How to Set Up a Slackline

Slacklining is an up-and-coming activity that utilizes balance and skill to walk a line suspended between two fixed points. It can be done in a backyard, on a college campus, over a canyon, and even thousands of feet above the ground. Many people do it for fun, others for the athletic benefits, and some for the meditative release from their busy lives. Slacklining is a relatively simple activity as long as you have the necessary materials, the knowledge to set it up, and the patience to learn how to walk the line.

Step 1 Getting the Necessary Materials

Before slackline setup can begin, the necessary materials must be obtained. There are four major categories of items required to construct a slackline; anchor lines to go around the trees, carabiners and other connectors to hold the line together, towels for tree protection, and the main section of the line that is walked on.

The setup that I personally use consists of the following
• Two anchors made from 15 feet of 1" webbing water-knotted together (more details on these are in the coming steps)
• Four climbing-grade carabiners and two climbing-grade rappel rings
• Two towels
• 50 feet of 1" webbing used for the main section of the line that is walked on

I use this setup because it is easy to construct/tear down/use in general. Also, it has a cheap initial cost (everything listed above can be bought for around $60; I reused old towels and did not include them in the cost estimate). Also, constructing a slackline using this setup eliminates the use of knots (except for the very first setup) and is therefore extremely beginner-friendly.  On top of all that, this setup can be constructed in only 3-5 minutes.  

The next step in the process is selecting a place to slackline.

Comments

[GainEnergy]

This is great for practicing anyone's balance!!! I will definitely set it up in our yard when snow is gone! Thanks for sharing this brilliant idea!

[soul_eater]

Great to train my balance for the parkour

[anonymouse197]

We have a similar, but slightly more basic set up at home. We have a slackline, with a loop in one end (or you could just have a rappel ring on the end and loop the other end through it. Then you just thread the slackline through itself around the tree and feed the other end of it into a ratchet, allowing you to tighten it with some ease.
Its great fun, and thanks for making this instructable for when we need an impromptu one! :)

[scoochmaroo]

Fantastic! I want one in my apartment!

[dragonsniper]

lol that i want to see be sure th take pics and post them here

[Penolopy Bulnick]

This looks really fun. Even though I have horrible balance, I might have to give this a try!