Tensa Outdoor and the commercial packable tensahedron stand

**W8lkinUSA** · 02-18-2019, 12:33

Originally Posted by brutalguyracing

kiwi what size rei poles are they?

Looks like 6'

**Crazytown3** · 02-18-2019, 12:57

Originally Posted by KiwiMark

I think every motorcycle camper that uses a hammock should use this stand, it is the best motorcycle camping hammock stand by a very large margin IMO.

I'm also riding an Africa Twin and I read advrider forums too.

I've just returned to work today after 4 weeks holiday, 23 days of which I was off on a trip on my bike.

Out-dang-standing!!I couldn't agree more. I've said it before, this stand is a HUGE improvement in motorcycle travel.

I have to tell you, I am very jealous of your 23 day trip. What a great way to spend time off.

**KiwiMark** · 02-18-2019, 22:10

Originally Posted by Misterk

Which tarp are you using? Sweet set up!

https://www.simplylightdesigns.com/c...-4-season-tarp
I have the 12' model, though I wonder if a 13' model would cover the Tensa stand better. I kinda think my tarp is too good to replace, but if it ever got damaged then I'd consider trying out a 13' one.

Originally Posted by brutalguyracing

kiwi what size rei poles are they?

The 6' ones are easily long enough and pack small enough.

**KiwiMark** · 02-19-2019, 00:52

Originally Posted by Crazytown3

Out-dang-standing!!I couldn't agree more. I've said it before, this stand is a HUGE improvement in motorcycle travel.

I have to tell you, I am very jealous of your 23 day trip. What a great way to spend time off.

It was good to get a 4-week break from work and I ensured I had 5 days at the end to relax at home before getting back to work.
Over the 23 nights I spent 21 outdoors and 2 in cabins. In one cabin I set up my Tensa stand and in the other cabin it was trickier to work out where and how to set it up, so I tried sleeping on the bed. It was the first time I slept in something other than a hammock in over 3 years and it wasn't a very good sleep - hammocks are way more comfortable than beds.

I've made a short list of stuff to buy before next year's trip, but I now have my camping set up around 95% perfect. I'm considering buying a few new parts for the Tensa stand, like the toggle & loop connector assembly which I think is a little better than my current method. I'm also wondering if the webbing is better (easier/quicker/more reliable?) than the UCR lines I'm using now? The parts aren't overly expensive so I'm not against upgrading.

**Baka Dasai** · 02-19-2019, 07:55

How feasible is it to use a tree at the foot end, and half a Tensa4 at the head end?

The issue I foresee is that the base of the poles might slide toward the tree. How easy would that be to prevent? Would the orange screws with some guyline be enough to prevent this? What about ditching the orange screws and just running guyline from each pole base to the tarp stake on each side of the head-end of the tarp?

I haven't bought a Tensa4 yet, but am wondering about the possibility of splitting it in half so two people can hang from one tree.

Apologies if this has already been discussed...

**soul embrace** · 02-19-2019, 08:12

Originally Posted by Baka Dasai

How feasible is it to use a tree at the foot end, and half a Tensa4 at the head end?

The issue I foresee is that the base of the poles might slide toward the tree. How easy would that be to prevent? Would the orange screws with some guyline be enough to prevent this? What about ditching the orange screws and just running guyline from each pole base to the tarp stake on each side of the head-end of the tarp?

I haven't bought a Tensa4 yet, but am wondering about the possibility of splitting it in half so two people can hang from one tree.

Apologies if this has already been discussed...

looks like you would need this to do what you are talking about: https://www.tensaoutdoor.com/product...onversion-kit/

**Baka Dasai** · 02-19-2019, 08:24

Originally Posted by soul embrace

looks like you would need this to do what you are talking about: https://www.tensaoutdoor.com/product...onversion-kit/

I'm reluctant to do it that way due to the need for strong anchoring with just one pole. I'm hoping to avoid needing strong anchoring.

**wbJohn** · 02-19-2019, 10:04

Originally Posted by Baka Dasai

I'm reluctant to do it that way due to the need for strong anchoring with just one pole. I'm hoping to avoid needing strong anchoring.

You certainly have that choice but the stresses on the guy lines are pretty high. The other single pole stands that I've seen use three stakes to anchor each guy line. The orange screws seem much simpler and more secure. If you get a Tensa 4 stand you could potentially have four separate poles (if you get the conversion kits) to hang your hammock along with three friends.

HYOH, but do it safely. You don't want to wake up on the ground because you didn't secure the guy lines properly.

**raftingtigger** · 02-19-2019, 11:40

Originally Posted by Baka Dasai

How feasible is it to use a tree at the foot end, and half a Tensa4 at the head end?

The issue I foresee is that the base of the poles might slide toward the tree. How easy would that be to prevent? Would the orange screws with some guyline be enough to prevent this? What about ditching the orange screws and just running guyline from each pole base to the tarp stake on each side of the head-end of the tarp?

I haven't bought a Tensa4 yet, but am wondering about the possibility of splitting it in half so two people can hang from one tree.

Apologies if this has already been discussed...

It has been done and if the tree is the foot end should not require much (if any) anchoring on the head end. The only issue is keeping the feet from slipping toward the feet on the 1/2 stand. If the strut feet are stuck into the ground or staked down it should work fine. There is a pretty shallow ground angle with the struts, so slippage is a real concern.

Now you have given us another experiment to do.

**Baka Dasai** · 02-20-2019, 06:27

Originally Posted by raftingtigger

It has been done and if the tree is the foot end should not require much (if any) anchoring on the head end. The only issue is keeping the feet from slipping toward the feet on the 1/2 stand. If the strut feet are stuck into the ground or staked down it should work fine. There is a pretty shallow ground angle with the struts, so slippage is a real concern.

Now you have given us another experiment to do.

Thanks.

The "shallow ground angle" of the Tensa4 poles means the top of the head end poles don't need staking, but the problem gets transferred to the keeping the bottom of those poles from slipping along the ground. It seems some staking is needed one way or another. My naive intuition is that less force would be needed to keep the bottom of half a Tensa4 from slipping along the ground than the top of a No-Ground pole from falling. But I could be very wrong.

If anybody wants to experiment and report back, please do!