VooDoo Loop | Rope Tension | Hammock Setup

Dakota, of Live Rogue, walks you through the amazing Voodoo Loop. This amazing loop can be used to tension a rope. We have used a Voodoo Loop for a swiftwater highline, slackline, hammock set-up, etc.
WARNING! Don’t forget that getting off the couch is inherently dangerous! You must assume all the risk prior to embarking on an adventure. Any person using skill/equipment is personally responsible for learning the proper techniques involved, assumes all risks, and accepts full responsibility for all damages or injury, to include but not limited to death. Test and practice with your equipment in a safe manner to determine compatibility and performance characteristics before deploying during an adventure. If you cannot master a system / process / skill / equipment that we have used, or question any part of this video, consider this video for entertainment purposes only!
Gear we used...
Black Diamond Magnetron RockLock - Locking Carabiner
Canyon Rope - 9.6mm 200 ft.
Camera: Sony a6300
Audio: Rode VideoMicro Compact On-Camera Microphone
Edited with hitfilm.com/pro
Title graphics from iNSCAPE Digital www.inscapedigital.com/presets/

[@ADDekoning100]

The trucker’s hitch peanut gallery needs to chill out and actually TRY this technique. They call it Voodoo because the progress capture on the tensioning system is so smooth and easy, it literally feels like magic. The only disadvantage is that you need a little bit of gear to set it up. That said, if you’re looking up ropework videos and don’t own two carabiners…God bless you. 😂 Thanks for the video brother! Great stuff.

[@jacobrogers8933]

You can do the exact same thing with a truckers hitch and capture all your tensioning. Not seeing the magic or practicality of this. But I will say, that I do appreciate seeing various methods for achieving a goal. The content was well made and easy to understand and follow

[@stephanddd]

@@jacobrogers8933 you can go back & forth tensioning or loosening this contraption without tying / untying knots, simply by pulling your line in one direction or another. So this is a bit more like a taught line hitch (in function) as opposed to a trucker's hitch. This isn't too useful to hang a hammock. But if you had some sort of heavy weight you you needed to raise and lower repeatedly, this would be useful. You would put that weight where the blue rope is in this video.

[@jacobrogers8933]

@@stephanddd I appreciate you explaining that

[@stephanddd]

This blew my mind at first. What really helped me understand it is this: It's no different from the simplest trucker's hitch, the one which uses a "slipknot loop" pointed towards the second anchor (on Dakota's left). Now imagine this main "slipknot loop" getting a little smaller by sliding it a little bit. Try it... the smaller the loop, the more slack there is in the line. So the Voodoo hitch makes it easy to make the "slipknot loop" larger or smaller in order to tighten or loosen your trucker's hitch. Very cool.

[@undefinednull5749]

Wow! Thanks for the idea of such an alternative way of hanging a hammock! It surprises me. Using prusik knots to hang hammock and be able to slide it along the rope for adjustment is a really inspiring idea 💡! 🙂 Also with this method it allows to adjust the vertical heights of the hammock ends INDEPENDENTLY of its horizontal adjustment in terms of where it is relative to the trees! For example you could have a 45 degree half sitting configuration

[@mydearriley]

Did you try this out?

[@undefinednull5749]

​​@@mydearrileyyes. It works really good. I even made/thought-out some additional significant improvements to this hammock tying system.

[@envitech02]

Excellent tutorial!!!

[@bobbysilver272]

If you have a bag of carabiners then you will use carabiners. If you have just rope you can use just rope and knots.

[@undefinednull5749]

Carabiner are metal. They may have lower friction than common ropes (except maybe Dyneema) but if something breaks, the metal at tension may become like a bullet! Never use carabiners unless absolutely necessary.

[@rogerf3622]

Good video. I had to try it before commenting and I like it. I’m a little late to the game viewing this video but this voodoo loop has several main advantages over a trucker’s hitch. First it has a much greater mechanical advantage tightening than a trucker’s hitch. Second, it is self locking where as a trucker’s hitch you must keep tension while trying to tie it off with a clove. Third, if a traditional trucker’s hitch tension is released, the hitch comes apart whereas this setup would not. Like other commenters have said, I would use an alpine butterfly as apposed to the figure 8 but just my personal preference.

[@TarikVann]

You can simply double the thread on the truckers hitch loop and it then captures the progress.

[@SoloRenegade]

truckers can be modified easily to self-capture. Trucker's does not just come apart magically with lose of tension. depends upon what you mean. Trucker's is easier to untie when done.

[@13Voodoobilly69]

@@SoloRenegade 🙌

[@13Voodoobilly69]

@@TarikVann 🙌

[@atomatom6442]

Nice multi knot show of force.. Never sleeping on the ground is the plan!

[@skatetwopurt]

I love it!

[@wadebieber5717]

Pretty sure I've learned this as the PFM Tension System. Pure Fucking Magic. The fact it captures progress and holds it so well is like magic. Your name is more family friendly.

[@LiveRogue]

That name is a great absolutely hilarious. And fits perfectly

[@survivalist9818]

This is extremely handy thank you

[@beef623]

For the last several years I've just used a sheepshank for the tensioning loop in my hammock line. Much quicker to take down and holds plenty strong enough. Secure it with 2 slip half-hitches and the whole thing comes down with a tug, no need to mess with untying any leftover knots. The figure-8 can get hard to undo when it's been under tension for a few days. If you're tying a hammock to hold 3 or 4 people something stronger would be better, but for 1 or 2, this setup hasn't failed me yet.

[@pfcaraujo]

I would love to see that bro

[@evgen_specHSE]

Великолепно! Благодарю! После натяжения обратно не ползёт. То, что надо. Занимаюсь альпинизмом, но делал по-другому. Тут проще. Большое спасибо!

[@nathanmasciola5350]

I was showed this(referred to as PFM system- see Wade Bieber's comment below) by my swiftwater rescue instructor - can't recall his name but was a FF from Santa Rosa. Thought it was a neat system, but I never considered using it for tensioning a line. Would love to see more testing in the future for a highline. Seemed reasonable for a tensioned diagonal, or non rescue use. If anyone has used this in rescue I would love to hear from you in the replies!

[@eddyrussell9853]

Nice video. Just a small thing- that looks like a wrap 2 pull1, not a wrap 3 pull 2.

[@rogerpalin5864]

Nice little system. Also great you take safety seriously with your helmet and harness, but l’m surprised you didn’t have a tied safety leash during the filming of this video. I would consider this essential in high risk hammock environments 🤣🤣

[@zoehancock]

Thanks- this elicited a much needed grin.

[@altecsolucoesverticais2861]

Excelente! Obrigado!

[@jhonwak8085]

Thank you sir

[@redteamla]

Thanks for this instructional video! Though I have to disagree with a statement you make 12 seconds in: "it uses minimal gear". Dude, you're using three carabiners here.

[@LiveRogue]

Minimum gear for a rigging system. Something like a 3 to 1 z rigg needs a ton more gear to tension a line

[@Candyapplebone]

Interesting; so you can use this to lay out a hammock when the trees are fairly far apart

[@Obliticus]

Nice! Knots only a hammock nerd could love

[@TemplarX2]

Not just hammock. You can use that to hold down a load you are carrying, for rope bridges, spacenets etc.

[@Dave-oh2sv]

Pretty cool mechanical advantage

[@sk8nchill52]

Ohhhhhh we call this the “PFM”, because it’s Pure Fucking Magic

[@neosovereign5954]

So, if I'm understanding this correctly, it's basically a truckers hitch that captures progress and uses carabiners to avoid rope to rope friction?

[@LiveRogue]

Give it a try, it is very cool and very useful.

[@Jewdly]

That’s exactly what I was thinking

[@brad9240]

@@LiveRogue You can do the same thing with a "versa tackle" approach which is basically two marlin hitches used in a truckers hitch configuration to create a pulley system. Requires zero equipment, provides more mechanical advantage, self-locks due to rope strand friction, breaks down easily because the hitches fall apart when you pull your tag end out, and you can do it with one rope.

[@neosovereign5954]

To be clear... I love this and have basically replaced all my trucker's hitch applications with this (without the biners) since it leaves no tags to deal with. Thank you for making this video and inspiring me to learn another cool ass way to apply tension to a rope system.

[@neosovereign5954]

@@LiveRogue I have integrated this into basically everywhere I would have tied a trucker's hitch before. It is truly an awesome trick.

[@richardscarlett7942]

sweet, real handy if you carry around a climbing supply store where ever you go

[@tombuerk6004]

Over complication with three biners, voodoo loop is fitting.

[@evantuzzi6534]

Just do a trucker hitch.

[@ViTaLxMoDzZ]

@Stefan Parocki you don't need any of the carabiners he uses. You can do it with just one shot of line. It's better than a truckers hitch for certain kinds of rope in my opinion because it captures your progress as you pull

[@spiercevaughn]

Really cool concept! Pretty neat how that works. One thing though, your sling anchor is a wrap 2 pull 1, instead of a wrap 3 pull two 😁 which obviously is not a concern for strength for that scenario haha. Just a technicality.

[@ericforsman7787]

Nice video.

[@GetUrPhil]

Seems like a lot of gear just to take place of a Truckers Hitch where you could of used one Carabiner if you wanted to eliminate friction. Plus the Truckers Hitch would have gotten the rope tighter.

[@vieuxacadian9455]

I agree . I use butterfly knots for the midline loop mostly and have used a double bowline on bight if I felt the need to anchor to multiple points or if I need a second convienence loop to clip in or tie into .

[@anthonyesposito7]

This knot system presented looks more like a versatackle, basically a truckers hitch but with two fixed loops that get pulled together, lots more tension get be created with it too.

[@nathanberry919]

Hard disagree from experience. Truckers hitch offers

[@undefinednull5749]

​@@nathanberry919i have tested the Trucker's hitch with multiple loops for more pull force. In practice, the additional loops are increasingly futile (beyond the second hardly any more pull at all) because of the rapidly increasing friction ! If proper low friction pulley blocks were used , then it likely would beat this significantly, I believe. But also , Dyneema is much more slippery so maybe it would make using 3+ loops worth it. Use Prussik loops, BTW.

[@ztrewq321123]

You can do the same thing without any gear too (as far as your second anchor point is smooth enough to redirect the rope without too much friction)

[@n8mail76]

I like it

[@Schmicks]

Gold. U win. Kthnx bye

[@Pour-me-a-red]

What an incredibly complicated way of doing a simple truckies hitch, but I suppose it gives you an opportunity to show off your carabiners.

[@steelonius]

It's not a truckie's hitch.

[@redrustyhill2]

@@steelonius it actually is a truckers hitch, same concept.

[@redrustyhill2]

Nothing complicated about this. The carabiners reduce friction acting as pullies avoiding abrasion of rope against rope.

[@steelonius]

@@redrustyhill2 I don't know why I wrote such a dismissive concept originally, maybe I got distracted. It looks more similar to a Poldo Tackle to me, which is tensioned the same way as the voodoo loop in this video. I understand there is a pulley, similar to a trucker's hitch but the Poldo Tackle has two pulleys that are placed 'passed,' or opposite, each other on the line creating the z-shape. The two pulley's move apart for tension and together to release, the same as the one shown here.

[@5THR33S]

Did you make this video just to show off your smooth ass directional 8 tying skills? :p

[@pgoeleven]

Yeah, no one hammock camps like that tho.

[@survivalist9818]

You never know when your going to an area where your hammock straps are to short this would definitely help. Be open minded.

[@themab9948]

As Neo already said, it seems to be nothing else than a very complicated way to do a truckers hitch.....

[@LiveRogue]

Try it and you will see that it is something totally different.

[@CredibleHulk10]

I won't knock your choice to use Voodoo vs a truckers hitch, as I think the ability of this system to maintain whatever tension is in the line as it moves might be beneficial, but what is the purpose of the carabineers vs just using the loops in the rope? Is it a rope on rope friction concern?

[@bluehawke99]

My guess would be it is related to that and also your mechanical advantage is greater with less friction when using carabiners.

[@SoloRenegade]

carabiners not required

[@apingsmemories289]

What type of rope, kn, and diameter, & carabiner do you used here

[@EnzoLuo]

Got a question about the last carabiner you put into the system. It seems if you apply force on it and tension the rope, it goes quite close to the blue belt. I wonder if I were to make the same system, is there any way I could pre-calculate how much of the distance I need to keep before tensioning, without this carabiner goes over the blue belt?

[@LiveRogue]

Great question. We've never attempted or considered how to pre measure. If you figure it out let us know.

[@KeithRice1984]

Or you can just use a trucker's hitch (which appears quicker and simpler) and simply pass wrap the tail end through the loop twice so it tensions on itself and captures progress as you tighten down.

[@LiveRogue]

Yes, of course you can use a Trucker's Hitch but, what's really cool about the voodoo Loop is it holds without a tie off

[@steelonius]

@@LiveRogue I think it also increases the mechanical advantage by allowing the loop, that would normally be fixed in a trucker's hitch, to move. It also allows for more fine tuning in tension; sure, you could get there with a trucker's hitch but the VooDoo would be easier to make small adjustments.

[@TemplarX2]

@@steelonius Yea 2:1 vs 3:1.

[@balterencecuajunco2224]

after tension is applied will you be able to loosen the directional 8 knot? or not?

[@LiveRogue]

Unfortunately you can not loosen the figure-8 once tensioned.

[@bones987123]

too funny ,thats alot for something simple

[@AllenMcPherson]

What brand of jacket are you wearing. I’m not familiar with it. Thanks.

[@LiveRogue]

It's the Yangra jacket by Ternua.

[@AllenMcPherson]

@@LiveRogue Thanks. Their stuff doesn't seem to be easily available in the US.

[@incredibleindia9517]

On what principle it works??

[@user-vz1ru5cc3l]

How many systems are these and why?

[@incredibleindia9517]

What's the mechanic behind it

[@tomh6784]

Dumb question... I gather this is not rated for life support.i.e. climbing right?

[@ebenwaterman5858]

So...I gotta go out and buy bunch of carabiners...

[@OmaHaji]

too many carabiners,,

[@vieuxacadian9455]

Beg pardon Sir , Respectfully that figure 8 will be a serious pain if not impossible to untie once loaded and set . A butterfly knot is far better there . Many will point to a truckers hitch . That webbing water knot is proven to and will slip if no safety lock knots are used . Finally Many have forgotten the frictionless anchor !

[@brad9240]

Agree. Alpine butterfly would be my preference, or use a marlin hitch to pull a bite through that you can use as a loop. It falls apart super fast for takedown.

[@Crashbangable]

If you cant tie a knot tie alot or if you know alot tie them all.

[@KyeKunz]

How do you get the tension out?

[@LiveRogue]

Pull the Rope that you used to tension the system in the opposite direction and it will release the tension.

[@KyeKunz]

Live Rogue awesome!! Thanks for the info!! Does this work somewhat like a 3 to 1 system?

[@LiveRogue]

Simular, but no reset capably a Z pulley would have. Give it a try, it is really interesting how it works.

[@sbzengin]

U CAN USE TRUCKER'S HITCH, INSTEAD OF THIS. IT IS MORE MORE EASIER...

[@ImaOkie]

Reinventing the wheel ... A truckers hitch with a whole bunch of unnecessary equipment !

[@shermanhofacker4428]

Unnecessarily complicated, less effective than most ways of tensioning a line.

[@LiveRogue]

Do you mind showing these way?

[@raymondferreri3151]

A pulley System

[@LiveRogue]

Yep, with progress capture without pulley

[@DCS026]

Can you just use a "Grandma Knot" instead......that is about the only one I know.

[@LiveRogue]

I'm sure you can make it work with almost any not. It would be best if you learned I'm not such a thin line be great or the butterfly. Way more reliable and easier to untie

[@Frantic12341]

To much gear...😕

[@BigKahunaFL]

Yeah… Save yourself some trouble and check in at the motel up the road.

[@1neAdam12]

No way that tensioned line would ever hold a hammock with an occupant over 50lbs, not even a static line would work. Cable maybe, but definitely not dacron poly.

[@davidwarren719]

1000% it would hold a hammock

[@1neAdam12]

@@davidwarren719 I'll sub to your channel if you promise to give it a shot. Anyway, I believe it'll work, if you can set the line at about 8' up. Cause there's gonna be a lot of sagging.

[@LiveRogue]

Give it a try... it defies logic.

[@copwcuffs5415]

@@1neAdam12 👍@3:47

[@1neAdam12]

@@copwcuffs5415 Lol, alright man. I'll give it a try sometime.

[@joewerts7592]

that's just stupid. a truckers hitch is as good simpler and faster to learn that was confusing

[@michaelpearson4896]

Could not watch this video due to the unnecessary intrusive looney tunes music noises playing over the commentary.

[@LiveRogue]

Sorry. You must have some awesome headphones. 👌

[@purpleturkey1792]

Over thinking this one 😞

[@purpleturkey1792]

You need to get out more, You Need another hobby as well as this. You'll need to take a barrow with you ... 😃😂