Stretchiness of dacron vs. Spectra

[wmw999 2,534]

A friend of mine is planning on using parachute cord to hang her camping hammock, and is wondering whether 1500-lb (which is what she wants) dacron or Spectra will be better. I know dacron stretches some, and I'm pretty sure Spectra is more slippery. Use involves wrapping it around a tree, and tying it off with a series of half-hitches. Half-hitches work because you never know how far apart the trees are going to be.

I'd love to be convinced that one or the other is better, so that I can tell her authoritatively one way or the other.

Thoughts? Thanks

Wendy P.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[Southern_Man 0]

I've made my own hammock and spent quite a bit of time researching options. I used and most sites seem to recommend spectra cord. Dacron is indeed stretchier and stretchy is not a good quality for suspending the hammock (gives too much sag).

Also I personally attach the line to a carabiner, and then use webbing around the tree. The webbing is a little easier on the tree and a little easier setup, although people who are using their hammock for minimalist backpacking would probably want to go with the half-hitches solution (I would have to think hard whether a different knot would be better but half hitches should certainly work).

"What if there were no hypothetical questions?"

[ineed2fly 0]

Spectra doesn't holds knots well, they tend to slip out. I would suggest Dacron. I highly doubt the difference would even be remotely noticeable for this application. Dacron will also be easier to untie once the knots are loaded, since its a thicker diameter.

"As soon as you're born you start dying. So you might as well, have a good time."
-CAKE

I'm crazy not stupid. There is a difference.

[jhh166 0]

In the Marine Corps, when in the field, we would make hammocks out of type III (550 cord). I would use a tensionless hitch on one end and a truckers hitch on the other for some mechanical advantage to remove any unwanted sag.

[Boogers 0]

And if it does stretch a little over time, how hard is it to just re-tie one end?

[riggerrob 643]

Dacron's increased bulk helps improve knot efficiency.

[masterrigger1 2]

Dacron is a polyester material which is the best of the line types to use in a UV enviroment.
Also is will be detter all the way around IMHO for the hammock.

It is thicker which is better where the fabric should attached.etc

MEL

Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC
www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

[mjosparky 4]

Dacron = 15 – 20%. Spectra 5 – 9 %.

Use 1/2" tubular nylon. Much easier to work with.

Sparky

My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

[jhh166 0]

Boogers

And if it does stretch a little over time, how hard is it to just re-tie one end?

Not hard at all. The truckers hitch (3:1 mechanical advantage w/ an inline knot, usually a butterfly knot) was secured with two half hitches or a clove hitch and they could easily be untied to tension. The hardest part is getting out of the hammock to make the adjustments.

[Hellis 0]

Why use knots at all?

I would use dacron as the structure part of the hammoc and then use type 8 and a frictionadapter to attach it to the trees.
This way it's wide, easy to use, no need for knots and the lenght can easily be adapted for.