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How To Set Up A Slackline

17 May 2021
How To Set Up A Slackline

Image: Daniel Nevarro/Pexels

Setting up your slackline for the first time can seem a little daunting. You need to pay particular care to not only ensure it is securely put up, but also does not inflict any damage on the feature you choose to set up on (most prominently trees).

Fortunately, by following a couple of simple steps the essentials are easily picked up, and after the first couple of times setting up, you’ll be able to set up with no trouble at all.


What Equipment Do You Need For Slacklining?

The key pieces of equipment required for slacklining are:

  • Slackline
  • Ratchet Strap
  • Ratchet Cover
  • x2 Tree Protectors

The best option when you are initially getting into slacklining is to purchase a kit such as the Gibbon Classicline. The Classicline includes everything you need to get set up safely and securely and is specifically designed for purpose of slacklining.


Choosing a Slackline Location

The easiest and most common way of setting up a slackline is to attach it between two trees around 20 feet apart. The longer you make the line the more it will swing and sag, which can increase the difficulty.

If you don’t have any appropriate trees nearby, then you'll need to get a little creative. Common alternatives include boulders, telephone poles and more. The key is to ensure that the two objects you set up between are very strong and solidly placed.

Also, make sure that the ground underneath the slackline is relatively even. Especially whilst learning you can expect to fall off plenty of times, so you want to minimise any risk of injuring your ankles on uneven ground.


Slackline


Setting Up A Slackline

Setting your slack line up is a relatively simple process once you’ve selected your location. If you are setting up between trees, then first place protectors around both trees at roughly knee height.

You will then need to wrap your slackline around the protector, pulling it back through the loop at the end of the line. Where the slackline comes through the loop, pinch the sides in half so that the line is flat when tensioned.

Wrap your ratchet around the other tree, folding the line at the loop section again to allow it to sit flat once set up.

Feed the line through the ratchet. Once it’s fed through, whilst holding some tension in the line, begin to ratchet the slackline. The ratchet action should be on the underside of the slackline. If you are struggling to ratchet up the tension, then twist the ratchet over so you can go from top-down.

Finding the right tension may take a little trial and error. You don’t want the line to sag so much in the middle that it touches the floor, but also don’t want to overtighten the line. As a rough guide, the tension is usually right when the line vibrates after you flick it.

A tight line is easier to learn on, whereas slacker lines offer more bounce making them perfect for learning tricks and progressing your skills.


Huw Saunders

About the Author:

Huw Saunders - Outdoor Expert

Growing up in rural Wales, Huw has been immersed in the outdoors for as long as he can remember. If not surfing the Welsh coast, he can now usually be found either running or hiking in the Peak District and through the winter, tries to get out to Europe to ski as much as possible.


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