View Full Version : tree size
This may sound stupid but i was practicing with my HH and I am not sure what size tree i should be looking for. I was in a local park and the trees i was using were too big to get the tree huggers wrapped so that they overlapped, they would just go around the tree and leave about an 8 inch gap. It was kind of a pain to get set up with trees like that but once i did i think it worked ok. any ideas or do i need to look for smaller trees.
Just Jeff
06-25-2006, 13:12
You don't always get a choice when you find that ultimate campsite, so learning on all different kinds of trees is good. I think smaller trees are better, so I get a full wrap around the tree (i.e. both ends come together and there's an extra layer of strap still against the tree). It works just fine with just one time around the tree, though - the force just from hanging has always been enough to keep me hanging.
If it's big like the ones you're talking about, those work too. If the Spectra is actually touching the tree, find some pinky-sized twigs and insert them vertically between the Spectra and the tree. Then the Spectra will mark up the twig and leave the tree alone.
JoeHiker
06-28-2006, 15:12
I found it very useful to buy all strap sizes and bring a couple of extra straps on my hike. The weight gain is minimal and the flexibility added when choosing a hammock site is worth it.
dougmeredith
06-28-2006, 18:43
If the Spectra is actually touching the tree, find some pinky-sized twigs and insert them vertically between the Spectra and the tree. Then the Spectra will mark up the twig and leave the tree alone.
Don't let the LNT police hear that you are marking twigs. :)
Doug
Just Jeff
06-28-2006, 21:35
I do it in code so they'll never know it was me.
hammock engineer
06-28-2006, 21:49
I have had a similar problem with the tree huggers being too small. Instead of binging bigger tree huggers, I am going to try what I saw on another thread and replace the huggers and rope with straps. I ordered them today, I'll post what I come up with after I am done.
I like having trees anywhere from 6-12 inches in diameter. Any smaller and you really feel the hammock shake when the tree moves in the wind (creepy), and any larger and you'll have a difficult time getting your lines around.
Brian
OES
I guess size does matter :banana
Hana_Hanger
07-01-2006, 09:33
Today I hung in Iao Valley while doing a little trail magic with two women from England. I had the pleasure of meeting by chance from the cruise ship. They needed a ride and I needed a break.
I was strapping up to two rather large Norfolk pine trees in a public park. My Tree Huggers were 6 feet long but about 10 to 12" to short for me to attach the hammock to them. The hammock was just not going to stretch, and I could not find any other trees or spot to hang and stay out of trouble.
I had those heavy duty car straps with large hooks with me...well it worked like a charm. I simply extended the length of my hammock to reach the tree huggers.
Now granted you would not backpack with those huge heavy things...but this opened my eyes to the following.
Simply add more rope/webbing or whatever to your existing support rope or in this case I had loops at the end of this hammock. As simple as that was, I cannot believe I had not used this method before when having difficulty finding the right length of a gap between trees to hang.
I took a pic maybe I will see if it shows up well enough to post it.