There are a number of ways you can damage your slackline and not just by using it.
Normal use will damage a slackline over time but elements such as UV from the sun, excessive weight, dirt, chemicals and improper drying of the slackline are also culprits. Not setting up the line properly is another cause for damage.
Below are the most common reasons a slackline gets damaged, some thoughts on how to minimize damage where possible and how to care for your slackline to ensure it remains viable to use.
Regular use
Not surprisingly, just using your slackline will damage it over time but there’s another thing to think about that can impact its lifespan. Attaching your slackline with the same part of the slackline to an anchor point each time you use it can cause wear on the that part of the line so be sure to mix it up. Using various locations on the slackline to anchor is a good idea.
Also, turn the slackline over and alternate which side you walk on. That will help to evenly wear both sides of the line rather than just one because as we’ll see below, Mother Nature has its share of ways to damage your slackline too.
UV
Over time, exposure to sun and particularly UV will degrade a nylon and/or polyester slackline. While sun on its own needs decades to break down a material like nylon or polyester, it’s the exposure to Ultra Violet rays that causes the damage.
As a material, polyester holds up better to UV than nylon which fades quicker when exposed to damaging sunlight.
It’s another good reason to flip your slackline every time you use it and use both sides: It helps to balance out the damage that the slackline will experience in terms of UV exposure.
Excessive Weight
Excessive weight can damage your slackline so be sure to stick to the designed weight limit for your particular slackline. Exceeding the weight limit can not only damage your slackline but can lead to injury if the slackline snaps which is a rare event but can happen.
This is more so if you’re doing bounces, jumps and tricks which places more stress on the line.
Dirt
Other than making your slackline dirty, ugly to look at and possibly smelly, dirt also has another effect. While dirt might seem relatively benign, the truth is that dirt particles get into the weaving of the slackline and over time can tear apart fibers and cause your slackline to weaken over time.
Sand is very gritty and an accumulation of it can rub and act as an abrasive material that will cause damage.
A secondary impact of dirt is that in your efforts to clean the dirt off, you may accidentally subject your slackline to harsh detergents or chemicals that further weaken the fibers.
Speaking of chemicals…
Chemicals
Slackline manufacturers like GIBBON specifically refer to avoiding chemicals when washing or otherwise cleaning your slackline. They recommend using cold water, a mild neutral soap and to avoid getting metal parts such as the ratchet wet in any way.
The dirtier your slackline gets the more likely you are to want to clean it. And the more likely you are to clean it, the more likely that you will use something to clean it that you shouldn’t when trying to remove dirt and difficult stains, etc.
Also store your slackline away from chemicals so that it doesn’t come into contact with them.
Water
Getting a slackline wet per se isn’t the problem as the nylon and/or polyester webbing can withstand it. It’s putting a damp slackline away in storage before letting it air dry that is the problem.
Don’t heat dry a slackline in a clothes dryer for example. Let it air dry and when it’s completely dry, put the line away for safe storage.
Have you thought about slacklining in the rain? Here are some thoughts on that subject.
Misuse
Slacklines are designed to do certain things. A standard slackline is for regular slacklining along with basic tricks only.
A trickline on the other hand is made of bouncier but sturdier material to handle the stress of jumps, bounces and other tricks that a standard slackline may not be as capable of handling.
Incorrectly ratcheting a slackline to an anchor point can damage the webbing and weaken it over time.
If you incorrectly wash or store your slackline, that can negatively impact its lifespan too.
And as mentioned above, exceeding the recommended weight limit is also an example of misuse that can damage the slackline over time and cause injury in extreme cases.
Abrasion
Abrasion occurs when objects rub against each other with the result that one or both are damaged from the friction. In the case of a slackline, it’s a polyester and/or nylon design that when tightly fastened to the hard, rough bark of a tree, can get damaged as a result.
When you climb on the slackline, your weight pulls on both anchor points at each end of the slackline which causes the slackline to dig into the tree bark if there is no protection. Consider also the damage through abrasion that can occur when you fasten your slackline either when securing it around the tree or when using a ratchet which can also cause damage.
Same goes with rocks, boulders, tree branches and other obstacles that can get in the way. Anything that the slackline can rub against can cause damage so be sure to set up your line away with such obstacles.
By using some sort of tree protection placed around the trunk of the tree before securing your slackline, you will help to protect both your slackline and the tree. While tree protection can be a commercial product, it may also be something you have lying around the house such as a thick towel, cardboard, or a piece of carpet for example.
How can you prevent slackline damage?
A slackline will get damaged over time with regular use. In fact a new slackline that has only be used several times can receive noticeable damage with limited usage.
You can help decrease the chance you damage your slackline by doing several things:
Always use tree protection
Not only do you protect the trees but you also protect your slackline. Tree bark can be very hard and rough and when your slackline is tightly wrapped around the tree trunks and you stand on the slackline, it places great stress on the slackline as it digs into the bark. Often, slackline damage can occur.
Tree protection is often required by law in public parks, forests and other areas where slacklining is allowed, too.
Respect weight limits
Don’t exceed the stated weight limit of the slackline product you own. Each slackline should come with instructions that among other things include the maximum weight limit that the line is rates to safely hold.
This is especially true if you’re going to do jumps, bounces, flips and other tricks.
Although it should go without saying, a slackline is only meant to be used by one person at a time too.
Store your slackline properly
Slackline sets often come in a bag to keep all the parts together but also to protect the slackline from some of the aforementioned hazards that they can come into contact with such as UV, dust and water.
Storing your slackline properly also means cleaning it properly and allowing it to air dry completely before putting it away.
Summary
Slacklines will be damaged through normal use and will eventually need to be replaced. I’ve already written about slackline wear and tear with some questions to ask yourself to determine when it’s time to replace your slackline due to age and use.
But other external factors including weather, dirt, water and even your storage techniques can negatively impact how long your slackline lasts.
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