Biner strength for use in slacklining

Hey everyone, I recently bought some webbing, a ratchet, and some biners for a slackline. I've been having a great time on it, but I noticed one thing: When I have the webbing loaded the ovals I bought are under so much stress that the gates won't open.

Now I realize that this is essentially how the biner is intended to work (what with the major axis rating and all), but something about it makes me nervous. I'm using this BD Oval which is rated at 18kN.

I guess my question is, should I spring for some burlier biners, or do you guys think that I'm good? I honestly don't know much about the math of slacklines and and the amount of force in the system. What I do know is that when I realized there was enough force there to effectively lock a non-locking biner, I got a little nervous. Teach me, wise ones!

happens to all biners in slacklines. you're fine.

That is very normal.

That said, you are wise to consider the forces put on gear in slacklines. It exerts much more force than most climbing situations. There is an old video of Dean Potter breaking a pear biner setting up a high line.

I wouldn't invest in burlier biners for a low line. I bought steelies for the purpose, but you can feel the extra weight in the line, so I went back to aluminum. I would designate those ovals as "slackline" only biners.

Cheers.

1" webbing is rated ~18-19kn (- ~30% for any knots in it) , so you're matched up to you biner pretty well.

Evan Horvath aka Evan1984 wrote:. I bought steelies for the purpose, but you can feel the extra weight in the line, so I went back to aluminum. I would designate those ovals as "slackline" only biners. Cheers.

sfotex wrote:1" webbing is rated ~18-19kn (- ~30% for any knots in it) , so you're matched up to you biner pretty well.

I've found that slackline biners have a nasty habit of opening up their gates as they bounce around. That's why lockers are nice.

I have a buddy who set up a slackline and the biners opened up under the tension. after he jumped on it one of the two biners broke under the tension. now he only uses lockers...

I actually went a picked up a couple lockers and a steel ring for a line locker today. I'm feeling much more secure with the set up now. Even if it's only a mental thing, I think peace of mind is worth $20 :P

the original issue isn't a big deal, that's how biners work... however, as you start to pull longer lines in the park the problem will be tri-loading biners with the anchor pulling 2 points and the line pulling another direction. this will cause biners to fail... eventually (like 100ft+)

as for the 2"... what are you, trying to make a gibbon line? i'd walk 1" like normal and buy a gibbon when you know you're into it... to each his own though, I know kids that walk 11/16"

I know they're pricey, but for piece of mind I always use steel lockers for slacklining.