I want to get started in slacklining. I once saw some girls in East City Park doing it, and I thought, wow, that is SO cool. but soon forgot about it. I would have gone and talked to them about it, but it was while my foot was broken, so I was busy feeling sorry for myself.
ANYWAY, how do you get started? what kind of rope is best to use? etc?
slacklineexpress.com is best, im gonna get the starter kit, but my mom wont let me, she says i should let my money go to my europe trip, and i say i could already get it with my paypal money, but i want to get one so bad
thats pretty cool…maybe I’ll buy from that site. but is it completely necessary to buy from a website, or can I kinda make one myself, at home?
I’ll probably get a real one eventually, if slacklining turns into what my other hobbies have and I get obsessed with it q-:
you could probably make your own, i would just say use some regular rope and something that is like one inch thick that looks like the stuff on that site
I think it would be pretty fun…I saw an article in the paper about some guys in Missoula doing it… but I don’t know how to make one really, and I sure ain’t buying anything. (all my money goes toward unicycle related stuff)
You can make one, exactly, at home. That “starter kit” crap they sell on some web site is just some people trying to make a quick buck by making something more complicated than it seems… and over-pricing it, too.
There’s a chain-link slackline at Lloyd’s Chalet in Truckee… it’s just a chain between two trees. Buy a chain and a couple quick-links and you’re complete. Chain can be expensive, so this shouldn’t be your first option.
A rope is also a viable option, too, but you need to be crafty with your knot tying skills to achieve the proper tension. Use at least 1" diameter rope. Nylon webbing is more comfortable on the feet, though (and some say easier to walk on)…
See http://www.reefscuba.com/ropewebbing.htm for examples of webbing… it’s super-strong and foot friendly. It will run you 0.25 - 0.50 a foot (look in hardware stores, climbing gear shops, kite-sport shops, scuba shops, etc… it’s everywhere)
Not only does the increased surface area of webbing make slacklining a bit easier, it will resist the tendency to slide down a tree / pole / whatever you tie your line to. If you do want to get fancy you can buy a ratchet or cambuckle to make the setup quicker and easier… but these aren’t necessary. With a little knot-tying ingenuity you can get away with just using a length or two of webbing.
Would slacklining be easier for someone who has mastered the stillstand on a unicycle? Stillstanding be improved by slacklining? Just curious. Right now I don’t have any trees to practice with, but someday I’d like to learn slacklining.
How about a Unicycle Still Stand/Idle on a Slack Line in a Hammock Frame (and tying a balloon animal to boot?).
Hey, I’m famous now!
I was checking out that gallery link of yours and see who cracked it as a ‘Random Image’.
14:52:00
OK, let me clear up a lot of weird misconceptions I’ve seen posted so far on this thread:
I have only ever seen people slack on webbing. It may be possible on rope but not as easy. There is so much you can do when you walk a slackline, webbing lets you do all kinds of tricks.
So use webbing.
I’d reccomend using 1" webbing, it’s great.
Contrary to the name, “slacklining” requires a very tight line. The system slackline express, (or slackline bro’s) sells is used to tighten the line. If you don’t know a lot about rigging or climbing, it might be worth it to pucrhase a kit. The kits are made by people who are good at what they do, and dedicated to the sport, do some research to find out which company makes the best kit for you (there are several).
There are a few diffrent systems you can use to set up your line, if you don’t use a kit. The first page on it I found using google:
http://www.wanderingphotographer.com/slack_pages/slackline_systems/index.htm
There are better sites on it, I’m sure, look around if you want.
I use pulleys for my system, but you can use 'biners or whatever you want to tighten it. The more you know about climbing and rigging, the easier it’s going to be to set up, but anyone can do it if they know a little about mechanics and physics.
Some people wear climbing shoes to walk, but most people go bearfoot. I know a few people who can walk in sneakers, but they’re really good.
Slacklining is awesome.
this thread is about to be jacked, but i dont care, cause it has helped me thus far
It looks fun. I wanna try it, but it’s too cold up here at the moment.
when are you going to europe? I’m saving for a 'round-the-world trip after my senior year in high school. It’s gonna be great.
i leave on 666 for europe, just kidding i leave on 06-06-06 but its pretty much the same thing, i think i will make my own slackline kit by the previously mentiond ways in this thread, it has always looked fun to me since the first time i saw it, its cold here where i live to.
so ill have to figure out how to set it up in my house
I was working on slacklining for a while. I could walk quite well, and trun around sometimes, but never did any cool tricks. I just used some 1" webbing and carabiners, works pretty well, but it would be easier with a kit. I guess I should find where I put that thing, and start learning again… as soon as it gets a bit warmer.
I used the search… 
I tried slacklining for the first time a few days ago on a 5-6’ line (on the ends) that some guys had set up at the park. It was a bit scary, but jumping down onto the grass wasn’t too bad.
Then, yesterday, I met up with one of the guys after a muni ride and tried it again. He set up a nice low line, and I was able to make 5 or 6 steps after messing around for about an hour. It’s crazy fun–reminds me of when I first learned to unicycle almost two years ago.
I learned wearing the skate shoes that I unicycle in. I don’t think the shoes made it too difficult.
Actually though, you do get better balance barefoot. I don’t know if that includes on a slackline.