What is slackline?
Those of you who are intimately familiar with rock climbing have probably come across slackline. This is a special wide sling that is fixed between two supports, it can be trees, poles, safety stations on rocks. On the sling you can walk, jump, perform various tricks. It could be said that this is a kind of entertainment, if it were not for its popularity all over the world, and in Ukraine as well.
Today, slacklining can be found almost everywhere, from parks to mountain tops. Beginners, those who want to try this activity, professional athletes and extreme athletes walk along the trail.
Many people compare walking on a trail with walking on a tightrope. There is some similarity. But there are certain differences:
- First, the rope is hard, while the sling is soft. This affects the degree of tension. The rope does not move while walking, and the sling "plays" under the weight, swings, which adds complexity and excitement at the same time
- Secondly, a special pole is used for walking on the rope, which should help to "catch" balance. There is no pole on the track, a person uses only his body, balancing with his body and hands.
- The third is insurance. It is mandatory on the rope, but not on the slack. Depending on the type of walking, the insurance may not be used. (Read in more detail about the types of trail walking in our blog).
A bit of origin story
The first people who thought of walking on the foot were the American climbers Adam Grossowsky and Jeff Ellington. Prior to this, many used the steel cables that fenced off the car park to hone their poise and balance skills. The boys were the first to try to walk on the "decommissioned" old climbing ropes. This significantly complicated the task - the rope stretches, "plays", sways from side to side. In addition, its diameter is smaller than the diameter of the fencing cable.
This was further developed by other fans of extreme entertainment, and a little later they began to use a sling instead of a rope. This simplified the task, because the sling is wider than the rope and it is easier to stand on it.
The extremes thought this was not enough and they developed rope walking as much as their imagination allowed them. Already in 1983, the guys made an attempt to walk along the cable, which was fixed at a height of 880 meters on the peak of the Lost Arrow Spire. Its length was only 17 meters, but the significant height above the surface made the task difficult.
After that, separate independent disciplines of slacklining appeared, such as highline (slackline at a height), waterline (sling stretched over water), longline (very long sling) and others. Today, many of them are intertwined, which adds excitement and complexity when passing lines.
Slackline today is a separate world of excitement, extreme and fun. After all, everyone and everywhere can walk - both adults and children, in the mountains, parks and sports fields.
What are slacklines?
Before you buy a slackline, we advise you to find out what they are, how they differ from each other and what will suit you best.
The basis of the sling is the sling. It is on it that you will walk.
When choosing, it is important to pay attention to:
- Sling material
- Width
- Length
- Form.
Sling material
Like a climbing rope, a sling can be:
1. Static, that is, one that does not stretch;
2. Dynamic or elastic, that is, one that gives a certain percentage of stretching.
This is influenced by the composition of the sling material.
Today, two main types of fibers are used to make slackline:
- Nylon is a strong synthetic material. The nylon sling for slackline stretches well, it is elastic, has excellent spring and is dynamic during use. It cannot be stretched as much as possible, and this adds complexity and excitement during the passage. Most often, nylon slings are made in short and medium lengths, but there are also long slacklines for tricks at height. One of the features of nylon slings is its softness, it is pleasant to the touch, does not cut the foot, does not press and does not require special care. It is better to keep such traces out of direct sunlight
- Polyester is also a synthetic material, but it does not stretch at all. This makes it possible to pull the sling as tightly as possible. Thanks to this, you can quickly learn to stand and walk on polyester slings, because it does not sag under the weight. Also, polyester slings are used for static training, such as yoga. You can often find slacklines made of polyester in gyms, on sports grounds, where there are many beginners and those willing to try rope walking. One of the disadvantages of polyester is its stiffness. The sling becomes hard at the edges during maximum tension, and it can be unpleasant for the feet when walking barefoot. So if you choose tracks made of hard material, take care of the appropriate shoes so as not to injure your feet.
Slackline width
Directly affects your balance on the sling. The wider the sling, the easier it is to stand on. The Gibbon company, one of the leaders in the field of sling production, develops models from 25 mm to 50 mm wide. In their assortment, you can choose the ideal option for a wide variety of purposes.
A 25 mm sling is most often made of nylon, which will cause it to sag, and the longer the sling, the greater the sag, the higher it is recommended to hang it.
Wide 50mm slings can be made from either nylon or polyester. The first are often used for tricks at a height, they are springy and stretch well under weight, the second are ideal for static loads and yoga.
Fun fact: Stunt and yoga slings are coated with silicone or rubber on the outside, this adds grip to the strap and provides better grip on the slackline during jumps.
Slackline length
When choosing one or another model, it is important to consider the length of the sling.
Short tracks (from 12 to 20 m) are suitable for beginners, beginners of rope walking. Such models can be stretched as much as possible, they will play less and wobble. They are often made of strong and rigid polyester.
Long models were originally developed for longline, but today they are used in other disciplines. Their length can vary from 40 meters or more. The longest registered and completed trail is 2240 m(!).
If you decide to buy a long slackline, focus on the ability to stretch the sling in your area, for some two trees will be enough, while others will need a special support and fastening.
The form of a sling for slackline
In order to ensure strength and reliability, slings are used in two types:
- Classic – single sling. May have hard edges, especially at maximum tension. Most often, classic slings are used for a larger width, so the tape will withstand. More load.
- Tubular in shape resembles a flattened tube. Sometimes they are also called double. The edges of such a sling are soft. This shape is used for both narrow and wide slacklines.
It is important to note that whatever shape and length you choose, all of them can withstand heavy loads. For example, the Gibbon Fitnessline slackline can withstand up to 4 tons, and the basic version from this manufacturer, the Gibbon TravelLine, can withstand 2 tons.
Who needs slacklines?
Slackline is fun and training at the same time. During rope walking, the vestibular apparatus, sense of equilibrium, balance, and concentration are trained. Those muscles that were not previously involved in training are connected.
Today, slackline is used not only by rock climbers, but also by skiers, snowboarders, and acrobats.
With the help of slacklining, you can solve some health problems and improve your well-being. You can, for example:
- Improve posture. In order to maintain balance, different muscle groups are connected. With regular rope walking, the legs, back, and body are trained. By controlling your position on the sling, you thereby learn to control your body.
- Train the brain. If it does not sound pathetic, but any physical training has a positive effect on the work of the brain. And slackline is also a training of concentration and balance.
- Tighten all muscle groups without the gym. Seemingly simple movements on the sling require effort from the athlete. And taking into account the fact that slack is primarily fun, you can imperceptibly tone your body and tighten weak muscles. And for those who, for any reason, cannot work out in the gym, manufacturers offer home exercise machines.
- Have fun, because that's what most people buy slacklines for. Just pull the line in the park or over the water and the fun ride is ready. For example, Gibbon's Funline family model will keep you and your kids busy all day and have a great time.
Slackline is a tool for recovery from injuries. It is used by trainers, rehabilitators and other specialists. Those who have injured the knee, ankle or hip joint are advised to walk along the trail. After all, restoring bones and joints is only half the battle, it is important to restore muscle activity in the area of damage and strengthen the muscles to support the joint bag.
Trainers and accessories
But in addition to classic sets of slacks, manufacturers offer to buy slackline simulators and additional accessories:
- Trainers are a short sling and a frame for its fixation. This option can be used at home, in the hall, on the sports ground. It gives an opportunity not to lose the skills of rope walking in the cold period, when it is already cold in the parks, to practice racks and polish simple tricks. Similar simulators are also used for yoga on the tracks, thanks to the short length of the tape, it is stretched as tightly as possible and sags as little as possible. An example of such a simulator can be the Gibbon Slack Rack Fitness Edition, which can be used not only at home, but also in sports and fitness halls.
- Racks for slack are an additional fixing point when you need to install slack and there is not enough space. They are also used in open areas where there are no trees. They are made of strong metal.
- Training sets are a set of accessories, thanks to which you can diversify training and engage additional muscle groups. Gibbon offers a Fitness Upgrade kit that can be used in conjunction with a slackline or on its own for effective training.
- Changeable fixing mechanisms are used when the main one wears out or when it is necessary to assemble your slacklining kit yourself. In this case, you can buy a sling for the slack and the attachment separately.
- Tree protection. Gibbon's concern is not only about the safety of athletes, but also about the environment. That is why tree protection was developed to prevent bark damage from slings. A tree guard is included in almost all slacklining kits and can also be purchased separately.
- Screws are another type of slack fixation. Unlike the racks, it must be screwed into the ground.
With the advent of slackline, the life of an active person has become more diverse. Whenever you are having fun, you are exercising and working on your coordination and balance at the same time.
The SMG group company is engaged in the sale of slack lines and accessories.