Ok, i looked and looked for the thread on this, but i cant find it, and had to get this out there...

Start slacklining!!!! NOW!!

as odd as this looks/sounds... it is really fun, really difficult, and a crazy good workout! I got a kit for christmas, but havent had any good weather to try it out, till yesterday... and man, when the wind aint blowin', i'll be slacklinin'!!!!

Its really hard to describe how cool this is, but trust me, it is WAY cool... by far the best way to wait for the wind to pick up... and just for Angus, i'm going to get a pic of me doing it with a beer... so it passes his test! (and he'll have no excuse) lol

What Is Slacklining?

And i really feel bad for forgetting, but whoever posted the 'original slacklining post' thank you for the intro!!

:edit.... william_rx7!! i owe ya (i found the original)

I met a few guys at a college that would do this every day. I tried, and failed miserably. My balance is much better now and as such, I'm tempted to give it another go.

How much does a start kit run you?

79 bucks from rei for a 15 ft.
Looked into it, next time i need to order any gear ill put it on the order.
and drew ill hold ya to being able to use with a beer. lol balance on a tight rope with beer. Does look like something fun to set up at the camp site and challenge buddies they have had more beer.

it actually cost me nothing :embarrased:

mom's xmas gift to me... she got if from a place called slackdaddy... its pretty nice, has sewn ends, so there are fewer knots to be had... i also added a shackle on one end so i could get the line a little better(tighter) with the 4 biners that came with the kit... i also added a link of 3/8 chain as a line-lock, so i have even fewer knots... if i remember right its good enough for a 50' slackline, and was like $70 :dunno: maybe $80

i dont think he sells the sewn kit anymore... i looked on his site and couldnt find it... has the basic setup for $59 tho
really fun stuff!

Check out the yogaslackers. They are a traveling band of slacklining yoga dudes that also snow and kitesurf. They did the to cross the moon project a few years back (snowkiting from canada to south dakota :crazy

we have a local store that carries slacklines, kite gear, longboard gear, stand up paddleboards, unicycles etc. pretty much everything that most people don't do lol. i bought my slackline kit for about $90 which is probably expensive but i like to support local business.

the first couple times i tried it i'd be lucky to even step on the rope without flying onto my face or @$$ and when you are just beginning all you can think of is how impossible it seems. but your muscles adapt really quickly and after a few sessions i can get up and walk along "fairly" well...nowhere close to the level of the guys in the "Slacklife" videos though lol

check out their vids and be amazed

http://www.youtube.com/user/CatalysticPro

i love slacking when there's no wind!!!!! its crazy simple fun :wee:

I'm going to have to try that out at the folks vacation home this summer. I'll be using a different setup though. Luckily I've got everything I need at work to build a rig...2" x 27" ratchet strap, various length nylon slings, and various size shackles. Even if you had to buy everything you could do it well under the prices for a "kit" online especially if you substitute the nylon slings for a good quality three strand nylon rope.

Quote:

Originally posted by clintopher I'm going to have to try that out at the folks vacation home this summer. I'll be using a different setup though. Luckily I've got everything I need at work to build a rig...2" x 27" ratchet strap, various length nylon slings, and various size shackles. Even if you had to buy everything you could do it well under the prices for a "kit" online especially if you substitute the nylon slings for a good quality three strand nylon rope.

i thought about doing the ratchet thing too... but there are some problems...
a. diffeternt material setup... nylon slings arent the same as the tubular nylon you use... may not be a bad thing... just so ya know.. plus you are talking a 2"... and most slacking, it seems, is done on 1" or 5/8"
b. the ratchets are really heavy, and it has been said it will affect the way the slackline will behave... due to the added weight
c. you cant use rope in a slackline because it will roll out from under you... the tublar nylon gets pressed flat and provides a surface to walk on... when rope or cable is used on a tightrope it is pulled so tight its like walking on a steel beam

this is off of slackdaddy's site:
"Sure I’ve tried these tools to tighten a slackline [truck ratchet], but the big ones are way too heavy and the small one is way too wimpy.

I’m always amazed when I see people selling these tools (although slightly altered) as slackline tools. Not only do I think the big ones are too heavy, they are not always that easy to use and as soon as the nylon spools up on the ratchet drum you can not go any tighter (unless you do some sort of line grab and re-rig).

using a simple Ellington method is light, cheap and easy. If you are just starting out and are not sure if you are going to stick with it, a beginner kit tightened with an Ellington is the way to go. People who do learn with a ratchet almost always change over to something else and abandon the ratchet. I believe the ratchet is actually detrimental to the learning process, as it does not give the proper feel of the line. Too much weight in one spot gives the line an awkwardness that blows, (“feedback”; the ratchet is swinging one way while you swing the other)."

i like my rig... let me know if the other way works tho

The sling or rope would only be used as anchors so shouldn't affect anything. I didn't think of the weight of the ratchet...that could be an issue. I could make an A-frame to put in front of the ratchet so it wouldn't be an issue. As far as the strap being 2" I figured it'd be easier to learn on plus I've already got it. We'll see what happens.

i use a system of 5 carabiners to create the mechanical advantage needed to get the line tight enough. i like the simplicity of this setup which to me, seems to fit the philosophy of slacklining. with this system i'm perfectly able to setup a 50' span easily enough on my own. even longer if i have a partner to help me tighten. ratchets are useful for longer spans or if you can't get a line tight enough

just remember to pad your trees!