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Life of a slackline?

Original Post
Eric Krantz · · Black Hills · Joined Feb 2004 · Points: 420

Have had one up for 5 or 6 years... left it set up all last winter here in the cold, wet and freezing, but in the previous years it was stored during winter. It's in direct sun for much of the day. When is this sucker gonna snap? 1" webbing. Anyone have stories of snapping lines?

Also, is it best to leave it set up for long periods, or take it down periodically to move the knots?

Cheers

J Schmiddy · · Pittsburgh, PA · Joined Jan 2009 · Points: 20

All depends on how you have it set up. What kind of webbing is it (mil spec, climb spec, type 18, vectran, etc...) Is it a primitive setup just with carabiners? Pulleys? Ratchets?

All depends on how static or dynamic it is and how much tension you usually keep in the line. Can just never tell; if its a relatively static piece of webbing at low tension it might never break.

As for knots, look up 'line locker' and you will never want to put a knot in your piece of webbing again.

Josh Kornish · · Whitefish, MT · Joined Sep 2009 · Points: 800

I never use a single knot when setting up my slackline. There are videos on Youtube explaining how to set up the line with 2 rappel rings and 4 biners. Using this method it takes 3 minutes to set up and 1 to take down.

I think you're line is ready for some high lining

Eric Krantz · · Black Hills · Joined Feb 2004 · Points: 420

Thanks for the info on the "linelocker". Good idea. I'm using an alpine butterfly at one end and a 3-1 pulley using carabiners at the other end.

Couloirman, I don't know what kind of webbing it is. It's 1" tubing, very dynamic (stretches at least 20% when I pull it tight).

The Larry - what happens when your line snaps? I thinking of the biggest purple welt ever...

XOG · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2002 · Points: 245

Thanks for the post and the info, I've had the same questions & have a similar setup. Although I haven't had mine break, it is pretty easy to put a simple backup in the system with an untensioned cord attached between the anchor and the line (to the inside of the point of weakness such as a knot - various ways to do this), one on each side. That way you at least can feel secure about not having fly-away biners, etc. I'm definitely going to check into the line locker and other suggestions, probably a simple backup never hurts as well.

thecornyman · · Oakland, CA · Joined May 2010 · Points: 140

So everything I use for my slack line I keep separate from my climbing gear. I've never used rap rings but after reading up on line lockers I'm going to try next time. Do you think it would be wise to retire the rap rings I use or should this type of tension not weaken them? Thanks.

thecornyman · · Oakland, CA · Joined May 2010 · Points: 140
The Larry wrote:The whole designated gear for slacklining is a little silly IMO. Sure, I wouldn't recommend making climbing slings out of and old slackline, but as long as you are not deforming any of your hardware I don't know why it wouldn't be ok for climbing. I've set many highlines up with cams from my climbing rack that I still use for climbing. I mean if I'm trusting them with my life on a highline why wouldn't I trust them climbing? As for linelocker rings, they are way stronger than your slackline and aren't taking a huge load so they should be fine for repeated use. edit: use 1/2" rap rings. Steel is best but aluminum is fine.
Thanks Larry
Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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