Slackline Wear And Tear: When To Replace?

How often you need to replace your slackline is a combination of your usage and how well you clean and maintain the slackline after each use.

With regular usage, a slackline may require replacement after 1 year. This can be sooner if it’s left outside to the mercy of the elements which can degrade the material quicker. Storing your slackline indoors after use along with proper set up, usage, maintenance and take down each time is key to extending its life.

Below are more details regarding slackline wear and tear, when to replace your slackline and how you can make it last longer.

What is normal wear and tear for a slackline?

Even a small cut of the threading or weaving of a slackline is considered significant enough that the slackline should be replaced. The slackline’s ability to fully support the maximum weight allowance is dependent on the integrity of the line itself.

With regular use, your slackline will be damaged over time particularly in the webbing which can fray, tear and eventually snap if its lifespan is overextended. When you have 100% of thread and weavings intact, the slackline is designed to support the maximum weight that it is rated for.

But even a few frayed, broken or cut threads and weavings can significantly weaken the strength of the slackline and its ability to safely hold your weight.

The attachment points of each end of the slackline can also get damaged through regular usage and may also fray. With improper use of a ratchet or over tightening with a ratchet, the slackline can be damaged over time.

So in that regard, “normal” wear and tear for a slackline doesn’t include severe fraying, rips or tears of the webbing which is generally cause for slackline replacement.

What are you using the slackline for?

The higher the slackline is set up from the ground and the more daring your tricks, the greater the chance of injury should it snap or otherwise cause you to fall off due to damage. If you are highlining or tricklining, you should replace a damaged slackline when the fraying exceeds the first weave of fiber to use one yardstick that experienced slackliners follow.

For a lower-to-the-ground slackline, you might afford to be a bit more liberal especially if you’re experienced or are otherwise comfortable that the damage won’t affect the integrity of the line.

How are you storing your slackline?

Do you leave your slackline in place all the time?

It’s generally not recommended that you do this since you are exposing the slackline to the elements constantly.

Notwithstanding the fact that you also leave yourself open to damaging the trees you’re attaching the slackline to and potentially leave yourself open to legal trouble if someone gets hurt by your unattended slackline.

Slackline manufacturers generally recommend taking your slackline down when you’re finished and storing it in a dry, cool place.

Follow manufacturer instructions regarding washing it. The webbing can generally be washed using a mild or neutral detergent and allowing it to air dry and not in the dryer.

Never wash or get the metal parts of the ratchet system wet.

How a slackline gets damaged

Improper use, setup, take down and storage of a slackline are the most common ways you can damage the material but they certainly aren’t the only ones.

A slackline can also be damaged through exposure to direct sun, water, wind, UV, sand, extreme temperature, ice and snow (if used in winter) and chemicals that you wash the slackline with.

A slackline can additionally be damaged through regular usage and in particular to abrasion which can occur in different ways. If you don’t use tree protection, the roughness of the bark of trees you attach to can damage the attachment points of the slackline.

If your slackline is set up around rocks or tree branches, abrasion can also occur that can damage the material of the slackline. Dragging your slackline on the ground or snagging it against something sharp or solid can cause damage to the individual fibers of the webbing.

With improper use and enough damage, a slackline can even snap which not only ruins the line but can lead to injury.

How long should a slackline last?

The big question. Some manufacturers recommend replacing your slackline yearly if it’s used regularly or whenever you notice fraying or other damage to the webbing that involves more than a few fibers.

More frequent and harder usage may require slackline replacement even more frequently, perhaps every 6 months.

If you use a slackline several times per year, you might find a replacement schedule every 1 – 2 years suffices.

The actual lifespan of a slackline when not used – unless your manufacturer says otherwise – is around 10 years at the maximum.

Even several fibers fraying compromises the integrity of the slackline’s ability to hold your weight safely without snapping.

Use common sense and remember that the purpose of the slackline is to hold your weight safely. If it can’t do that with 100% surety, it’s dangerous and needs to be replaced.

Final thoughts

Follow slackline manufacturer instructions when it comes to:

• Setting up the slackline
• Using the slackline including not exceeding the weight limit
• Following the stated use i.e. don’t use a regular slackline when a trickline is more appropriate
• Taking down the slackline after use
• Washing and cleaning the slackline properly without use of harsh chemicals or a dryer
• Storing the slackline when not in use

Inspect, clean and dry your slackline each time after use. Look for rips, tears and other visible damage. Allow it to air dry before folding it up and storing it a dry place away from moisture or sunlight.

Keep track of your usage. Write down the dates that you use the slackline so you can monitor usage over time and keep track of how much mileage it is exposed to.

We’ll leave the final word on slackline wear and tear to manufacturer GIBBON:

We do not recommend using your GIBBON slackline if there is any noticable damage to the webbing, the ratchet, or any other part of the system.