Thoughts about drip lines?
- Thread starter walterc
- Start date
cougarmeat
Well-known member
First - yes, drip lines work. The usual scheme is to tie a short length of shoe lace to the line. Cotton is better than the ubiquitous nylon or other synthetic. I'd imagine the cord/string to be about 7 inches long, You'd tie it at your desired break point with a garth hitch and have the two "tails" hang down about 2 to 3 inches.
But you mentioned "straps," not cord (like a whoopie sling). I have seen recommendations to put some twists in the webbing.
I haven't had a problem with my webbing because of the hardware between the webbing and the hammock. What do you have?
Tarps deserve a little mention. In rainy seasons, the tarp is hung below the ridgeline. If it were above the ridgeline, that ridgeline would create a path for water to run under the tarp. In windy conditions, that ridgeline would rub on the ridge seam, perhaps eroding any "water seal" treatment or just adding some abrasion to the seam. But in Winter, rain isn't an issue (around here), so I'd be more likely - depending on location - to run the ridgeline under the tarp for better support in a snow dump. I might also hang something on that line, adding a "buffer" between it and the tarp.
Back to the hammock - how are your straps connected to the hammock? Are you saying the rainwater is jumping that connection? How much of your straps are covered by your tarp - which is suspended below its ridgeline - right?
A photo of your strap/hammock connection would help a lot.
But you mentioned "straps," not cord (like a whoopie sling). I have seen recommendations to put some twists in the webbing.
I haven't had a problem with my webbing because of the hardware between the webbing and the hammock. What do you have?
Tarps deserve a little mention. In rainy seasons, the tarp is hung below the ridgeline. If it were above the ridgeline, that ridgeline would create a path for water to run under the tarp. In windy conditions, that ridgeline would rub on the ridge seam, perhaps eroding any "water seal" treatment or just adding some abrasion to the seam. But in Winter, rain isn't an issue (around here), so I'd be more likely - depending on location - to run the ridgeline under the tarp for better support in a snow dump. I might also hang something on that line, adding a "buffer" between it and the tarp.
Back to the hammock - how are your straps connected to the hammock? Are you saying the rainwater is jumping that connection? How much of your straps are covered by your tarp - which is suspended below its ridgeline - right?
A photo of your strap/hammock connection would help a lot.
Your shoelace tip cracked me up! I’ve got a drawer full of retired laces that might finally get promoted to hammock duty. My straps connect with Dutch clips, and I’ve seen water sneak past once or twice. Do you usually keep your tarp pitched tight over the straps, or just let them hang out in the rain?
cougarmeat
Well-known member
The Dutch Clips are at the tree end of the suspension. What is at the hammock end?
My straps have their own carry bag, and my connections allow attaching that bag to the webbing/hammock point, so any extra webbing length is tucked back into the bag. Some say, "anal"; I say, "tidy".
The hammock has its own stuff sack. It is attached at the other end - without those attachments, the stuff sacks seem to disappear, blow away, sneak under rocks or bushes. So the extra webbing at that end goes in the hammock stuff sack.
I put small aluminum rings (www.slingrings.com) on my hammock, continuous loops, and the rest of the suspension connects to those rings. That makes it easy to switch out different suspension systems and also creates a water break.
My straps have their own carry bag, and my connections allow attaching that bag to the webbing/hammock point, so any extra webbing length is tucked back into the bag. Some say, "anal"; I say, "tidy".
The hammock has its own stuff sack. It is attached at the other end - without those attachments, the stuff sacks seem to disappear, blow away, sneak under rocks or bushes. So the extra webbing at that end goes in the hammock stuff sack.
I put small aluminum rings (www.slingrings.com) on my hammock, continuous loops, and the rest of the suspension connects to those rings. That makes it easy to switch out different suspension systems and also creates a water break.
