Good rope/knots/tarp for ridgeline shelter??

[jmckee10]

I am a noob and was wondering what is good to use as rope for a ridgeline. Is paracord ok? If so, what thickness? If paracord stretches too much, please give a specific recommendation. Weight is not a huge issue for me at the moment.

Also, what are good knots to use when securing? Siberian hitch on one end, what to use on the other?

Thanks! And what about tarp size and kind/quality? Any info is appreciated.

[pgibson]

Zing it/Lash it are probably the most popular option. Stronger, lighter and no stretch...yes stretch is a bid thing for tarps....you don't want to wake up to a sagging flapping tarp at 3am with rain coming down and possibly in under. You want your tarp to stay tight from set up to tear down. There are a number of other ropes and cords that work very well. Most of us vendors that participate here offer a wide range of cords that work well for guylines and ridge lines.

Set up wise use what works for you and your comfortable with. There are some hardware options but knots work as well. A few simple prussics working in opposition to each other will work just fine as will truckers or taunt line hitch or, or, or, or,.....the list goes on. Look at the pre-made versions here: http://bitly.com/15Lwx3P


Tarps also are going to range the spectrum. A 12' hex like our Toxoway is probably the most popular for starting out and 95% of conditions.

[Brien]

Another plus to using Lash-It is most of the Dutch bling will work with it.

[jmckee10]

Thanks. Just how much better are the "brand name" tarps than ones you can find at various hardware stores and such?

[CamoDeafie82]

Thanks. Just how much better are the "brand name" tarps than ones you can find at various hardware stores and such?

Hardware store tarps are going to be either Plastic/Polyethylene or heavy canvas or canvas painters drop tarps (not waterproof)...very few hardware stores will carry anything like the Outdoor Products PU coated nylon tarps.... REI and sporting goods stores would have that, maybe also ENO tarps, but usually you would need to order online for the lighter tarps.... the lighter tarps are miles and light years ahead of the polyethylene tarps in terms of weight to bulk compared to the sq footage of coverage that they offer...they do make good cheap tarps to use for the first few trips with a hammock until you feel you want something better/lighter.... the Outdoor Products tarps though, at 9x7ish size is OK for use as a hammock tarp, hung in an asymmetric diamond fly, but depending on how short your hammock is, you could get away with it in a rectangle pitch (I know I did with my $3 goodwill 9x7 tan tarp)

[Phantom Grappler]

Jmckee10
Good tarp ridge line knots on YouTube by Ray Mears and others: Siberian hitch on the first tree a tight tree hitch on the second tree. They tie fast, hold fast, non-jamming and quick release. Knots that are tied in the bight (TIB) or in the "middle of the rope" can greatly speed your knot tie setup time compared to knots that can't be TIB. A knot that must be tied using the end can have 5 or more moves using the end of the rope--the lost time is noticed when your cord is 15 feet on each end of your tarp and you are making your knot close in due to tree size and spacing. A marlin spike hitch is TIB ties fast holds good non--jamming and quick release. The same is true for Siberian hitch and Farrimond friction hitch--TIB (tie in middle of rope no access to end rope needed. So they tie fast hold fast quick release and best of all non-jamming.

[Shug]

I have some tarp tutorials that may give insight.
Hope they help.
Shug

[prussik]

Taut-line hitch, truckers hitch, prussic knot, bowmans knot, fishermans knot, and marlin spike hitch. If you want some good knots to know learn these and then learn some more. a proper length of rope can serve 1000 uses. Know these knots and others to transform your rope into many things and not just for hammocking www.animatedknots.com/indexscouting.php here is a website to help you out

[1csleptonkayak]

This video is informative in a number of ways ...

https://youtu.be/UHuUmNOwBAw