Rhise tree strapsI’ve just recently gotten into hammocks; it’s very exciting and also been a learning experience. What I’d assu... Read More
Rhise tree strapsI’ve just recently gotten into hammocks; it’s very exciting and also been a learning experience. What I’d assumed would be fairly straight-forward actually required research and consideration of several factors; first, there was the actual hammock - single vs. double? Attached mosquito netting vs. separate netting? And perhaps most importantly, how to connect the hammock to the tree? If using the ropes that come with the hammock, what kind of knots to use that are easy to learn, easy to perform when tired or cold, and easy to disassemble the next morning?After plenty of research, I came to the conclusion that for me, the best solution is the combination of a single hammock (to keep pack weight to a minimum), separate mosquito netting that protects me 100% (even underneath the hammock, which mosquitoes can bite through), and tree straps instead of ropes.From everything I’ve read, tree straps are superior to ropes for several reasons. They don’t carry any risk of damaging trees the way ropes do, and for that reason, some parks/preserves actually don’t allow ropes when setting up hammocks. Tree straps also eliminate the possibility that a person might have tied a knot incorrectly which could result in a painful tumble when it gives way in the middle of the night (which would be just my luck). Tree straps are so easy to set up, disassemble, and adjust compared to ropes that after using straps to set up my hammock, I can’t ever imagine that I’d be willing to ever mess around with ropes instead.Once I decided to go with tree straps, the next question was: which brand to buy? More research (which included reading many posts on forums - yes, there actually is a hammock forum!) led me to understand that when choosing tree straps, it’s really important to get ones that are made from polyester, since those don’t stretch over time like nylon will. This led me to give these Rhise tree straps a try, which are made from polyester.Since pack weight is a major concern, I also wanted to get straps that were lightweight. These straps were advertised as weighing less than 1 pound”. When I weighed them on my kitchen scale, they were actually only 12 oz (3/4 of a pound). I was initially worried that being so lightweight, they might not be sufficient to hold my weight in the hammock. This was definitely not a problem; after setting up the hammock (which took seconds, it was that easy), I climbed in. The straps didn’t stretch at all. Then, I had my wife join me in the hammock (our combined weight is about 250lbs). No problem for the straps. We even bounced around a bit, trying to stress the straps (and the hammock, since we were testing that as well) and at no point did I ever feel concerned that the straps had any trouble supporting our combined weight.Upon closely examining the straps, it is easy to see that they are made well; each loop is triple-stiched with really tight stitches. There is no way these things are going to fail on me. That, combined with the fact that they are made out of non-stretchy polyester makes me feel at ease falling asleep in my hammock without any fleeting anxieties of crashing to the ground in the middle of the night. They come with a handy little lightweight travel pouch, which is very convenient for storage and packing. They also have reflective contrasting white stitching down the length of the straps so if you’re looking for your hammock at night, the reflective stitching will help you find your hammock. Again, a nice touch.Lastly, since the straps have loops for the entire length, it's really easy to hang stuff (in this case my wife's tote bag) using carabiners or hooks (in this case the carabiner from my keychain), which is definitely a plus!I’m really pleased that my research paid off. These lightweight, sturdy tree straps are so much better than getting frustrated with trying to tie special knots, which I know would have prevented me from enjoying a really great hammock experience. I really can’t recommend these straps enough.If you found my review to be helpful, consider clicking yes below, I would really appreciate it! Read Less