Gibbon has helped bring an underground activity started by rock climbers in the ’70s to college campuses, neighborhood parks, and outdoorsy events with its easy-to-setup slackline kits. Its newest version, the 49-foot-long Jibline, is designed for master slackers who want to practice spins, flips, jumps, butt bounces and other tricks. The nylon webbing line has “grippy” graphics for traction and a rubber mesh integrated to provide more bounce, making it easier to do tricks.
The entire line of Gibbon kits, which come of four styles, offers easy setup. They consist of a 6-foot-long piece of webbing with a loop on one end and a ratchet on the other end. The other half of the kit is a 49- or 82-foot piece of webbing with a loop on one end and a loose end for the other side. It’s 2-inches wide, making the line easier to walk on than a traditional 1-inch-wide piece of webbing.
Weighing about 6 pounds, the kit is heavier than a DIY version or products like the YogaSlackers’ Slackline Kit. It is pricier than a few carabiners and a length of climbing webbing, which is what it takes to set up a line. But Gibbon’s offerings are so easy to set up — and easier to learn on — that they have become popular with people looking for a quicker entry into the sport.
The Jibline and Gibbon’s other versions cost $80 to $100. www.gibbonslacklines.com
—Ryan Dionne
