Mule tape uses12/5/2023 I hung two nights from a medium pine (unsure of the variety) trunk with the same results. One time, I accidentally placed the MT over a twig stump and the MT separated, not even damaging the previously cut stump, but suffered no damage. Not the trunk, but a 90* limb, using 1/2" MT produced no visible sign of anything. 1 overnight and multiple short term hangs from a relatively small Live Oak branch. Just for informational purposes, I'll add my experiences. So, whatever the tree diameter, I think the greatest pressure on the trunk is the entry side, and I think LNT is what we owe to our trees, so wide straps are good. By the time its 5-6 ft diameter, the friction of the strap reduces "pull" on the far side of the wrap to almost nothing. I've also hun many times from larger redwood trees. Here are three different configs: 1) strap wrapped around trunk and reconnected with itself on the entry side of the trunk-pressure mark on that entry side, not on the closed side 2) strap re-attached to itself mid trunk and at least a foot from the trunk, still pressure mark on the entry side, and also pressure mark on the opposite side 3) strap wrapped around the trunk an extra 360 before re-attaching to itself-pressure mark still on the entry side. After the night of hanging, I can see pressure marks on the bark, which disappears after a couple days. I often hang in my backyard from a couple of redwood trees with about 2' diameter trunks at head level (I planted them, they're young). So do you guys now think that mule tape is acceptable in certain situations on the west coast? Feel free to criticize or give examples were this couldn't hold true. You guys can check my math if you want, I quickly made these calculations. Now let's take a hammocker on the west coast who wants to strap up on a pair of 2.5' wide red firs using 3/4 mule tape.Īssuming they have the same weight and correct angle, then the overall pressure applied is equal to ~ 2.55 psi. Īssuming they hang at a 30* angle, and weigh 180 lbs stark, then the force applied on each strap will be around 180lbs.Īn input into the pressure formula p=(f/a) gives that the total pressure in psi equals ~ 3.18 psi.' On the east coast, a hammocker decides to strap up on a pair of arbitrarily small, let's take 1.5' wide, beech trees using 1" normal webbing. Take this for example: *Note we will assume the straps wrap entirely around the tree. So would you think that the use of mule tape (in very specific cases) would be acceptable to use as a tree strap? This means that there is more area for webbing to bite into, thereby decreasing the overall pressure on the tree. However, on the west coast (where I live), the trees tend to be pretty large on average. I have gotten all of mine for free so far.The use of 1">mule tape as tree straps has been very controversial.Įspecially on the east coast, where the trees tend to have very small diameters, the smaller webbing bites more into the tree. The cheap price makes up for this down side however.Ĭall some local electricians and tell them you would like to recycle their used mule tape. The only downside I have found with it is that it is designed as a disposable item, so it gets chewed up pretty fast. It is also marked by the foot, so useful as a tape measure when making shelters and such. I have also used it for a Swiss seat harness. It is strong enough to be used with a flip flop winch in the bush. It is also way more comfortable when used for a lashed cot, due to being flat. I also use it for stronger lashing needs, being wide it gets great grip on branches, trees, etc. My ridge line is mule tape, wide, soft, does not stretch, super strong (if your trees sway). Micro cord can cause damage when used as a ridge line, too much force focused in too small an area. I want a tie out to fail before my tarp does. I use the micro cord for tie outs on tarps and light lashing, if you need 550# of strength on a tie out you did something wrong. My kit skips directly from micro cord, right to 3/4" 2500# mule tape.
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