Northern Ireland Outdoors Forum - Hiking, camping and more

Outdoor Activities => Northern Ireland Camping and Bushcraft => Topic started by: RedLeader on June 09, 2009

Title: Hammock Karribiner Conversion
Post by: RedLeader on June 09, 2009
I got a set of climbing karribiners so I can cut the webbing on my hammock and attach the karribiners instead. I'm just not sure exactly what to do - anyone done this before. Also, they seem to be rated to 7kn (although they're for climbing, bought from Tiso) - is this enough to hold the weight of an adult?
Title: Re: Hammock Karribiner Conversion
Post by: DryBag on June 09, 2009
7KN would be a pretty heavy adult  ::).  With gravity at ~10ms-2 that would be a 700Kg load.  
I've no idea what I am in Kg, but I used an online converter and I know I'm not 112 stone.  :o

As for the conversion, I'm keen to do this too - someone gave me a couple of krabs and an old rope, I'm just not sure what's the best way to do it.  I suppose I should find a couple of trees and experiment, but I don't want to cut anything and regret it later.
Title: Re: Hammock Karribiner Conversion
Post by: Celt_Ginger on June 09, 2009
I've converted mine. I'll take some photos later and post them up.
Title: Re: Hammock Karribiner Conversion
Post by: Neiltoo on June 09, 2009
I've read a number of posts on various forums about this and I still can't figure out the reason for it! I've been using a Hennessy Hammock for about 3 years and I can't see how using crabs would make my set up any better.

Can anyone enlighten me?
Title: Re: Hammock Karribiner Conversion
Post by: Celt_Ginger on June 09, 2009
Don't be closed to different ideas Neil. Using a carb makes for fast set up and take down, plus I can use the area under my tarp as a working area simply by unclipping the hammock from the carbs, leaving only the suspension cords still attached to the tree. When I want to sit down or go to sleep, I simply re-attach the hammock to the carbs and I'm in business. I'll post some pictures soon which will show how this works.
Title: Re: Hammock Karribiner Conversion
Post by: Neiltoo on June 09, 2009
Don't be closed to different ideas Neil.

 ;D I'm not 'closed' to any ideas, I'm just not understanding how it helps  ??? but from the way you describe how you use them I think it maybe wouldn't work with a Hennessy.
Title: Re: Hammock Karribiner Conversion
Post by: Celt_Ginger on June 10, 2009
I'll be out for the day on Sunday. I'll put up the Hammock and will take some pictures of how to put it up and work the Carabiner set up. It really is very simple.
Title: Re: Hammock Karribiner Conversion
Post by: Cardnim on August 05, 2009
Ive been using crabs with my hammock for a while - and for all the reasons that CGinger says - except for one other one which I think is most important - it acts as a great drip loop incase it rains.

JONNO: what I would suggest m8, is that you dont cut out all the webing from your hammock. Maybe Im understanding you wrongly, but if you remove all the webbing from each end of your hammock and replace it with a crab then your hammock isnt going to sit properly. You need your crab sitting like a 'U' to get the drip loop working properly, and allow the hammock material to sit right.

All I've done is tie the webbing really close to the hammock end, then this gives you a small loop - this is where the crab hooks in.
The other length of webbing then goes from the crab to the tree.

P.S. I use quick release knots for everything (lazy!!) - a slipped bowline is great for giving you a strong loop for the crab to easily clip into, and a slipped buntline hitch works well to put the webbing onto the tree. Both knots hold under pressure yet shouldnt work loose when you get on and off the hammock.