Have you ever been to a spot where all the trees were either too big or too small for the spansets you have? What if there was a way that you could adjust the length of your spanset such that it can be used with any size tree with a circumference smaller than your spanset? Below, I will show you how to do just that.

This technique involves a some-what complex way of folding your spanset, such that the length can be adjusted. Follow the steps below to get an idea of how to do it.

Step 1

Lay out your spanset on the grass as in the picture.

Step 2

Twist the spanset once at a spot slightly before where you need the length to be. For instance, if you have a 10 foot spanset and you need the length to be 7 feet, make the twist about 4 feet from one end.

Step 3

At the twist, on the side where you need the double legs to be, tag the strand that passes over the other, and pull it around the first. In our 7 foot example from step 2, you will do this on the 6 foot side.

Step 4

Continue pulling this loop up under the over strand.

Step 5

Continuing pulling this loop up under the over strand. This sling is now usable at whatever length you have made it.

Step 6

To adjust the length, find the strand on the double-loop side that goes straight through to the single loop side and pull slack through to the double-loop side.

Step 7

Continue pulling slack through straight leg until you have enough to make the size sling you need.

Step 8

Straighten out the slack you pulled through to the double-loop side.

Step 9

Follow the slack around one of the double-loops and make both of the double-loops the same length.

Step 10

Your adjustable spanset is now complete and ready for use. It can be used in vertical pull, basket, or choker hitch mode. Just be sure to anchor both loops on the double-loop side.

This technique is great for using your long spansets for smaller trees. I have done some strength testing with this configuration and have found that it reduces the strength of the spansets by 32%. This means the working loads for the Purple and Green spansets using the adjustability feature are as follows: