So many ropes, so many uses, so much so that rope can get confusing. Recently I have read and heard from many folks that are getting very confused about the ropes that are available for hammock camping and what they are used for. Over the last few years as new suspension techniques have come about there are getting to be so many choices for different uses, be it hanging your tarp or hanging your hammock, then picking the correct rope for the job has become more and more difficult. I figure its time to work on a comprehensive guide to all the ropes we stock here at Arrowhead Equipment so that you can select the appropriate rope for each hammock camping task. Let us start with suspension grade lines and work down. With the advent of constriction based suspensions in 2009 and the advent of the Whoopie sling, Amsteel Blue came to the forefront of many hammock campers' vocabulary. Amsteel Blue, not to be confused with but often abbreviated as it's brother Amsteel is a Single braid rope made from DYNEEMA®...Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). In plain English that means its really strong synthetic fibers braided into a rope. It's splicable to form a whoopie sling that can be used for an adjustable hammock suspension. For hammock suspensions, the 7/64" size is most commonly used and has an average breaking strength of 1600 pounds. Some folks though like a little more overkill and go up the next size to 1/8th inch with a breaking rating of 2500 pounds.
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I'm starting the "You Do Not Go to Ground" photo contest. Begins now and runs 1 week. The rules are simple: Post a picture here of you not "going to ground." It can be could be using structures or vehicles or stands but lets see some creative hang options that have kept you up off the ground. A true Hammock Junkie knows they do not sleep on the ground at any cost. Best photo that shows not going to ground wins some sweet AHE gear and bragging rights. Bonus points for AHE gear in your photo.
Tag your photos with #youdonotgotoground and #AHE Post your photos to Facebook, Twitter or Google+ and tag us to enter.
We also recently added Fixed Length RidgeLines to the Suspension category. For a long time we have offered Adjustable Length Ridgelines and felt that it was time to round out our options with fixed length RL. We are starting off with 4 colors and 2 lengths for you to pic from initially but if you need a custom length get in touch and we will try to accommodate anything.
Hope your spring starts off warm with miles of open trails and sturdy trees. P. Winter is coming up on us quickly this year and it seams like more and more folks are looking to get out and do some cold weather camping this year. Each year as more folks experiment with winter camping we get many questions about keeping warm as possible with our gear. The first steps is understanding how to stay warm in cold weather. Most of this comes down to understanding how humans stay warm more than the gear in your pack. Here is my breakdown on priorities of warmth. #1 be well hydrated. Blood flow is massively impacted by dehydration. Extremities and skin surface get chilled much quicker when your not as well hydrated. #2 good calories balance between sugars, fats, carbs, and protein. Sugars warm you up, a piece of chocolate is great just before bed. Carbs and protein takes longer to break down and keeps the engine running. And fats like those in olive oil or butter can help to get the metabolic motor running. #3 Clean, dry and and loose fitting clothes. Do not wear socks or base layers that fit tightly. If your socks are tight at all, even a little you are better off without them. Down socks can make a big difference in keeping the toes warm. As will a good warm hat. #4 get up and take a leak when you need to rather than staying in the covers when you need to go. Your body has to maintain the warmth of that fluid and is expending energy on that. When you get up though take a drink of water, if your not in bear country (assuming you can keep food safe and readily accessible) a bite or two of chocolate and then hop back under the covers. #5 Hot water bottle trick and or the cem hot packs. Put them someplace where they will help keep your core warm and pumping hot blood. I will sometimes put a hot cem pack on the small of my back near the kidneys if it gets really cold. You will be pumping good hot heat though your system. Once you account for these 5 factors you will stay warmer than if you ignore these cold weather priorities. Next up (and here is where Arrowhead Equipment is here to help) Keep your feet warm. Insulate your lower legs with a high quality Foot Pad. A high quality foam foot pad can help to make a huge difference in your comfort. Cool feet will make you feel cold faster than most other areas. As your feet are the farthest from your core if they are chilled they are your body is pumping more blood flow to them to try and compensate and bringing that colder blood flow back to your core. Insulating your feet well from the cold will make a measurable difference in your comfort. Keep your Head Warm. Our Bear Pillow gives you a warm spot to lay your head down nightly. A Cold noggin again will cool you down fast. Between a large surface area and very little muscle your head can chill in a hurry. Many underquilts are made to ride from your shoulders down, leaving your head exposed to the cold air below. One of our Pillows provides insulation and comfort to help you rest soundly through the long winter nights. I hope that helps to keep you warm though the cold months. Paul @ Arrowhead Equipment Our Foot Pads are the highest quality, lightest weight and best warmth of any foot pads on the market. They have years of testing and are an incredible value in the comfort and added warmth they provide for your hammock camping system. Check out the video below for more details.
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AHE CrewWhats up at AHE, What Happening is our mini Blog about the day to day things that we are working on. Check back Frequently for updates, In Stock items, Specials, Trip Plans (yes that you can join us on) and what ever else pops up. Archives
January 2024
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