I have started doing destruction tests on the products I sell.

First up is a set of whoopie Slings. The first sling failed at 1649 pounds. The second one failed at 1531 pounds. Samson states that a whoopie sling derates rope by 20%, give or take. My testing shows that the slings have not derated the rope at all.





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I had been looking for a suitable alternative to the Thera Band tubing as a tensioner due to feedback that the Thera Band has unsatisfactory cold weather characteristics. I, and many of my customers, prefer the "neatness" that the tubing offers over shock cord. But until now, one had to settle for having a neat guy line, or one that works in sub freezing temperatures.

My test. I started by turning my freezer down to -5



Then I placed one tester using Thera Band and one tester using the Silicone tube onto a wooden dowel



Placed in the freezer overnight. In the morning, I removed the dowel and quickly pulled both test pieces off the dowel. The Thera Band remained in its extended position for about 5 seconds, then coiled itself up into a snake



After another 5 seconds or so, it returned to its relaxed position and regained all of its elastic properties



Meanwhile the Silicone tubing immediately returned to its relaxed position and never lost its elastic properties. Specs on the Silicone tubing state it is weather and UV resistant, and remains flexible between -100 and 400 degrees. Below -100 it becomes brittle.

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