View Full Version : How Do You Tye Your Knot?
So what knot do you use? Does everyone use the standard Hennessey knot or do you prefer something else?
I, for one, don't like to tye knots at all, particularly at the end of a long day of hiking. I was thinking I would try and use a carbiner...does anyone see a disadvantage to this? Has anyone tried it and find it doesn't work?
What are your thoughts to make this process easier?
As a vertical caver, I love 'beeners. But I'm not planning on bringing any for my Hennessey - even the aluminum ones add a bit of weight...
Besides - 'beeners instead of knots would require trees spaced some standard distance apart... No? Other than pine tree farming forests, I've not seen that. :D
- Erro
Just Jeff
05-17-2006, 20:53
I use the figure-8 and the 4-wrap, depending on whether I have rope or webbing with me.
You may still need to tie a knot with the carabiner. Since it needs to be adjustable for distance between trees, a fixed knot doesn't work. Unless you tie a series of loops so you can choose which one to hook the biner to.
I was going to go with a series of loops. If I did this on both sides then I would have quite a couple of feet to play with as far as tree spacing.
Just Jeff
05-17-2006, 23:51
True. Remember that knots decrease the breaking strength for ropes. It might be better to use webbing, and sew loops to it at intervals. I think Crazy Creek has "slap straps" or something that's based on this idea.
Jonas4321
05-18-2006, 06:52
I use homemade tree huggers with a biner and tie to that with the Hennessey knot. I put up with the extra weight because it treats my ropes and webbing nicer - I had 1 inch webbing break where the rope was tied onto it. I think it was friction that eventually caused the break.
Then again, I am not an ultralighter, maybe someday.
file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/DAVEF%7E1.PIC/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot.jpg
This is an awesome website for learning new knots. I use the bowline to tie my hammock to the tree. Ties easy and unties even easier. http://www.animatedknots.com/ (http://www.animatedknots.com/)
fredmugs
05-18-2006, 09:42
I do a series of loops and have never had a problem.
So what knot do you use? Does everyone use the standard Hennessey knot or do you prefer something else?
I, for one, don't like to tye knots at all, particularly at the end of a long day of hiking. I was thinking I would try and use a carbiner...does anyone see a disadvantage to this? Has anyone tried it and find it doesn't work?
What are your thoughts to make this process easier?
i use two light aluminum biners, one red, one blue (red head, blue shoe). it helps me keep track of which end is which when it's all wrapped in the snakeskin, though a dab of paint would work too. i tied a double overhand knot on the end to clip the biners to when not in use.
i run the webbing around the tree, then tie the hennessy knot to the biner. the gate makes it really easy, as you don't have to thread it through.
both biners are rated for about 150lbs, and have a gate with a bar across the opening, so it sort of locks under pressure... i've not had one break, yet, but i'm thinking of upgrading to a heavier-duty set. they weigh about an ounce each. campmor has some heavier rated ones that are a couple ounces each, which might be worth the peace of mind.
bearbag hanger
05-18-2006, 16:56
I kind of gave up on tying the Hennessey knot. I got rid of the rope and now use webbing, which I wrap around the tree three or four times, similar to what Ed Speer recommends. A whole lot faster.
Webbing rocks. You don't need to mess with tree huggers, sewn in loops, biners, all that. Just wrap the webbing around the tree and finish with a Hennessy hitch... because the Hennessy won't jamb no matter what. This is one hitch you need to play with to learn well. Then it won't be a hassel at the end of the day. All you have to do is wrap the bitter end (the short end) two or three times around the standing line (the one between the hammock and the tree) then poke it through the crotch of the hitch, bring it out again and finish with a simple half hitch. Done and done.
stickman
05-18-2006, 21:15
How do you change from the Hennessey rope to webbing? Do you have to take the hammock apart and reassemble ala a Speer, or is there some other way? Cutting the rope and tying into a piece of webbing?
Also, here is another thought on attaching to the trees: as a vertical caver, I have some ascenders that might work great in lieu of a knot. I think you could wrap the tree huggers and biner an ascender into the hugger at each end of the hammock. It would then be really easy to take up slack as the hammock support line stretched, adjust the spacing of the hammock between the trees, etc., by simply letting the support rope into the ascender or pulling it out. The downside is that even the lightest of these devices weighs 5 ounces or so. Too heavy to be practical hiking, but I've been thinking of experimenting with this set up in the yard or on a car camp.
Stickman
Just Jeff
05-18-2006, 21:29
I agree w/ Spock - I usually take webbing for my homemade hammocks. I use the 4 wrap, though...but it's still simple.
I thought for a while about different configurations to make setup easier - like the slap straps, ascenders, line loks, and even figured out a way to make it adjustable w/ no parts to break by using prussiks as ascenders like mountaineers do...but then I realized that I was trying to solve a problem I didn't have.
Tying between two trees is simple, and centering the hammock takes so little practice that all the fancy ways I could figure out were complicating things more than they needed to be. Stay simple - just tie or wrap the way HH or Speer say to. Unless you have a reason to complicate things - like you're physically impaired or something.
That said, I might see some advantage to changing the HH's Spectra to webbing. If I did that, I wouldn't try to undo the HH's end - I'd just tie a loop right at the end and attach the webbing to it. I'd still use a simple wrap to hang it to the tree, though.
As always, YMMV and you might find that biners work better for you.
Jonas4321
05-19-2006, 09:47
[quote=Spock]Webbing rocks. You don't need to mess with tree huggers, sewn in loops, biners, all that. Just wrap the webbing around the tree and finish with a Hennessy hitch...
I used to use webbing from the hammock to the tree, but two things changed that:
1) I had webbing break. It was 1" polypropylene, but it must have been the wrong weave. I switched to Technora T-100 from New England Ropes (3mm and 4mm). I am paranoid now, I guess.
2) Adjusting the rope on a biner is FAR easier than unwrapping yards of webbing from a tree. After dozens of nights in the hammock, I am still adjusting things and experimenting with sag, etc. Also, on slopes, I often need to raise or lower one end, and loosening tree huggers is a breeze.
Rain Man
05-19-2006, 10:14
So what knot do you use? Does everyone use the standard Hennessey knot or do you prefer something else?...
Well, unless I'm mistaken, the "standard Hennessy knot" isn't a knot at all, but a lashing. Not trying to pick on you (the Hennessy site even calls it a "knot," I believe), but it might help understand what to look for, or not, when comparing and deciding. A photo of it is here, near the bottom of the page--
http://www.hennessyhammock.com/setup.htm
It's what I use, is quick, easily adjustable, and comes loose amazingly easy, all compared to most knots.
Rain:sunMan
.
Thanks for all the help guys. I ended up finding this link Knot Link (http://www.theplacewithnoname.com/hiking/sections/gear/shelter/hknot.htm) which I'm sure all of you are aware of. This method works very well.
I love to tie knots. In fact I almost always carry a piece of cord around with me and when I have idle time, I practice new knots.
My favorite knot to use for my hammock supports is the Driver Hitch, not a knot really, a hitch. It is very easily adjusted after the initial loading and just as easily loosened if I need to move it higher or lower. I use tree huggers to tie this hitch and rope, not webbing.
since I use 550 cord for my tarp I use a true Midhipman's hitch to tie my guy lines out with. 550 cord is very slick and the traditional Taughtline hitch will slip in windy conditions, but the Midshipman won't, and it's very easy to adjust tension.
I may use six or seven different knots/hitches around camp to tie things to depending on what I am doing or needing done.
Most all of the knots are tied with a slip so that untying is as easy as pulling the bitter end.
Some knots I use are:
ridgeline to hammock: slippery-bowline
support rope to hammock: double sheet-bend
guy lines to tarp: slippery bowline or slippery buntline hitch
stuffsacks to support ropes: highwayman hitch
rope around tree to hang stuff from (pack, etc): Mooring hitch
Prusik knots on ridgeline to hang stuff from
surgeons knot on ridgeline to keep stuff from sliding to center of ridgeline (for stuff that clips on ridgeline instead of using prusik, like my light)
biners and other mechanical devices are great for speed and ease, but if they should fail you need to know a few good basic knots, or you may be sleeping on the ground. :eek: Preparaton isn't just about what you carry in your pack, it's also what you carry in your head. :D
titanium_hiker
05-27-2006, 04:41
you got a reference for those knots? (ie- web site with pretty pictures?)
That is so cool to know- I never know what knot to use where.
titanium_geek
Bowline: http://http://www.animatedknots.com/bowlineboating/index.php?LogoImage=LogoGrog.jpg&Website=www.animatedknots.com
Sheet bend, for a double sheetbend just go around the standing part twice: http://http://www.animatedknots.com/sheetbend/index.php?LogoImage=LogoGrog.jpg&Website=www.animatedknots.com
Buntline hitch: http://http://www.dirauxwest.org/knots/buntline.htm
Highwayman hitch: http://http://www.iland.net/~jbritton/highwayman****ch.htm
Mooring Hitch, also best for tying small watercraft: http://http://www.ropeworks.biz/archive/Amoor.html
Prusik Hitch: http://http://www.iland.net/~jbritton/prusik.htm
Surgeon's Knot, Tie around the ridgeline to keep stuff from ending up in the middle. A Reef Knot with an extra twist is all it is: http://http://www.killroys.com/knots/surgeon.htm
Cool knot links:
Animated Knots by Grog: http://http://www.animatedknots.com/
Wikipedia: http://http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_knots
Roper's Knot Pages: http://http://www.realknots.com/
These sites are the "Big Three" that I use most of the time. They pretty well cover all the knots. There are some sites that are specialized that have other cool knots as well. If you hear of one not listed at any of the above sites just Google it. I would bet that somebody has a tutorial on it. I also have detailed knot pictorials at my album in the Yahoo Hammock Camping Group. Feel free to DL, save or print any and all of my pictures.
Okay, I screwed up every one of those links! Try This:
Bowline: http://www.animatedknots.com/bowlineboating/index.php?LogoImage=LogoGrog.jpg&Website=www.anima tedknots.com
Sheet bend, for a double sheetbend just go around the standing part twice: http://www.animatedknots.com/sheetbend/index.php?LogoImage=LogoGrog.jpg&Website=www.anima tedknots.com
Buntline hitch: http://www.dirauxwest.org/knots/buntline.htm
Highwayman hitch: http://www.iland.net/~jbritto...yman****ch.htm
Mooring Hitch, also best for tying small watercraft: http://www.ropeworks.biz/archive/Amoor.html
Prusik Hitch: http://www.iland.net/~jbritton/prusik.htm
Surgeon's Knot, Tie around the ridgeline to keep stuff from ending up in the middle. A Reef Knot with an extra twist is all it is: http://www.killroys.com/knots/surgeon.htm
Cool knot links:
Animated Knots by Grog: http://www.animatedknots.com/
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_knots
Roper's Knot Pages: http://www.realknots.com/
These sites are the "Big Three" that I use most of the time. They pretty well cover all the knots. There are some sites that are specialized that have other cool knots as well. If you hear of one not listed at any of the above sites just Google it. I would bet that somebody has a tutorial on it. I also have detailed knot pictorials at my album in the Yahoo Hammock Camping Group. Feel free to DL, save or print any and all of my pictures.
I forgot the Taught Line Hitch (Rolling Hitch/Midhipman's hitch). Tie your tarps with this hitch and I guarantee they won't slip. This is also stronger when tied with a slip than the ashley variant.
Rolling Hitch: http://www.animatedknots.com/rollinghitchboating/index.php?LogoImage=LogoGrog.jpg&Website=www.animatedknots.com##
[quote]How do you tie your knot?[quote]
A trip to Los Vegas, lol
I don't use a knot to tie my hammock.
Instead I wrap around the tree twice (three if there's enough) and on the last time around I pass the tail under and around the rope going around the tree a few time. This is done in the back (opposite the hammock). Your weight in the hammock puts pressure on the tail. In the morning, unwrap it. No untying.
I hope I made that clear.
I don't use a knot to tie my hammock.
Instead I wrap around the tree twice (three if there's enough) and on the last time around I pass the tail under and around the rope going around the tree a few time. This is done in the back (opposite the hammock). Your weight in the hammock puts pressure on the tail. In the morning, unwrap it. No untying.
I hope I made that clear.
Sound similar to Ed Speer's 4 Wrap "knot."
Sound similar to Ed Speer's 4 Wrap "knot."
Yup. That's pretty much it. Sorry if that was already posted.
Rockjock
06-07-2006, 14:37
I vary depending on my mood but have had great success with the either 4 wrap method, the tensionless hitch (which requires a carabiner) or an anchor hitch which I almost always back up with a stopper knot.
Rock
troglobil
06-07-2006, 17:43
actually the tensionless hitch doesn't need a biner, just use a bowline to finish it off. this way it is easy to adjust the amount of ( or lack of) tension