DD Hammock Help - Tapes Snapped!! wher to get some new ones

[ph5172]

Hi All

I recently got a DD Hammock off a fellow member.

Thought i would give it a quick test prior to using it for real.

All set up, gently lowered some weight and the tape snapped near the hammock end, a quick knot session later and it snapped again, so i think the tapes are knackered (they are the old looking light green ones) not helped by 6'2 16 stone lol

Luckily i was putting weight on it and not actually attempting to lay in it.

Does anyone know where i can find some suitable tape / rope that wont cost me the earth and wont make my hammock look like a bundle of climbing rope when stored away.

Many Thanks

 

[Shewie]

I use the 18mm tubular tape from here ....
http://walkhigh.co.uk/acatalog/Cord_and_Tape.html

5m at each end is just about right for me

 

[Nat]

Get hold of some climbing tape, about an inch thick. Fit alot better than the green stuff that comes witht he DD hammocks.

 

[Teepee]

I snapped the green ones instantly.
The stock black webbing has held for over 70 nights now with no sign of weakness. Its good stuff.

I'm in the process of rigging up some English Braids Dynamic line in 2 mm size,I got from Cygnus sails.

It wasnt cheap at £1.80/m, but its 900kg rated.

Kingfisher do some dyneema core that isnt too expensive and that's good stuff too.

 

[Scots_Charles_River]

How old was the hammock ? Mines 4 yrs old and the light green webbing, looks like I need to put some kevlar cord in.

Nick

 

[wentworth]

These were the tapes supplied with the hammock? There is something deeply wrong here. Why would a hammock company use webbing not rated for their intended use?

 

[Silverhill]

Oakhill_Wanderer has green webbing on his mesh hammock (which he uses for holding gear and not human bodymass) which I'm lead to believe isn't as strong. Both my DD Frontline and his DD Camping have the stronger black webbing and it seems to be okay after a few trips out. I'm 15st and 6' 2" and it holds me well, although I do use the loop/pulley system for keeping the hammock taut. I'd follow the advice of Shewie, Nat and Teepee and upgrade to something thats definately up to the job . I'm adopt the 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it attitude' so I'll probably end up with my backside in the mud at some point!

 

[Ogri the trog]

.......
I'm in the process of rigging up some English Braids Dynamic line in 2 mm size,I got from Cygnus sails.

It wasnt cheap at £1.80/m, but its 900kg rated.

Hi Teepee,
Is it your intention to use this as hammock support line around a tree? I would have thought the potential for damage to the trees bark would directly oppose a LNT philosophy.

Ogri the trog

 

[ph5172]

I couldn't tell you how old the hammock was, but as everything that is used outdoors i assume the Wetting, Drying, Exposure to UV and not drying things properly before storage has something to do with it.

Im sure straight out of the packet they would be fine, though i have noticed the tape to be quite dynamic, a little unnerving at first but i suppose it save you ripping your hammock in an over tight material VS 16 stone situation.

I suppose the key is having something thick enough to spread the weight across the surface so as not to cut into the tree

 

[Teepee]

Hi Teepee,
Is it your intention to use this as hammock support line around a tree? I would have thought the potential for damage to the trees bark would directly oppose a LNT philosophy.

Ogri the trog

Absolutley.

Any undue damage to trees is not good. I will be using tree straps, or sticks inserted between the line and tree.

This 2mm stuff will be like cheese wire, it would cut a lamp-post.

20m of this line weighs 2oz, saving me 1/2 lb on my webbing and no wet webbing to pack.

This loss will be made up with whisky.

 

[PREPER]

My green tape broke after a few weeks. But I am on the heavy side
I complained and it was replaced. I didn't trust the tape anymore so I now use some old army surplus rope I bought at a bargain price. I may upgrade to climbing tape though.

PREPER...........

 

[mitch66]

hi, mine snapped to, 3rd time out now looking for some climbing tape.

 

[wentworth]

Why would DD be choosing webbing not rated for the application? This is a bit fishy.

 

[MartinK9]

Why would DD be choosing webbing not rated for the application? This is a bit fishy.

Not at all, might be a bad batch. DD have great customer service and i am sure this has/will be sorted.

I have had my DD for over a year now with the same webbing, no frays and still going strong and I weigh 19 stone.

no affiliation to the company... blah blah blah

 

[Neumo]

I bought some green 20mm tape off ebay & that snapped on me, as a hammock can put more force on ropes/tapes than you think, from what i have read. I now use some climbing tube tape for the heavy stuff or a set of slap straps when out on day trips, as the latter is so much quicker & you dont have to worry about knots failing.

 

[soulstar1963]

i think they sell it in my local surplus shop..........ill pop in and have a look for you if you like

 

[EdS]

Absolutley.

Any undue damage to trees is not good. I will be using tree straps, or sticks inserted between the line and tree.

This 2mm stuff will be like cheese wire, it would cut a lamp-post.

20m of this line weighs 2oz, saving me 1/2 lb on my webbing and no wet webbing to pack.

This loss will be made up with whisky.

It is light and strong but does not stand up to abrasion that well - it will soon rub through.

 

[Col_M]

I'm using similar stuff to what Teepee is using.
I have one hammock on Marlow D12 2mm and another on Amsteel Blue 7/64 and a short length of polyester webbing as a tree strap. The chaps on hammock forums have been using using these dyneema whoopie slings for a while and they hold up well. Saves a lot of weight which is always good.

 

[Teepee]

It is light and strong but does not stand up to abrasion that well - it will soon rub through.

Time will tell, but I don't think it will wear quickly. Dyneema is 10 x as abrasion resistant as high carbon steel, the braid has nothing to rub on, and I've seen no posts on HF or here about dyneema cord wearing quickly. It also has a 10x safety margin, even with my bulk. I exert 100 kg on each end, and the line is rated at 1000kg.

What makes you say it will?

 

[Shewie]

Ooh can we talk about whoopie slings now