Trying to hang my little sister

[BossLady]

It's going to be her first hang out in the State park and she can't wait! I haven't spent much on her set setup as it IS her first time and she's 12... so she's excited now, but tomorrow's a new day.

That said I got her the blue $25 nylon hammock from Walmart, if anyone's interested, and the suspension system is complete bollocks. I'm hoping to redo it on the cheap, as I get paid monthly, and would like to continue eating until the first. So here's my question: Does anyone know the weight limit on the Walmart carabiners (I know they're not for heavy use, but she's 85 lbs)? Or know where I can get a couple decent ones cheap? I looked at REI and they were out of everything but these $25 deals and I just can't pay $50 to get Little Bit in the air. Would double or tripling cheap 'biners be safe? If I have to I'll spend the money 'cause I'll be damned if she's getting hurt because I'm cheap... but I hate Top Ramen.

Also I use straps for my hammock because I don't trust Whoopies to hold my 260 lb behind, but Little Bit would be fine. That said my good 550 cord should work fine for her, yes? Or what about the nylon strapping from Joann's?

I've looked at different methods of suspension, but my biggest question, obviously, are materials. I'm still a noob myself and I know what works me ME, but as far as rigging someone else I'd sooner get the advice of those more experienced than myself. Especially where my baby sister is concerned. I'd die if she woke up to a broken tailbone because I neglected something.

[Bushwhacker]

.... There really needs to be a better word to use for hammocking than "hang". All this suicidal/death connotation.

Anyhow, is 2x $5.95 in your price range? I really doubt REI is out of ALL of these options:
http://www.rei.com/product/783147/bl...gate-carabiner
http://www.rei.com/product/471042/bl...ht-d-carabiner
http://www.rei.com/product/782252/ma...gate-carabiner
http://www.rei.com/product/782253/ma...gate-carabiner

You shouldn't need a locking carabiner.

Otherwise, just go to Home Hardware and pick up some screwlinks.

[gmcttr]

http://shop.whoopieslings.com/Nano-2...rs-Nano-23.htm

http://shop.whoopieslings.com/main.sc

[BossLady]

Cool, thanks guys!

[old4hats]

You are entirely correct about the supplied suspension not being great, but it will work for a hang with an under 100 lb. hanger. You can devise a way to pad the tree so that the rope doesn't do damage. If you can replace the suspension before you go that's great, but in a pinch use what you've got with some padding.

[HomeMadeHiker]

Webbing tie die straps from Lowe's or harbor frieght are a cheap but robust suspension option.

[dingbat]

Check out the suspension kits at the top of this page: http://www.arrowhead-equipment.com/h...uspension.html

I just ordered one to use on the same walmart hammock for my daughter. $22.50 is hard to beat for whoopies, toggles, and tree straps.

atrain and his dad turned me on to this set up at the last NEHHA hang. Looked real nice in use.

[natureboy68]

What did she do? Steal cookies from the cookie jar? Or steal your horses? Sorry, couldn't resist!

You can get ratchet straps from blue or orange or HF, use the stock hook as a Dutch clip, tie in a toggle with a marlin spike, and use a continous loop of amsteel larksheaded to the hammock, if you don't have amsteel, use some thing similar, she's light enough, you could prolly get away with polypropylene rope for that...have fun!

[Charliev]

Had a couple of kids i wanted to hang from time to time but always got along pretty with my sister

[cougarmeat]

I'm a little concerned, if you are new to suspension systems, about your savvy with respect to insulation? You can lounge in a "day hammock" in warm weather - during the day. But if you are spending the night, you'll need to deal with the convection loss. There are many, many posting here (HF) about that but essentially you are going to be using a pad with or without an undercover (or double layer hammock) or an UnderQuilt. If you think you can put her in there with just a sleeping bag - this is what you are missing .... A sleeping bag protects from heat loss on the top and sides, but it is compressed by your body weight underneath you. This is not an issue on the ground because your pad and the ground itself keep the convection heat losses at bay. But in a hammock, the part of the bag under you is compressed so your only insulation in that area is very thin nylon. So a camping pad is put in the hammock, or in the sleeve of a double layer hammock or between the hammock and an undercover, or an under quilt (half a sleeping bag) is suspended under and snugged up to the bottom of the hammock.

There are punishments for sisters - one has to balance the scales of justice - but a miserable night in a hammock isn't one of them. Please make sure she will be warm enough.