Shock cords, yes or no and why?

[OneClick]

I would never rely on any kind of "fuse". If the storm is that bad, expect something else to fail first.

[michigandave]

I'm using this. It's what I have but I need to order about 3 more.

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I'm using the same thing on all of my tarps, but they're alot cheaper here: https://simplylightdesigns.com/colle...ucts/lineloc-3

[ibgary]

Thanks. I only have 3 and need to order more.

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[HandyRandy]

I would never rely on any kind of "fuse". If the storm is that bad, expect something else to fail first.

Another debatable technique for sure. If you use a fuse that breaks prematurely during a storm gust, you just got your shelter wet, unnecessarily.

[cougarmeat]

>If you use a fuse that breaks prematurely during a storm gust, you just got your shelter wet, unnecessarily.

That's only if your "fuse" is the last link. If you use bungee WITH your guy line, such that the bungee attaches parallel with the guy line for a bit, then a broken bungee won't let that guy point fly free.

However, if the wind is strong enough to "trip my fuse", I may have to don the rain/storm gear and consider a reorientation or location of my set up. This happened - not in mid storm - a month or so ago at Pirate's Cove in the B.C. Gulf Islands. I saw the wind coming in from the west and put my tarps (GE and Bridge) broadside to the weather. But the winds just pushed the tarps into the hammocks. We were dry, but I figured a smaller profile to the wind would be best. That morning (next day), I reoriented so the tarps were parallel with the wind. The doors and the support trees blocked most the wind and the air flow was such that instead of pushing the tarp material in, it give it lift so it was reaching away from the hammocks. I also used snakeskins for the first time and they immensely helped with the redeployment.

[WalksIn2Trees]

my experience was that the shock cords allowed the wind to move the stakes more through moving the tarp, and the stakes would pull out of loser soil during the gusty winds of Spring and Autumn. Again, this was in lose soil (sand).

it's totally unnecessary with my current setup which uses inside end pole-mods. It's tensioned so nicely it never flaps or anything in exactly that situation and, with a strong enough ridge-line, the only reason I have to guy it out is to keep it from pivoting along the ridge-line axis

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[MikekiM]

I used them when I carried silnylon and silpoly tarps. I saw no downside. They were shock absorbers for the guy lines, and tensioners for the tarp. Then I switched to a single under-tarp pole and that proved to be a better tensioner, but offered no protection from tripping over lines.

Switched to DCF tarps and no longer see value in the shock cord, other than for the doors

[WalksIn2Trees]

I used them when I carried silnylon and silpoly tarps. I saw no downside. They were shock absorbers for the guy lines, and tensioners for the tarp. Then I switched to a single under-tarp pole and that proved to be a better tensioner, but offered no protection from tripping over lines.

Switched to DCF tarps and no longer see value in the shock cord, other than for the doors

if you ALWAYS enter and exit the tarp area by the same route, you never trip over the lines. I started that habit back in my tent days, after tripping over a guyline and getting a rope burn on my forehead. it's served me well ever since, and I get reminded of it sometimes during setup or teardown which is the only time I really have to walk near the guylines.

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[MikekiM]

if you ALWAYS enter and exit the tarp area by the same route, you never trip over the lines. I started that habit back in my tent days, after tripping over a guyline and getting a rope burn on my forehead. it's served me well ever since, and I get reminded of it sometimes during setup or teardown which is the only time I really have to walk near the guylines.

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I do enter and exit by the same route (I use hammock pullouts that always go towards the head end, so I enter from the foot end). However, I don't use the same pitch all the times. Sometimes low and wide, sometimes high and wide, sometimes a quarter-back, other times porched.. and where the stakes and guy lines go.. I rarely repeat.

[ibgary]

I also use the same entrance. Less chance of tripping in the dark. I want to try the pole mod. How do you stabilize the center? I was thinking about running the pole threw a persick loop on the ridge line. (Spelling)

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Goodbye to a good tent. The Quest is over 20 yrs old and now the poles will go into to tarp.