How to build a 1" Slackline for around $100

What you will need:
These items can either be picked up at your local climbing gear shop. I acquired the chain links at a hardware store.

1-Length of webbing 1” tubular or flat 50-100 feet

2-Lengths of webbing 1” tubular or flat 20’ each

The two 20' pieces of webbing will become your anchor slings.  Connect the two ends with a water knot.

If you do not know how to tie a water knot simply make a well dressed overhand knot like in the image below.  Then grab the other end and retrace the knot starting at the tail and pull tight.

4-oval shaped straight gate carabiners preferably 22kN or more

2-rappel rings or 3/8” chain links

Once you have acquired the gear it is time to build your very own 1” slackline.  When rigging the line you will have one side as a fixed anchor, the other side will contain the pulley system used to bring the line to your desired tension.  Always rig the fixed side first.  To do this simply throw one sling around the tree and connect the two ends with one of the carabiners.

Next, grab your main line and one of the chain links/rappel rings, fold the line in half about 10”-12” from the end and run the fold though the ring with the tail end of the line facing down.

 Pull the fold through and run it back through the ring underneath much like a buckle.

Finally, grab the carabiner connected to the fixed anchor strap and clip it through the folded end and pull tight, this is called a line lock.















Now that your fixed anchor is set up and secure it is time to head to the other side.  It is helpful to hold the line as you walk to the other side to ensure it stays flat and that there aren’t any twists.

On the pulley end throw your other sling around the tree and clip two of the carabiners through the ends. Hold those carabiners out away from the tree to get an idea how far away from the tree they will be once tight.  Here comes the tricky part, setting the pulley.  On the mainline you will have to set another line lock and this time the tail end will become part of the pulley. On average you will want the distance between the two carabiners on the sling and the line lock to be about 16”-24”.  Figuring out where to set the line lock may take some trial and error regarding the setting of the pulley so just keep trying and don’t get discouraged.  

Once the line lock is set grab the tail (make sure the tail is on the bottom) and run in through the bottom carabiner bottom to top and then back to through line lock carabiner. You will also run through the line lock carabiner bottom to top and then back to the top carabiner on the anchor side. 

Now you will switch it up and run it through the top carabiner top to bottom and then back to the line lock.  

Now you will run the line through the line lock carabiner top to bottom and then tuck it under the existing piece, this will lock the pulley each time you pull tension. 

Just remember, Bottom to top, bottom to top, top to bottom, top to bottom and tuck 

Now just pull the tail end until you have reached your desired tension.  If you have maxed out the pulley and it is still too loose for your liking then you will have to reset the line locker farther back from the anchor (this was that trial and error thing I was talking about).  Once everything is set and you feel like you are ready to walk, tie it off for safety using trucker hitches.

Trucker hitches

Make sense? If not leave me a comment below and I will do my best to help!