FAQ
Here you will find the answers to frequently asked questions. If you do not see the answer to your question on this list, please don't hesitate to Contact Us.
What is Slacklining?
Slacklining is a balance sport in which you string a piece of webbing between two objects and walk on it. After learning to walk on the line, the next step would be to start doing tricks. These tricks consist of doing jumps, or swinging the line side to side (a.k.a. Surfing), or even doing different Yoga poses on the line. There are several varieties as well as different ways to slackline. You can learn more by going to www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slacklining.
What are the benefits of Slacklining?
Not only is slacklining very fun, it can be a great workout! Balancing on a piece of webbing or rope uses many muscles that are hardly ever used and working these muscles helps with many other activities. You will notice how much easier everyday activities, such as walking or general balance, become after you start to slackline. Also, slacklining serves as a wonderful form of relaxation as you must only think about balancing when you are walking on a line. This intense focus forces you to forget about your daily stresses, which ultimately makes you have less stress in your life!
What kind of gear do I need to setup a slackline?
No matter what kind of slackline you setup you will need a few things: 2 strong anchor points (usually trees to start out), two anchors to attach your line to, a line to walk on, and a way to tension this line. There are a variety of products in our shop that will meet your needs for every aspect of this setup. A good place to start as a beginner would be our BC Primitive Kit, which is an all-inclusive slackline kit that is super lightweight and easy to use. It's great for taking everywhere with you, or as a standard slackline kit.
Do I need to wear shoes to Slackline?
Some people like to wear shoes while they slackline while others like to do it barefoot. If you are doing big tricks and a lot of yoga poses on the line, it might be better to wear shoes in order to protect your feet. Some tricks can be quite painful and a good pair of flat-bottom shoes helps quite a bit. On the other hand, if you prefer to longline and have more physical feedback from the line on to your feet, then I suggest going barefoot. It isn't the same for everyone though. I would recommend trying both with shoes and barefoot to see which method suites you the best.
Is slacklining dangerous?
Great care should be taken when setting up and walking a slackline. If the proper rigging techniques are not used there is possibility for great risk. Your anchors should be strong and able to hold a minimum of 5,000 lbf (22.2 kN). Large diamter trees (greater than 12 inches) should always be used. Also, take care to not over-tighten your line as the webbing we use is rated for moderate tensions. Never have less than 1 foot of sag for every 40 feet of length you have (ie a 100 ft. line should have 2.5 feet of sag or MORE). It also should be noted that the more dynamic tricks that are possible on a slackline tend to be a bit more dangerous. A controlled falling technique should be learned and practiced as falling is bound to happen to everyone on a slackline. Keep your lines low at first (i.e. below 3 ft. high at the anchor-points) while you are learning the basics.
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Which kind of line should I use?
All of the different Slackline Webbings that we offer at Balance Community are meant for different things. For example, our 1" Slack-Spec Tubular is a really good beginner line that will also be great as you become a better slackliner. The super springy feel has the traditional 'slack' feeling that the sport was based off of, but yet it still has a nice tight bounce to it for the more dynamic tricks that are becoming more popular. Our Type 18 MKII webbing is a super strong, very soft nylon webbing that is great for longer lines as well as a great highline webbing because of it's strength. In the end, it all comes down to personal preference when you are choosing your webbing. If you have a chance to try out different types of webbing, you definitely should as any good slackliner should have an arsenal of webbing in their gear bag.
How do I get my line tight?
There are a number of ways to tension a slackline, each with their pros and cons. The most efficient and lightest weight option is to use a Pulley System. A pulley system uses a phenomenon known as 'Mechanical Advantage' in order to multiply the force you apply to your slackline in order to reach much higher tensions. With a simply pulley system using the components in our shop, you can reach tensions as high as 25x your body weight. With slacklines getting stronger, lighter, and longer, the need for easier methods of applying tension are becoming greater. Using the components in our shop, you can build yourself a pulley system that will last you years to come and will allow you to tension whatever slackline you could ever dream of. For more information on our pulley systems, check out this series of Slack Science articles: All About Pulley Systems - The Complete Guide.
Should I use traditional climbing equipment or only slackline specific equipment to setup my slackline?
As the sport has progressed, people have begun to notice that slacklining is much different than rock climbing. In rock climbing the only time the gear is needed is when you fall. In slacklining you are forced to rely on the gear at all times. This is why the need for slackline specific gear has started to rise. As a result, we have started to develop many slackline-specific products that are designed to withstand the loads that slacklining places on the equipment. For the most all-around safety, slackline-specific gear is the best option.
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Is online the only place Balance Community sells their products?
Currently we only sell our products online and sometimes locally if we host festivals or events. We also sell products through a few other online retailers around the world. At the moment, you can purchase Balance Community gear in the UK at The Slackline Warehouse. We have plans to get our products into other slackline specific retailers around the world. We believe that online gives our customers the most flexibility to order when and where they please. It also allows our customers to find out a lot about our company by browsing around our website.
If you are a slackline retailer looking to carry Balance Community products in your shop, please Contact Us for more information.
How long does it take for my purchase to arrive at my house?
Depending on where you live, which shipping option you choose, and what products you order, it can be the very next day or up to 7 business after your purchase. For more information about our Shipping procedures, please view our Shipping Policy.
Do you offer a bulk discount for very large orders?
Most of our products are priced for mass orders in the store. If you plan on spending more than $1,000 in one purchase, please Contact Us directly for special pricing information.