Most people's first slackline is a 2-inch ratchet kit. Sooner or later a lot of them start asking about 1-inch webbing, weblocks and "primitive" setups. This article explains how each style actually tensions a line, what it does to your webbing, and when it makes sense to move from one to the next.
First, what are we comparing?
A ratchet is a lever-and-spool tensioner, the same idea as a cargo strap. The webbing (usually 2-inch / 50 mm) is threaded through a slotted spindle, and each pump of the handle winds it tighter. The ratchet both tensions the line and holds it.
A weblock is a webbing anchor, not a tensioner on its own. The webbing wraps around a large centre diverter and is locked off by a pin, so it holds the line with very little strength lost and without kinking the webbing. Tension comes from something you add to it: a Buckingham system (the line itself, a roller and a webbing grip) or a full pulley system.
In between sits the primitive system: 1-inch webbing run back and forth through carabiners to build a simple pulley out of the line itself, with tension being held by friction. That's how our starter and Prim kits work, and for most people it's the step between a ratchet and a weblock.
So "weblock vs ratchet" is really a question about systems: a ratchet kit, a primitive kit, or a weblock with a Buckingham or pulley system.
The physics: mechanical advantage and take-up
Every tensioning system trades distance for force. You pull a long way with a little force, and the line moves a short way with a lot of force. That trade is the mechanical advantage.
A ratchet gets a lot of advantage from a short lever and a small spindle, which is why it can make a short line very tight with very little skill. Its limit is take-up: the spool can only hold so many wraps of webbing. Webbing stretches under load, and a longer line has more webbing to stretch, so it needs more pulled through the tensioner to reach the same tension. Past a certain length a ratchet simply runs out of room.
Primitive and Buckingham systems have no spool. The tail just keeps running through, so take-up is limited only by how much webbing you brought. What limits them is friction. Webbing running over carabiners and rings loses a large share of its theoretical advantage, which is why a primitive becomes hard work as lines get longer. A roller in a Buckingham system, or real pulleys, cut that friction and raise the advantage, and that's what makes longer lines practical for one person.
Side by side
| 2-inch ratchet | 1-inch primitive kit | Weblock + Buckingham or pulleys | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical solo line length | Short lines; limited by the spool | Up to about 18-42 m depending on kit; effort climbs steeply past 30-40 m | Longlines and beyond, depending on the system |
| Wear on webbing | High: wound and crushed on a small spindle | Moderate: friction where the line runs over carabiners | Low: large-radius diverter, no kinks |
| Adjusting and releasing | Hard to ease off; release can be violent | Hard to reduce tension once locked; a soft release fixes that | Easy to add or remove tension during a session |
| Weight and bulk | Heavy steel mechanism | Light: carabiners, a ring, slings | Light weblock; pulley systems add weight |
| Learning curve | Lowest | Low to moderate (watch the video) | Highest; more technical knowledge |
| Feel | Wide, flat 2-inch line | 1-inch line with a classic slackline feel | 1-inch line, any webbing you choose |
Line length and tension
Our kits are rated by what one person can rig. The BC Starter Slackline Kit rigs lines up to 18 m (60 ft), the BC Prim-25 up to about 22 m (75 ft), and the BC Prim-50 up to 42 m (138 ft). Experienced primitive riggers will tell you the effort climbs steeply somewhere past 30-40 m. A multiplier upgrade (two more carabiners and a line-locker ring) adds pulling power, but beyond that range a Buckingham or pulley system is the better tool.
How tight a line needs to be depends on its length, the webbing and your weight. Our tension calculator estimates it before you rig.
Webbing wear
This is where ratchets are hardest on gear. Under full tension the webbing is wrapped around a small slotted spindle, layer on layer, and crushed against itself and the ratchet's edges. That's a tight radius under a high load, every session, in the same spot.
A primitive has no spindle, but the line runs over aluminum carabiners while you pull. Pull smoothly rather than sawing, and keep an eye on the section that sits at the lock-off. Where the line is locked off, a ring with large, rounded bars like the MightyLock spreads the load.
A weblock is the gentlest of the three. The webbing wraps a large center diverter in a smooth curve, with no folds or tight bends, which is why weblocks keep so much of the webbing's strength. You can see how much on our batch reports, which test weblocks as their own configuration (see what 3-sigma MBS means).
Weight and cost
A ratchet kit is the cheapest way onto a line and the simplest to use, but the ratchet itself is the heaviest, bulkiest piece in the bag. A primitive kit is mostly webbing, slings and a few carabiners, so it packs small. A weblock system costs more up front, especially with a pulley system, but every piece in it carries on into longlines and highlines. We don't currently sell ratchet kits.
The upgrade path
- Ratchet. A great way to learn on short lines. Many people outgrow the length and the wide 2-inch feel quickly.
- 1-inch primitive kit. The common next step and the better starting setup if you plan to stick with the sport. The Prim-25 suits a first 1-inch line; the Prim-50 gives you room to grow into longer park lines.
- Weblock and Buckingham or pulleys. The BC LongLine Kit comes with an Alpine WebLock 6.2 and a choice of a 3:1 Buckingham, a 5:1 compound Buckingham or a pulley system. Already have webbing? There's a no-webbing version.
Not sure which step you're on? Our kit purchasing guide goes deeper, and All About Webbing Anchors covers how weblocks hold the line.
FAQ
Is a weblock or a ratchet better for a slackline?
For short lines and first-timers, a ratchet is simple and cheap. For longer lines, lighter packs and less webbing wear, a weblock with a Buckingham or pulley system is better. A primitive kit sits between the two.
Do ratchets damage slackline webbing?
They're harder on it than the alternatives. The webbing is wound tightly around a small spindle under full load, which concentrates wear in one section.
How long a slackline can I tension by myself with a primitive kit?
Our primitive kits are rated from 18 m to 42 m for one person. Many riggers find it gets hard past 30-40 m; beyond that a Buckingham or pulley system is easier.
Can I use a weblock without a pulley system?
Yes. A Buckingham system tensions the line using the weblock, a roller and a webbing grip, with no separate pulley system.
Questions about your setup? Ask us.
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