What is Slacklining?

Slackline 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, or even doing different Yoga poses on the line. There are several varietes as well as different ways to slackline. You can learn more by going here.

What are the benefits of Slacklining?

Not only is slacklining very fun, it can be a great workout. Balancing on a rope uses many muscles that hardly get used and working these muscles helps with many other activities. You will notice how much easier everyday activites such as walking 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 and this forces you to forget about your daily stresses.

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.

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 like to longline and feel more what's happening to the line more, then I suggest going barefoot.

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 up to 3,000 lbs. Large diamter (greater than 12 inches) should suffice. Also, take care to not over-tighten your line as the webbing we use is rated for moderate tensions. Try to stay within the standard length-to-sag ratio of 50 or above (ie a 100 ft. line should have at least 2 ft. of sag). 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 (ie below 4 ft. high at the anchors) while you are learning the basics.

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Which webbing should I use?

All of the different webbings that we offer at Balance Community are meant for different things. For example, the 1" tubular webbing 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 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. It's 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 aresenal of webbing in their gear bag.

Which pulleys are right for me?

With our three types of double pulleys it's hard to choose which ones are right for you. All of them have their strengths and their weaknesses but it all comes down to what kind of lines you want to do as well as your budget. The MadRock Double pulleys are great for lines up to 300 ft. as well as a good trickline pulley. With a weight of 426g, they are a happy medium when you are hauling your gear around. The mini SMC double prussik minding pulleys will give you the same efficient (or even better) than the bigger MadRock pulleys at nearly 1/3 the weight. This added convenience will cost you a little more though. Our powerhouse pulley that is good for highlines and all longlines as well as the pulley that many top slackliners have gone with is the SMC 3" Double PMP. This pulley is the pulley of the professionals and should definitely be considered if you are serious about slacklining.

Should I use traditional climbing equipment, industrial lifting equipment, or only slackline specific equipment?

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 we have started to use industrial lifting equipment that is built to withstand constant loads as opposed to climbing equipment which is rated for shock-loads and don't do well under constant loads. Also, we have started to develop many slackline-specific pieces of equipment that are designed to withstand the loads that slacklining places on the equipment. For the most all-around safety, slackline-specific gear is the way to go.

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Is online the only place Balance Community sells their products?

Currently we only sell our products online. We also sell products through Slackline Montreal and Landcruising.de. We have plans for the future to get our products into retail locations around the nation. 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.

How long does it take for my purchase to arrive at my house?

Depending on where you live and which shipping option you choose it can be the very next day up to 7 business after your purchase

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 $500, please contact us directly for special pricing information.

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