Gear review: Antigravitygear MULETAPE Suspension Straps

The Bottom Line: They work. They're light. Hammock straps are pretty straightforward. The Muletape is strong and easy to tie off with a Becket hitch, and the (optional, but recommended) tree straps are also easy to attach. They weigh only 2.1 ounces per pair with the tree straps, and they take up very little space. For a good quality set of hammock straps, I would highly recommend the Muletape suspension straps.

The AntiGravityGear Muletape Suspension Straps. Photo by Ethan Rambacher.

The AntiGravityGear Muletape Suspension Straps are simple hammock straps that are lightweight and easy to use. The package comes simply with two white Muletape straps, and each has a strong sewn loop on one end. The Muletape is the part of the strap that attaches to your hammock, usually with a Becket hitch.

You'll also need some tree straps. These are different than the white Muletape; they are wider and made of a different polyester webbing. They are a bit tougher and don't fray as much. The Muletape is not suitable for wrapping around the tree itself because it will catch on the bark and fray. AntiGravityGear sells tree straps with these for an extra cost. They are 1-inch wide and 4 to 8 feet long. I recommend the 8-foot tree straps, as these will give you the best grip since you can wrap around the trees multiple times. This also reduces the impact on the tree.

The two tree straps each have a loop at each end. One end of each will attach to one of the Muletape straps by a simple slip knot. To suspend the hammock, wrap the black tree straps around the tree and thread the extra Muletape through the loop. Extend the extra Muletape in the direction you want the hammock to go. Then, tie off the hammock hook to the Muletape using a Becket hitch. Repeat for the other end of the hammock.

AntiGravityGear has made a helpful video demonstrating how to use the straps, and I'd recommend watching it to understand the system.

With the Muletape, if you tie the knot correctly, there's no way that it will slip. However, the Muletape is smooth to the touch, so if you tie the knot wrong, it will slip under weight. It's actually kind of a nice accidental feature; you will know immediately if you tie the knot wrong, rather than getting in, falling, and breaking your tailbone. But if the knot is tied correctly, it will not slip.

Overall, it's super easy to use these straps, and it's great to know that the straps aren't damaging to the trees. The straps are weigh only 2.1 ounces per pair plus the weight of the tree straps. They can be rolled up neatly. They are similarly priced to other hammock straps; they may be a bit pricier, but for the quality and reliability, I think it is worth it. Hammock straps are not something I would skimp on. Overall, I'd recommend the Muletape straps to any hammock user.