Newbe qu: What's the purpose of the Toggle?

[patrickbdunlap]

Title says it all. I have seen the "stick" toggle used to connect tree webbing to the support lines of hammocks and tarps but am not sure of the purpose of it. Thanks.

[angrysparrow]

It's part of the knot, to make it untie easily and quickly. Many use a marlinspike hitch, and the toggle is the 'spike'.

This will link you to a video of the hitch being tied.

[Bubba]

I could be wrong but I think helps to avoid having too much webbing to string contact that could wear either down over time.

[dejoha]

Toggles really speed up setting a hammock to suspension, especially if you use a Whoopie Sling. I used to use a small stake, but now I use mini carabiners as toggles -- the carabiners aren't strong enough to load weight, but as a toggle, they are fine. The clip also adds a no-slip factor I like.

I don't tie a knot, just slip the toggle through the loop on the webbing. Works great.

[lazy river road]

Toggles really speed up setting a hammock to suspension, especially if you use a Whoopie Sling. I used to use a small stake, but now I use mini carabiners as toggles -- the carabiners aren't strong enough to load weight, but as a toggle, they are fine. The clip also adds a no-slip factor I like.

I don't tie a knot, just slip the toggle through the loop on the webbing. Works great.

Dejoha, I know its simple but your mini caribiner Ideah for toggles is great, never would of though of it and you cant loose them. Im def using this ideah, thanks. I was going to use two aluminum toggles but I already lost one just useing it on a test hang in front of my apt. and figured their is no way I wouldent loose these in the woods. If you need to shorten your tree straps, have you tied a marlin spike hitch useing the mini biners?

[Hawk-eye]

Marlin spike hitch ... and you can put your toggle anywhere along the strap you need it. You can make your toggle in the field out of a sound piece of wood. Easy to do. Your whoopie needs to shoulder the knot and not be directly on the toggle for maximum strength. Reference Shug's great set of videos or Grizz's video's on suspensions Part III. Lots to learn there and some good video in the process.

[goodcaver]

dejoha thanks for the great detailed picture--stealing the mini caribiner idea.

[Poppabear]

Dejoha that sure is ingenuous! Great out of the box thinking.

[dejoha]

Dejoha, I know its simple but your mini caribiner Ideah for toggles is great, never would of though of it and you cant loose them. Im def using this ideah, thanks. I was going to use two aluminum toggles but I already lost one just useing it on a test hang in front of my apt. and figured their is no way I wouldent loose these in the woods. If you need to shorten your tree straps, have you tied a marlin spike hitch useing the mini biners?

Thanks all -- I'm sure I'm not the first to think of it, but it has worked for me. I've used simple toggles, as seen in my picture, but like you lazy river, I've lost them and they slip easily. I keep the mini 'biners clipped to my straps, so it keeps everything together. Clipping the 'biners through the whoopie sling also gives me an additional safety feature where the sling won't slip off side-to-side.

I don't mess with knots any more. I have several ways I shorten my straps to accommodate varying lengths. Maybe one of these days I'll draw another illustration that focuses on straps You know the basics: single-, double-, triple-wrap around a tree; looped through a carabiner; looped through the webbing eye; overhand knot, etc.

Adjustment is also available thanks to the whoopie slings. I've found with a good combination of strap length and whoopie slings, that I've been able to accommodate for most situations. Lately, I've been carrying a second pair of straps (long ones) for some areas where the trees are HUGE.

dejoha thanks for the great detailed picture--stealing the mini caribiner idea.

Dejoha that sure is ingenuous! Great out of the box thinking.

You're welcome!

[lazy river road]

I went out and bought mini biners todays, weight them in comparison to AHE toggles. The toggles were 3.5g the biners were 8g. I was able to easily tie a marlin spike hitch useing the biner. I just tied the knot and sliped the biner over the loop and pulled, worked like a charm. Also good Idea on wrapping around the tree more then once over hand knot etc. I like the clip to woopie sling ideah for extra safty to preven slipage as well. Thanks for the Ideahs, 8g toggles are better then 3.5 lost toggles IMHO