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Outdoor Recreation
How to Construct a Zip Line Download ArticleExplore this Article Steps Steps Other Sections Video Questions & Answers Things You'll Need Related Articles Expert Interview References Co-authored by Teddy Bayakhmetov
Last Updated: March 17, 2025
Download Article X
This article was co-authored by Teddy Bayakhmetov. Teddy Bayakhmetov is a professional climber and owner of Ninja Tide based in Stockholm, Sweden. Teddy specializes in rope practice, rigging, and rescue services. He also does industrial climbing work all over Europe and Scandinavia. Teddy has become widely known as a hero for his rescue work and has put his skills to use by saving over 240 cats, 4 birds, and 3 people from high places. This article has been viewed 181,612 times.
Making a zip line is easy, but safety requirements take time to think about.
Steps
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1 Select a distance between two solid objects, Preferably the objects should be trees or other solid structures. The distance should be anywhere from 50 feet (15.2 m) to 500 feet (152.4 m).
2 Lay the cable out between the two points. You will need enough cable so there is suitable slack when it's stretched out between the two points.[1]X Expert Source Teddy BayakhmetovProfessional ClimberExpert Interview This slack should form a belly in the cable between the points. You never want to stretch the cable too tight.[2]XResearch source This creates a dangerous situation of speed and crashing at the other end, and your last words will be, "Hey, watch this!" before you're taken to the hospital. Advertisement
3 Attach cable to one point. If you are attaching to a tree, wrap the cable around the tree a few times and then clamp the free end to the leading end. Use high quality clamps that are sized for the cable diameter. These clamps will require you to tighten with a socket set. Two clamps six inches apart are good. Three or four clamps add the necessary safety.[3]XResearch source The other end of the cable is where you will tighten it up and raise it off the ground.
4 Attach a temporary cable clamp about 20 feet (6.1 m) from the end of the cable. Attach the winch to this clamp and to a point on the tree.[4]X Expert Source Teddy BayakhmetovProfessional ClimberExpert Interview Winch the cable up. Once it's winched up, the free end of the cable can be wrapped around the tree and then clamped on its leading end to hold it in place.[5]XResearch source Try to have the clamps about 8-feet from the tree. At this point the winch can be taken off the first clamp and then reinstalled on the furthest out permanent cable clamp. This allows for adjustments to be made on the cable. As the cable stretches, it will need to be tightened with the winch.
5 Determine who goes first. This is a nerve-wracking decision. Testing the zip line is important.[6]XResearch source
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Question How do I make sure a zip line has the right amount of rope? Community Answer When you buy the cables for the the zip line, just make sure you have 15-20 ft. of extra cable to account for slack. (You'll need to measure the length of your zip line area as well.) Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 6 Helpful 27
Question How can you set up a zip line if you don't have any trees? Community Answer You would have to build a system that would replace the trees, like some steel posts. They must be able to hold the weight though. It will be more difficult and costly. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 10 Helpful 27
Question How do I get the other end of the cable to the other side? Raif Community Answer You can lasso it to someone on the other side and the one on the other side can tie it on the object. If there is noone on the other side, you will have to engineer something that can help you. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 15 Helpful 15
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Things You'll Need
1/4 or 3/8-inch steel-cable
Come-along manual winch
Properly sized cable clamps
Ladder
zip roller
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Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about rope climbing, check out our in-depth interview with Teddy Bayakhmetov.
References
↑ Teddy Bayakhmetov. Professional Climber. Expert Interview
Co-authored by: Teddy Bayakhmetov Professional Climber This article was co-authored by Teddy Bayakhmetov. Teddy Bayakhmetov is a professional climber and owner of Ninja Tide based in Stockholm, Sweden. Teddy specializes in rope practice, rigging, and rescue services. He also does industrial climbing work all over Europe and Scandinavia. Teddy has become widely known as a hero for his rescue work and has put his skills to use by saving over 240 cats, 4 birds, and 3 people from high places. This article has been viewed 181,612 times. 213 votes - 75% Co-authors: 19Updated: March 17, 2025 Views: 181,612 Categories: Outdoor Recreation In other languagesGerman
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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Co-authored by: Teddy Bayakhmetov Professional Climber 213 votes - 75% Click a star to vote Co-authors: 19Updated: March 17, 2025 Views: 181,612
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Download Article Explore this Article Steps Steps Other Sections Video Questions & Answers Things You'll Need Related Articles Expert Interview References Co-authored by Teddy Bayakhmetov 
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Co-authored by: Teddy Bayakhmetov Professional Climber This article was co-authored by Teddy Bayakhmetov. Teddy Bayakhmetov is a professional climber and owner of Ninja Tide based in Stockholm, Sweden. Teddy specializes in rope practice, rigging, and rescue services. He also does industrial climbing work all over Europe and Scandinavia. Teddy has become widely known as a hero for his rescue work and has put his skills to use by saving over 240 cats, 4 birds, and 3 people from high places. This article has been viewed 181,612 times. 213 votes - 75% Co-authors: 19 Updated: March 17, 2025 Views: 181,612 Categories: Outdoor Recreation In other languagesGerman 
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462 
1 Select a distance between two solid objects, Preferably the objects should be trees or other solid structures. The distance should be anywhere from 50 feet (15.2 m) to 500 feet (152.4 m). 
2 Lay the cable out between the two points. You will need enough cable so there is suitable slack when it's stretched out between the two points.[1] This slack should form a belly in the cable between the points. You never want to stretch the cable too tight.[2] This creates a dangerous situation of speed and crashing at the other end, and your last words will be, "Hey, watch this!" before you're taken to the hospital. Advertisement 
3 Attach cable to one point. If you are attaching to a tree, wrap the cable around the tree a few times and then clamp the free end to the leading end. Use high quality clamps that are sized for the cable diameter. These clamps will require you to tighten with a socket set. Two clamps six inches apart are good. Three or four clamps add the necessary safety.[3] The other end of the cable is where you will tighten it up and raise it off the ground. 
4 Attach a temporary cable clamp about 20 feet (6.1 m) from the end of the cable. Attach the winch to this clamp and to a point on the tree.[4] Winch the cable up. Once it's winched up, the free end of the cable can be wrapped around the tree and then clamped on its leading end to hold it in place.[5] Try to have the clamps about 8-feet from the tree. At this point the winch can be taken off the first clamp and then reinstalled on the furthest out permanent cable clamp. This allows for adjustments to be made on the cable. As the cable stretches, it will need to be tightened with the winch. 
5 Determine who goes first. This is a nerve-wracking decision. Testing the zip line is important.[6] Advertisement 
Community Answer When you buy the cables for the the zip line, just make sure you have 15-20 ft. of extra cable to account for slack. (You'll need to measure the length of your zip line area as well.) Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 6 Helpful 27 
Community Answer You would have to build a system that would replace the trees, like some steel posts. They must be able to hold the weight though. It will be more difficult and costly. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 10 Helpful 27 
Raif Community Answer You can lasso it to someone on the other side and the one on the other side can tie it on the object. If there is noone on the other side, you will have to engineer something that can help you. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 15 Helpful 15 
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