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Noob guide?

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yellav
Posts: 10056 - Karma: 1,215
i myself have only fooled around once on a friends setup who lives far away now a long time ago. i'm sure there will be others like me who join this cult, so any tips on how to get into it, what to buy, things experienced people wish they knew when they started out would be really helpful! thanks!
May 10 2010 3:14PM
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Sklar
Posts: 8864 - Karma: 31,612
Here is my take on a good n00b setup:
1" tubular webbing, the length of what you want to walk plus about 10' or 15' for flexibility of the setup and tightening it, i suggest about 60'
2 10' pieces of 1" tubular webbing tied into loops, Google water knot, These will be your anchors, the part around the tree
5* carabiners, they don't need to be locking, but they have to be real climbing biners, not the cheapo free ones.
Cardboard or old carpet or something to protect the tree, not needed but its good to be nice to the tree

*I think 5 is a good number to start with, it offers flexibility of different ways to setup up the line, but it can be done with less
webbing should be about $0.32 per foot at REI or your local climbing/outdoor store
biners are anywhere between $6 and $15 a piece

If i can find the time to make a video on how to set it up i will
May 10 2010 5:42PM
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Sklar
Posts: 8864 - Karma: 31,612
this is more or less the way i set mine up, it is pretty easy

I guess i exported it from imove wrong, but it still works

How to set up a slackline from Matt Sklar on Vimeo.

May 10 2010 10:14PM
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Sklar
Posts: 8864 - Karma: 31,612
thank you for the correction, i always get the two mixed up

i have been using a repel ring to attach my biners to the line for a while so i am i little out of practice doing it with the knot
May 11 2010 11:49PM
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S.Ki
Posts: 2240 - Karma: 3,765

the slackline i have is basically a beginner thing. its one of those gibbon slacklines/ jiblines. they come in different lengths (i use the 50 feet one) it comes with straps and a ratchet. its very easy to set up (you dont need any devices) and its good for starting out.

looks like this:

[IMG]outdoorfeeling.com/images/gibbon_slackline_gr.jpg[/IMG]

May 12 2010 3:13PM
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apcaipse
Posts: 2168 - Karma: 25
I've only ever tried once, these guys in a park were doing it and me and my friend tried it there cause it looked fun, but how much is it? Is there any way to just buy a beginner kit that simply explains how to set up? Because it looks like a hard  sport to get into.
May 12 2010 7:14PM
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Sklar
Posts: 8864 - Karma: 31,612
IMO, it is better to buy webbing and carabiners
look at the the posts above, It should be about $60 for 75' of webbing and 4 or 5 biners.

The video i made shows how to set it up, and there are more videos online as well
May 12 2010 7:31PM
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theblacktaco
Posts: 1462 - Karma: 82
ok so is this what i need?

1 50ish foot 1 inch thick 15 "elactcity"(sp) climbing webbing

4 good caribeners

and i was thinking of just using thick rope i already own to tie around the two trees

will this set up work if i use that way posted in the video above?
Jun 6 2010 8:26PM
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theblacktaco
Posts: 1462 - Karma: 82
ohh didnt no they were that cheap.. dam i wanna get into this so bad but im really lacking money
Jun 7 2010 4:47PM
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I_Am_Mod
Posts: 13214 - Karma: 3,753
best tips for beginners; start with a slackline kit, or if you're really short on money; tubular webbing and a ratchet ^^like above ...
(the technique with the carabiners works fine but is quite complex and very hard to setup on your own, especially if you haven't done i before and are not sure you're doing it correct....)

technique tips for beginners;
1) look at a fixed point, preferably the anchor point you're walking towards or the horizon....
1.2) don't look down, its harder to estimate distance/position:balance if you cant see the horizon ...

2) bend your knees, lower your center of gravity

3) still having trouble; have someone sit down in the middle of the line, this works as a shockabsorber and makes the line much more stable

4) try to place your feet parallel on the line, in the beginning this is quite difficult, and if you don't feel it; try stating with placing your feet under a sharp angle..
4.1) in the beginning placing your feet perpendicular to the line is gonna make you rotate sideways and lose balance.. once you're a bit more experinced you can experiment with this and learn how to turn around on the line ...

5) with your first steps it is ok to hold someones hand, this gives you a good feeling of how the line reacts
5.1) you can then proceed with holding only by a finger or ask them to stand behind you and gently pull your shirt up around the back of your neck, this gives you a little bit more stability but still allows you to have that completely "free" feeling....


any more questions/problems, pm me, i'm not an expert but as long as you aren't either i might be able to help you out!

grtz!
-fred
Aug 23 2010 11:50AM
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