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Set-Up a Slackline
by admanrocks on March 11, 2007 Table of Contents Set-Up a Slackline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Intro: Set-Up a Slackline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 1: Supplies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 2: Anchors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 3: Knots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 4: Set it up - Anchors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 5: Set it up - Slack line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 6: Set it Up - Slackline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 7: Set it up - Slackline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 8: SLACKLINE!! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Related Instructables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 2 3 3 4 4 5 6 7 7 7

http://www.instructables.com/id/Set-Up-a-Slackline/

Author:admanrocks
my name is Adam!

Intro: Set-Up a Slackline

Slack lining is a very fun and challenging "sport" that requires a lot of skill. However the cheapest slack line "kits" available are around fifty bucks, i made this one for about half of that. This instructable will show you how to set up your own slackline.

Step 1: Supplies
Here is what you will need. I got all of the supplies from REI, but i am sure there are many other places that carry these things. Materials 1 inch tubular webbing- (at least) 70 feet carabiners - 5 carpet (1ft. by 3-5ft.) also needed: 2 trees, poles, or any two VERY sturdy upright objects

Image Notes 1. Carabiners (3 more of these) 2. Carpet 3. Webbing, you need a lot more than this

http://www.instructables.com/id/Set-Up-a-Slackline/

Step 2: Anchors
The anchors attach the line to the tree or whatever you are slack-lining in between. so, once you have the webbing, you need to cut of TWO ten foot sections (make sure to burn the ends, so the webbing won't fray). these will be the anchors. Now, tie a water knot on both ends of the ten foot sections to make a big loop. you can see how to tie a figure water Here

Image Notes 1. this is a figure 8, which you should NOT use. use a water knot instead.

Step 3: Knots
... well hitches actually there are only two simple knots that you need to know these are the Clove, and half hitch if you dont know how to tie these, look here: Clove Hitch Half Hitch

Image Notes 1. clove hitch

http://www.instructables.com/id/Set-Up-a-Slackline/

Step 4: Set it up - Anchors

wrap the carpet around the tree, this will not only protect the tree, but make your line last longer. then wrap one of your ten foot sections around the carpet and put one carabiner on the ends of the loop do the same to the other side, but with two two carabiners on this side. make sure that BOTH carabiners go into both loops with the gates facing out

Step 5: Set it up - Slack line

now, tie one end of your large piece of webbing to the anchor with only one carabiner, use the clove hitch. now walk towards your other anchor holding the line to make sure that there are no twists. when you are about 4/5 of the way there tie a clove hitch, put 2 carabiners through the two loops you make in the clove hitch.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Set-Up-a-Slackline/

Image Notes 1. clove i never take this carabiner off - it;s just easier. 2. <---- Locking end that way

Image Notes 1. the 2 carabiners attached to the line with a love hitch

Step 6: Set it Up - Slackline

now feed the exces Webbing (the free piece of webbing) through the bottom carabiner on your anchor, going up , then feed it back through the bottom carabiner on the line, going up , then the top carabiner on the anchor, going up' , and the top carabiner on the line, going up. now PULL , this might take more than one person. you want it to be pretty pull until it won't go anymore. Keeping tension on the line, tie at least three half hitches around the webbing that is in between the sets of carabiners. I recommend tyeing them on a bite, this will make taking down the line much easier.

Image Notes 1. pull on this end

http://www.instructables.com/id/Set-Up-a-Slackline/

Image Notes 1. 3 half hitches

Step 7: Set it up - Slackline

now, while keeping all the tension on the line tie 3 or 4 half hitches in front and in back of the lines's carabiners.

Image Notes

http://www.instructables.com/id/Set-Up-a-Slackline/

1. 3 half hitches

Step 8: SLACKLINE!!
now you're ready. this takes a ton of practice, but eventually you can get pretty good, have fun and be safe!! Note that it will take a while for your line to stretch out, if you notice the line getting loser, it is probably the webbing stretching.

Image Notes 1. A good way to store it is in a stuff sack from an old sleeping bag like this

Related Instructables

The $5.00 slackline! (video) by Marsh

Webbing Wallet by LostRite

Build a water mortar by m32825

Self balancing one wheeled electric skateboard by XenonJohn

Nitro Powered RC Hovercraft by Jnkyrdguy

Drainage Luge by pbshoe

Comments
50 comments Add Comment view all 76 comments

woody558 says:

Aug 4, 2010. 11:25 AM REPLY An easier way (but probably not instructables-worthy) is to just buy a ratchet strap and wrap one end around the tree and attach the other end to an anchor around the tree. It makes it very easy to tighten, too. They only cost about $15.

sk3lton says:
I use a ratchet for my slackline it is very quick and easy to set up but i don't trust it for long/high lines

Apr 19, 2011. 6:11 AM REPLY

Marsh says:

Mar 7, 2011. 5:24 AM REPLY Rather than using 4 carabiners here, use three and thread the piece you currently have going through the 4th biner back underneath the strap at the 2nd biner. Tension alone will hold the line secure and you'll be able to get it a lot tighter. Oct 28, 2010. 9:30 AM REPLY I use line lockers in my kit, they are rappelling rings, solid cast aluminum rings about 1.5 inch diameter. using these with a carabiner allows you to put 0 knots in your main line and it gives you a perfectly flat surface to walk. They are available from REI. Aug 3, 2010. 1:21 PM REPLY Will this webbing work? http://www.countrybrookdesign.com/2-Inch-25-YDS-Heavy-Black/Webbing-Polypro-Polyproplene/2-Inch-Heavy/Black-p5129583.html Also, is there an advantage of having the four-carabiner tensioning system versus a two-carabiner system?

kmix says:

woody558 says:

http://www.instructables.com/id/Set-Up-a-Slackline/

admanrocks says:

Aug 10, 2010. 5:05 PM REPLY I wouldn't recommend that webbing. As I said in the instructable, I recommend 1 inch military spec. tubular webbing. You can get this easily at a local climbing or outdoors store.' 4 carabiners will give you a greater mechanical advantage than 2, I find that 2 is enough, but 4 is better for longer lines.

flamekiller says:

Jun 9, 2010. 12:51 AM REPLY A worthwhile consideration on this setup: these carabiners are tri-loaded. In a shorter line as in this Instructable, that's probably not a problem, but consider other methods when rigging a longer line. Carabiners are rated to be loaded axially on their major axis (along the spine from end to end) and a tri-loaded 'biner will fail at a lower load. Again, probably not a problem here.

adamcgreenberg says:

Jul 5, 2010. 8:50 AM REPLY These are loaded in the same way you would rig an anchor for climbing. the biner is only being loaded at two points even though it is connected to three things. May 15, 2010. 7:17 PM REPLY

woody558 says:
How long did it take before you could walk without help? It seems like you would need immense concentration and superior balance to walk on one of these.

admanrocks says:
about 3 weeks of trying every day. anyone can get good at slacklining, that's why it's so great.

May 15, 2010. 10:05 PM REPLY

woody558 says:
How is this $25? 5 good biners cost $25 (total) + 70 feet of webbing costs $25 = $50 This costs just as much as a kit.

May 14, 2010. 3:15 PM REPLY

admanrocks says:
did I say $25? haha, well let me say this. Since making this a few years back i have realized that 5 biners is quit excessive. you really only need 3. and yeah, webbing would be 25 dollars. sooooo that's 35. I really dislike the kits though, like those gibbon lines, those suck, i would not recommend them.

May 15, 2010. 9:31 AM REPLY

woody558 says:
How do you make it with 3 biners?

May 15, 2010. 3:03 PM REPLY

admanrocks says:

May 15, 2010. 10:04 PM REPLY exactly the same way as i showed except use only one biner where there a two on the tensioning end. you can also double the webbing through, which allows for better MA and the friction holds the webbing tight, so you don't really need to tie it off or worry about it slipping before you do. I really like this system.

woody558 says:
Will these carabiners work? www.academy.com/index.php

May 8, 2010. 6:09 AM REPLY

admanrocks says:
absolutely not. you need biners that can carry a load. I would recommend these one's www.rei.com/product/662847

May 9, 2010. 12:47 PM REPLY

woody558 says:
What if the anchors slip on the tree?

May 7, 2010. 10:06 AM REPLY

admanrocks says:
they won't if you have the line tensioned.

May 7, 2010. 4:58 PM REPLY

http://www.instructables.com/id/Set-Up-a-Slackline/

MKohen says:

Jun 23, 2008. 12:39 PM REPLY Hey I'm thinking about going into slacklining, but I've got some questions... Do the carabiners have to be the screw-lock type? Can they just open and close? Also, what type of webbing and carabiners did you get off REI? I don't want to spend too much money...

admanrocks says:
the carabiners do not have to be locking, infact I probably wouldn't reccommed them, they're sort of a pain. you can set up a line for not a whole lot: webbing - - 32 cents a foot (1 inch tubular military spec) carabiners- $9 these there is a way to set up a line using only 3 or 3 biners, let me know if you want to see how to do that. but you could probably get it for 30 bucks

Jun 23, 2008. 9:17 PM REPLY

fizil says:

Jun 27, 2008. 2:19 PM REPLY I would think the non-pulley side wouldn't need any biners. I would put a bend in the rope and tie a double over hand knot so that there is a nonslipping loop in the end. Put that end around the tree and fee the free standing side through then do the pulley stuff on the other side.

lasersage says:

Apr 19, 2010. 5:54 AM REPLY a knot/bend would actually be better than what is shown in step 5. Crabs should NEVER be 3 way loaded like the picture shows. It should've been girth hitched round the tree then crabbed to the line to keep the crab aligned. This ible totally takes me back, I bought a load of webbing and did it this way. Used it once or twice and really liked it, then my girlfriend bought me a proper ratcheting line for my birthday. Way more convenient. Totally try it out this way on the cheap, but buying a decent line makes life so much easier in the longrun. Just had my first slackline of the year on saturday. Came back pleasingly easily. Can get from one end to the other, turn, bounce, even tried doing some poi whilst walking. Can't do any mad flips yet though :)

admanrocks says:
interesting. I've always preffereed this method to the racheting systems. A slackline is a simple thing, no need for unneccesary bels and whistles. I tried one of those Gibbon one's with the 2 inch webbing the other day. That's funky. I spose I'm a litle bit of a sentimentalist

Apr 22, 2010. 8:38 PM REPLY

lasersage says:

Apr 23, 2010. 1:16 AM REPLY I thought I did until I owned a ratchet. I was convinced I needed the extra pull available through the pulley method, but you don't actually need tree felling power, just nice'n tight. Hence why I went with the pulley system first, but having owned the ratchet system I wouldn't go back. Quick and easy and definitely less hardware. I had 5 crabs, but the biggest problem with it was I had way too much webbing and didn't want to cut it. Made setting it up tedious. I should've faced facts that I'm not as awesome as I'd like to be, cut it, then had a lot easier time. Bet I would've liked it more then :) Each to there own I figure.

admanrocks says:

Jun 27, 2008. 10:04 PM REPLY ya, that would definitely work, but the anchor - biner set up gets the line perfectly flat, but that is a great set up solution on the cheap.

admanrocks says:

Apr 22, 2010. 8:40 PM REPLY also, unless you're setting up a line that's a lot more than 30 feet, it would be difficult to overload your biner... Just saying

fizil says:
oh yeah, forgot about getting the webbing flat.

Jun 28, 2008. 10:12 AM REPLY

MKohen says:

Jun 25, 2008. 12:35 PM REPLY the three carabiner one would be useful. How did you get 5 of the ones on the website for $9? wouldnt it be more like $25?

admanrocks says:
those were $9 a piece. I'd reccomend the $5, oval, non locking one's though.

Apr 29, 2010. 3:55 PM REPLY

http://www.instructables.com/id/Set-Up-a-Slackline/

nbail79 says:
Do the carabiners have to be locking?

Apr 18, 2010. 9:36 PM REPLY

admanrocks says:
not at all. That's just what i had. It's easier and cheaper to use non-locking biners. Just make sure that you're using legit climbing biners, meant to hold large loads. (climbing one's)

Apr 22, 2010. 8:41 PM REPLY

nbail79 says:

Apr 22, 2010. 9:50 PM REPLY Awesome, thanks. I went ahead and got some oval non locking biners. Great ible by the way. It came right when i was thinking about buying a kit. Oh how my mind did change.

wolf123450 says:

Apr 20, 2010. 9:48 PM REPLY With my slackline, I store it by folding it over 4 times and tying it into a daisychain, and then hooking the carabiners to either end of that, and the same with the anchor loops, and it just slings over the shoulder. Then you've only got to worry about carrying the carpet pieces in your arms. Nice instructable.

greatpanda says:

Apr 18, 2010. 11:56 AM REPLY This appears to be a ringbolt hitch/lark's head/cow hitch, in a clove hitch one of the bights is turned the other way. It's the right knot for this though, since it's in a sling anyway. Jul 21, 2009. 11:48 AM REPLY The carabiner system is nice, but it gets hard to tension the line when it is very long. I use the Charger 40 Kit from Freeflow Lines. ( http://www.freeflowlines.com ) Very nice kit, super easy to set up, and easy to tension. Apr 26, 2009. 7:39 AM REPLY of course, he could have gotten even this system really tight if he used a travelling pulley (ie another biner hitched onto the pullcord). I just tried one yesterday, the thing was amazing, and then you can add biners like that ad infinitum (if it weren't for friction), there's amazing potential with those things. Apr 24, 2007. 3:24 PM REPLY A video clip or some diagrams would really help with that last complicated step. It looks like a good way to take up slack in a strap, and it's a technique I should know, but it's a bit hard to follow.

JoshBittner says:

viridiscomis says:

Myself says:

zoink says:

May 30, 2007. 2:40 AM REPLY

How he got it tight enough will three yanks I have no idea.

n8man says:

Jul 13, 2008. 9:43 AM REPLY He used mechanical advantage with a pulley and he was able to use less force with a longer distance. You learn this in Physics.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Set-Up-a-Slackline/

Corvidae says:

Dec 14, 2008. 11:21 PM REPLY I set up the way he does in the video and it takes more than three pulls. I actaully have more biners in my system and thus more MA (though admittedly more friction). Im sure he sagged pretty far once he was off camera. His line may be super short though. Shorter lines are easier to tighten, and you dont need a long line to make a demo vid.

jclaw says:

Apr 6, 2009. 11:07 AM REPLY there is cut between him pulling the line and him walking on it, so he could've given the line several more yanks that didn't make it to the final edit...

n8man says:
True...

Dec 15, 2008. 4:37 PM REPLY

StepsoftheSun says:

Jun 6, 2007. 11:16 PM REPLY That is kinda baffling...it took myself and three or four others several 1-2-3-HEAVE! type yanks to get ours tight last weekend. That was my first time on a slackline...but it's all I think about now. Good Instructable and video.

admanrocks says:

Jun 7, 2007. 8:38 AM REPLY well, the longer your line, the harder you'll have to pull. I'd recommend starting with shorter lines though, they're much easier to walk. once you can get around halfway across a 30 foot-ish line. I'd try some bigger ones for a couple days, then go back to small. You'll notice a HUGE difference in your ability. I'm really glad you tried this though! Have Fun! (by the way, that's not my video, but thanks anyway ( : ]

admanrocks says:
i put up a diagram in step 6, i hope it helps

Apr 24, 2007. 5:31 PM REPLY

steveguitar44 says:

Apr 3, 2009. 3:28 PM REPLY that was very easy to understand! i bought one from slacklineexpress.com, and its great, but i cant bring it to school because it is too bulky. this is my solution. thanks! you just saved me twenty bucks! Feb 13, 2009. 11:48 AM REPLY Hey I've been slacklining for awhile but I'm never the one to set it up, and if I am, me and my friend have a crank system that we use from asana, it's really nice and convinient. But I was wondering if you could somehow explain how to set up a 3 biner set up, 5 is nice but I have a set up for 3 and can't remember, Thanks

kayakwalle says:

admanrocks says:

Feb 13, 2009. 10:21 PM REPLY sure, it's going to be pretty much the same, you're just going to be using 2 biners in the actually tightening system. for this you might want to "double up" the webbing between the biners, so feed it through twice.let me know if you need me to explain further.

trebuchet90 says:

Oct 21, 2008. 7:22 AM REPLY this knot should be a water knot follow through not a figure water, with your knot when the ends are pulled on it opens the knot up, this makes it much weaker Jul 2, 2008. 1:27 PM REPLY yeah, I found a good solution to my problem. I bought the primitive slackline kit off slacklineexpress.com. Its $40 for 80ft of webbing and 5 carabiners, so its not really a kit, but its still cheaper than REI.

MKohen says:

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http://www.instructables.com/id/Set-Up-a-Slackline/