Slacklining is a fun and challenging activity that can provide many benefits for your physical and mental health. Here are 10 reasons why you should start slacklining today:

1. Slacklining improves balance and coordination

Slacklining requires you to balance on a narrow line, which can help improve your balance and coordination skills.

2. Slacklining strengthens core muscles

Balancing on a slackline engages your core muscles, which can help strengthen them over time.

3. Slacklining boosts focus and concentration

Slacklining requires you to focus on your movements and balance, which can help improve your concentration skills.

4. Slacklining reduces stress

Engaging in physical activity like slacklining can help reduce stress levels and improve your mood.

5. Slacklining increases flexibility

Balancing on a slackline requires you to use your whole body, which can help increase your flexibility over time.

6. Slacklining improves posture

Slacklining can help improve your posture by strengthening the muscles in your back and core.

7. Slacklining provides a full-body workout

Slacklining engages multiple muscle groups in your body, providing a full-body workout.

8. Slacklining boosts confidence

Successfully balancing on a slackline can be challenging, but it can also be very rewarding and boost your confidence.

9. Slacklining encourages social interaction

Slacklining is often done in groups, which can provide opportunities for social interaction and community building.

10. Bonus reason! Slacklining is accessible to all ages and ability levels

Slacklining is an activity that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and ability levels.

So what are you waiting for? Grab a slackline and start reaping the benefits today!

If you’re in South Africa you can get yourself a complete starter slackline kit from Viper Slacklines or pick up the items you need from our online shop.

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The best and worst slackline tensioning systems

One of the most asked questions that we get is “Should I get a ratchet kit or a primitive kit?” and the truth is there is no right or wrong answer. 

We will compare the various tensioning systems and give you all the pros and cons of each. You can ultimately decide which slackline tensioning method works best for you.

This post may contain affiliate links to gear that we recommend, clicking the links does not cost you anymore it does however give us a slight kickback to help create more informative content in the future.

Ratchet slackline tensioning system

We will start with the ratchet tensioning system because it is by far the most popular slackline tensioning system out there. It is mostly only used with 50mm / 2 inch wide slackline webbings but with some spacers it is possible to use it with 25mm / 1 inch wide webbings.

This is the tensioning system that comes with the Active Slackline kit that we sell and is the best choice for beginners and kids.

Parts needed

1. Single Ratchet kit

Pros

• Easy to set up
• Quick to set up
• You can easily get high tension on a slackline
• Works with 50mm webbings
• Cheaper to replace than most other systems

Cons

• Adapter spacers necessary for 25mm/ 1 inch webbing
• Can be tricky to de-tension
• Limited to about 30m slacklines
• Heavy
• Bulky

How to set up a ratchet slackline

Primitive slackline tensioning system

This is the tensioning system that we use with the lightweight slackline kit. The Primitive slackline tensioning system is the original method that was created for slacklining. It is still used and loved by many for its portability and low price.

It is also known as the Ellington slackline tensioning system. 

Parts needed

1. 2-6 Oval carabiners
2. 1-2 Linelockers

Pros

• Low cost tensioning system
• Uses easily available parts
• Doesn’t require sewn loops or special weblocks
• Cheap to replace parts
• Can be used with a multiplier

Cons

• Only for slacklines up to 50m
• Requires a multiplier over 20m
• Damages webbing over time
• Lower breaking strength than other methods

How to set up a Primitive / Ellington  slackline

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carabiners

Steel oval carabiner

The most commonly used and versatile carabiner in slacklining and highlining

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You can use steel oval carabiners to rig primitive slacklines or connect your slackline sewn loop to your anchor slings on short slacklines. You can also use an oval carabiner in combination with a chainlink to make a webbing linelock.

Aluminium carabiners can be used for slacklining but only if they are not used in the system as this would subject them to cyclic loads which they are not designed for.

Shackles

Slackline Bow Shackle

The most commonly used shackle for slacklining and highlining

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The most common shackles used in slacklining, tricklining and highlining are 12mm Stainless steel bow shackles with a 25mm opening width.

You can use the bow shackle to connect your slackline sewn loop, weblock or soft release to your anchor.

The bow shackles are also designed to be used in combination with the Viper Slacklines Constrictor.

Soft Shackles

Soft Shackle

Example slackline soft shackle available from Balance Community, click to view it on their website

View on Balance Community

The most common soft shackles used in slacklining, midlining and highlining are 5mm-8mm button knot soft shackles.

You can use the soft shackles to connect your slackline sewn loop or weblock to your anchor or connect segmented highlines using an Inov-Split, W-method or Schroggi Split.

The post The best connectors for slacklines, midlines and highlines appeared first on Slackline South Africa.

The post The essential knots every slackliner and highliner should know appeared first on Slackline South Africa.

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The Used gear listings group is for you to buy and sell slackline gear in South Africa.

Buy and sell Slackline Gear rules

• This group is for SECOND HAND slackline gear only. If you post pictures of new items or spam on this group your post will be removed and you will be kicked from the group.
• Please include the price & specs of the gear as well as your city/suburb in your post and mention a little bit about the use and condition of your gear.
• Once you agree to sell an item to someone at a set price, you may not go back on that deal for a higher price.
• If you want people to bid for your item please say so in your post and make a starting price.
• When you upload a photo of an item and someone comments on it please try to reply ASAP, no ones like to linger on “is it still available”
• Please make an effort to comment, edit or in another make it clear when your item has been sold.
• Only repost the same item once a week on Slackline South Africa: Used Gear Listings . Slackline South Africa will not be held responsible for any sales made on this group. Be smart, be safe and let’s make this a place for people to buy, sell and swap good used slackline gear.

Visit the Slackline South Africa: Used Gear Listings page to get some cash for old gear or upgrade to some new-to-you slackline equipment or check out our shop for a massive selection of the best slackline gear.

If you’re completely new to slacklining I recommend getting this beginner kit.

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Firstly, slacklining is the act of walking on a tensioned piece of webbing between two anchor points. Unlike a tightrope walkers, slackliners predominantly walk on 25mm – 50mm wide nylon or polyester webbing.

The most common slackline categories are:

Tricklining – Trick slackline

This is a very dynamic form of slacklining that includes a lot of arial moves and bouncing on various parts our your body. This is the most commercialised discipline with internationally hosted competitions. These are the most tensioned slacklines and they can reach forces upwards of 14kn. This type of slackline is usually aimed advanced slackliners with a lot of experience.

NB: Always backup any metal components on a trickline!

Tension & Length: 20m – 25m at 8kN – 12kN

Anchors: Two beefy slings with a working load limit of at least 1 ton as well as a 12mm SS Bow Shackle or bomber bow shackle with 25mm opening.

Tensioning System: The most common tensioning system is a double ratchet system, with one ratchet on each side of the slackline. You can also use a pulley system and Trickline specific 50mm weblocks but this is a more expensive and bulkier set up usually only used by some professionals and during competitions.

Webbing: Tricklines are most commonly 50mm / 2″ wide but can be different diameters from 25mm to 50mm. Contrary to what most people believe tricklines are made out of a very specific low stretch polyester webbing which allows you to get them very tight and allows for some awesome dynamic moves.

Accessories and Extras: Backup ropes – to backup your ratchets and shackles to your anchor. These should be at least 10mm static or dynamic climbing certified ropes that can wrap around your tree and attach to your Metal components.

Slow release – This is installed between your anchor and your ratchet, it is a far safer method of detensioning your trickline and adds to the lifespan of your ratchet and webbing.

Yogalining – Yogaflow and exercise slackline

It’s in the name, this discipline involves doing slow controlled yoga inspired moves on a slackline. It can be a sport on it’s own or used in conjunction with a yoga, pilates or crossfit workout.

Tension & Length: 2m+ and at any tension that you feel comfortable with

Anchors: Usually just a sewn loop girth hitched on one side of the slackline, or a sewn loop attached to a sling with a bow shackle.

Tensioning System: Either an Ellington or ratchet system one on side of the slackline.

Webbing: A soft 50mm polyester webbing is generally the preferred webbing for yoga and workout slacklines. Although it can be done on 25mm webbings, they are generally more painful and can hurt your body while you are learning.

Accessories and Extras: Slackracks for indoor use. Slackframes to set up a line on your lawn without any trees. It is also advised to wear long thick socks or pants to protect your shins from “carpet burns” from the slackline.

Longlining – long slacklines

This is one of the more advanced slackline disciplines where the goal is to walk the longest slackline possible. Statistically this is by far the most dangerous form of slacklining according to the number of injuries. Longlines are generally set up in parks and due to the sag of the line the anchors are set up at a height anywhere from 2m + and also require quite a bit of tension to keep off the ground.

Tension & Length: There is no standard length for longlines but it is generally accepted that they have a walking distance of at least 30m with the longest lines being hundreds of meters.

Anchors: Two beefy slings with a working load limit of at least 1 ton as well as a 12mm SS Bow Shackle or bomber bow shackle with 25mm opening.

Tensioning System: Longlines can be tensioned with a Buckingham system or Pulleys

Webbing: For longlines you usually want a low to medium stretch 25mm / 1″ webbing made out of polyester. For “shorter” with pulleys you can get away with using a nylon webbing.

Accessories and Extras: If you’re using the Buckingham method you will need a slow release in the system, this will allow you to release your slackline when you’re done. Backups are also highly suggested for longlines that are under a lot of tension

Rodeolining – untensioned loose slackline

Rodeo lines are usually rigged higher than they are long and form a really loose “U” shape. The aim is to surf the line back and forth

Tension & Length: about 3m+ length with no tension

Anchors: Usually just a sewn loop girth hitched on one side of the slackline, or a sewn loop attached to a sling with a bow shackle / soft shackle.

Tensioning System: None and None! Jokes aside, rodeolines don’t have any tension in them so you can simply use a chainlink linelocker or unfinished 9 knot on one end to connect it to your anchor.

Webbing: Stretchy 25mm /1″ nylon webbings are the most common but any webbing will do!

Accessories and Extras: You can use a weblock or Ellington system to adjust the tension of the line easier.

Midlining / Highlining – Slacklines high enough that you will need a harness

For many people highlining is seen as the pinnacle of the sport, it is essentially a slackline that is set up anywhere higher than you could reasonably expect to survive if you were to fall from it.

Midlines are lines anywhere up to about 30m high while highlines are anything higher than that. They require a lot more skill to rig as well as a lot of slacklining experience.

Tension & Length: Generally 20m+ length. These days most highlines are rigged quite loose between 2kN – 5kN

Anchors: There are many different types of Highline anchors, everything from , slings, ropes, trad climbing gear to deadman anchors. For more info check out our article on Anchors.

Tensioning System: Buckingham method or Pulleys

Webbing: 20mm – 25mm, Nylon / Polyester or Various Hi-tech webbings

Accessories and Extras: Basically everything for longlining times two since you have a backup line that runs independently below your main line. You will also need a harness, leash, leash rings, soft release, tagline, line pulley, tape and various other accessories depending on where you’re rigging.

Surflining – semi-tensioned slackline with sway

This is very similar to Rodeo lining except you set your line up longer with a little bit of tension. The aim is to have just enough tension to still surf side to side while getting some active feedback from the webbing.

Tension & Length: 15m+ very low tension, just enough not to touch the ground

Anchors: High anchors at least 1,5m high. Usually just a sewn loop girth hitched on one side of the slackline, or a sewn loop attached to a sling with a bow shackle / soft shackle.

Tensioning System: Ratchet or Buckingham system

Webbing: 25mm – 50mm webbing, Nylon / Polyester

Accessories and Extras: You can use a slow release to make detensioning easier, the anchor can be set really high as you’ll be spending most of the time around the middle of the line

Types of slacklines Conclusion

There are so many different slackline disciplines and slackline types to choose from, it is ultimately up to you to find your favourite or simply enjoy them all. A great beginner line will be a 2″/50mm slackline like this complete kit available from Viper Slacklines that’s available from our online shop.

The post What you need to know about different types of slacklines appeared first on Slackline South Africa.