Tensa SOLO?

[OverTheHill]

I’ve used my solo a few times now. Last time out, I tried the boom stake as the ground was too hard for the screws. This ground was seriously hard - even with a hammer I could only pound them in maybe 8 inches. Tested it hard and it was super solid so away I went and had no issues.

I’m wondering if this is a reasonably correct way to use the booms when they cannot be fully inserted into the ground?
Attachment 189359

Since Tensa offers two different length of boom stakes I have to ask, is that the longer 40cm long stake? If not, and that's the 30cm one, I'm amazed it held with so little underground. But, I suppose that if the ground was that hard there would be a lot less ability of the stake to shift around and the stake would have the same ability to hold in place as a longer drop into a softer soil (ie: same amount of effective counter force to your weight in the hammock).

I've never had the problem you describe, frankly all of my issues have been due to the ground being "deceptively soft" and having stakes pull out in the middle of a hang. Thanks for sharing!

[Tpatter]

Since Tensa offers two different length of boom stakes I have to ask, is that the longer 40cm long stake? If not, and that's the 30cm one, I'm amazed it held with so little underground. But, I suppose that if the ground was that hard there would be a lot less ability of the stake to shift around and the stake would have the same ability to hold in place as a longer drop into a softer soil (ie: same amount of effective counter force to your weight in the hammock).

I've never had the problem you describe, frankly all of my issues have been due to the ground being "deceptively soft" and having stakes pull out in the middle of a hang. Thanks for sharing!

Yeah, these are the 40s. I was a bit nervous but I tested them out by bouncing a fair amount on the hammock and they seemed extremely solid. This is the first time that I’ve used the sticks, but was impressed with them.

[Latherdome]

I’ve used my solo a few times now. Last time out, I tried the boom stake as the ground was too hard for the screws. This ground was seriously hard - even with a hammer I could only pound them in maybe 8 inches. Tested it hard and it was super solid so away I went and had no issues.

I’m wondering if this is a reasonably correct way to use the booms when they cannot be fully inserted into the ground?
Attachment 189359

In many cases the boom may slide up the stake and (probably) fail if you can’t drive the stake in all the way. The good news is that in most cases super hard ground will hold the stake even without using the boom, and without the stake being driven all the way in. My rule of thumb is that if the stake requires hammering to get past the first couple inches, the boom is probably unnecessary.

Just be sure to keep the line at ground level, not higher up on the stake. Same goes for the screw type anchors: if you can’t fully sink it, connect the line at ground level, not to the unsupported top.

The boom helps more in soft ground, helping Boomstakes compete with screw type anchors in those specific conditions.


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[tinktheman12]

Fun story from trying to set up my Tensa Solo for the first experiment in my backyard. Was hoping it would work with some regular y-style stakes... Bad idea.

So I kind of found a new way to lose a stake as I sat down in the hammock ever so slowly - the Tensa Solo ripped the stake out, slammed flat into the ground toward my other stake, sending the free stake flying into kingdom come of its guyline, catapult-like. After a few different days of failed searching despite its colors and reflective cord, I assume it is 20-ft high in a pine tree or a quarter mile down the way. Glad the ground was soft enough: the pole looks perfectly fine.

I learned two things:
1 - I probably need those special stakes.
2 - Tensa Solo can be used to deter (slay?) bears if you have good aim.

[Draketake]

Hey all,

i am about to order the Tensa Solo Conversion Kit. What kind of problems, if any, will I run into with my 12 foot Tarp. What are the solutions?

I saw a post earlier using the Tarp Extenders. That setup looked like it needed just a little more tweaking of some sort, for better ease of set up and for more stability of the tarp.

Please school me on the necessary mods/ideas etc. for a 12 foot tarp. Pics would help me immensely as thats the best way for me to learn.

Thank you in advance.

Bob

[Latherdome]

We’re unaware of any common problems using tarps of any common length with Solo. Particulars depend on how you typically attach to a tree. I only use split ridgelines. I run the tarp ridgeline through loop or loops at top of tarp extension, and guy to ground.

Suggest you finish all hammock adjustments before pitching tarp. This means re-tensioning main guylines to remove slack after laying in the hammock. This stabilizes the pole position(s) for tarp.


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[Draketake]

Thanks Todd. I was thinking the longer tarp may be a problem but it sounds like its not going to be.

Still no word on the Solo Conversion kit bags I presume?

The solo conversion kits list at $33.00 now, without the kit bags. If I wait until you get the conversion kit bags in how much would the conversion kits with bag be in price? In other words, whats the price difference between conversion kit with bag and conversion kit without bag?

Bob

[Latherdome]

I myself refer to our site for prices, not retaining memory of same, and I wouldn’t quote in online forum where liable to be wrong by the time Google indexes or most read. The bags are in express transit this morning, under $10 for sure.

I did make a modest how-to video of the conversion yesterday from packing closet, because print instructions had drifted from production changes ongoing, as interim until larger print docs revision many months out: https://youtu.be/NNPhQvgndZo?si=YGoDgpMlxiCrbPcH


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[Draketake]

I myself refer to our site for prices, not retaining memory of same, and I wouldn’t quote in online forum where liable to be wrong by the time Google indexes or most read. The bags are in express transit this morning, under $10 for sure.

I did make a modest how-to video of the conversion yesterday from packing closet, because print instructions had drifted from production changes ongoing, as interim until larger print docs revision many months out: https://youtu.be/NNPhQvgndZo?si=YGoDgpMlxiCrbPcH


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Thanks again Todd for responding.

Ill wait another week or so to order. Maybe the bags will come in by them. Im a stickler for keeping things in their dedicated bags/pouches as I tend to loose things.

Have a good week.

Bob

[Latherdome]

I received bag stock hours after replying in thread.


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