webbing would be one of the stronger points of the suspension... Thanks!

[meckelangelo]

Yikes! Glad you weren't hurt! I know this will one day happen to me, but it hasn't yet, and reminders like this always make me a bit paranoid...

[bccarlso]

Yup, had my webbing strip out of a buckle system too when the buckle must have been twisted a little. I am now making sure my setup isn't twisted much so the webbing flows straight into the buckle.

[Dead Man]

Thank you for sharing your experience. Sometimes we feel we are better because we have "evolved" to the next level by elevation. Important to remember to keep our "feet" on the ground.

I don't think his "feet" is what he fell on....BUT I could be wrong.

[Passinthru]

Yup, had my webbing strip out of a buckle system too when the buckle must have been twisted a little. I am now making sure my setup isn't twisted much so the webbing flows straight into the buckle.

Yup - it seems surprisingly easy to get these 'canted' a little. Something to watch for.
I think that the 'foolproofest' setup may be Atlas straps with biners - but I just can't bring myself to carry the extra 6 ounces.

[Cheapshoes]

Yikes!
I'm a complete noob, and I too have been wondering what is a typical comfortable yet safe height. Yeah, the first time I or my wife sat in my hammock, I was pretty concerned about what-if. Having known two people who broke their hips (not from hammocks mind you), you are not going anywhere if that happens. I'd guess good advice to triple check the suspension hang, check the softness of what is under you, and stick to lower hangs if possible. Hansen's book says keep it about 20in. (chair height) once your weight is in it. On the vids, I see most people hang a good deal higher than that.

[mrjaw14]

Have any of you had a sewn loop fail in your webbing?

[gunner76]

There are two type of hangers.....does who have fallen and those that will. So always choose your landing zone because you never know when it might happen.

Last time I had a suspension failure was at a group hang, Gresh was first one to come over to see what the loud noise was ( combination of me hitting the ground and cussing ). Fortunately I have never been hurt other than my pride.

[oldbiker]

About 6 months ago I hit the ground due to what I call self stupidity. Wasn't lack of knowledge for I knew better. I was showing my wife my new Applation DL hammock using descending rings. Did not the the safety knot on either end. It slipped & dropped my but to the ground. A 60 year old @ 250 lb is not a pretty sight rolling around on a bank. I crawled up and re-set everything tying the safety knots. Shook from the fall & embarrassment I forgot to spread my hammock when I sat down in it so I flipped out backwards. Wife giggled a while & called me entertaining then told me to be more careful.