Lawson Guywire for tarp continuous ridgeline, diameter advice.

**Rice-N-beans** · 12-04-2019, 08:09

I like my 2mm Lawson glowire so much for my guylines that I'd like to use the same type of cordage for my tarp continuous ridgeline, except without the reflective properties, Guywire is supposed to be glowire without the reflective part.

My question is, for the ridgeline should I stick with the 2mm offering, or go with the 2.5mm or 3mm offering?
https://lawsonequipment.com/All-Prod...ord-p1131.html

My tarps are a silpoly 11' WB Superfly, and a heavier ETOWAH 10'x10' PU coated tarp.

Thank you in advance for the help!

**OneClick** · 12-04-2019, 08:42

I like my 2.2mm zing-it, so I would err on the side of a little larger rather than smaller. The 2.5mm sounds like a good compromise. The only other consideration is if you're using any kind of hardware - make sure the diameter you choose fits thru the holes, hooks, etc.

**cmc4free** · 12-04-2019, 09:23

Yeah, I agree with the suggestion about hardware. A lot of the hardware is designed with 1.75mm Zing-It in mind and while 2mm might work with those, 2.5mm may not.

Lawson's 2.5mm cord was designed to work with Lineloc3 hardware, but that hardware isn't commonly used on tarp ridgelines, at least not as commonly as they're used for guylines. The 2.5mm stuff does work really well with no slipping in the LL3s, but otherwise it is pretty overkill for guylines. Nothing wrong with that other than the extra weight and bulk... which won't matter to everyone.

IMO, you'd be fine with either the 2mm or the 2.5mm. If you tend toward using heavier duty materials with greater factor of safety, choose the 2.5mm. If you'd prefer something lighter and less bulky, the 2mm will still be plenty strong enough for the task.

If you're using knots and hitches in your CRL, the larger diameter is typically a little easier to work with.

**Rice-N-beans** · 12-04-2019, 10:04

Originally Posted by OneClick

I like my 2.2mm zing-it, so I would err on the side of a little larger rather than smaller. The 2.5mm sounds like a good compromise. The only other consideration is if you're using any kind of hardware - make sure the diameter you choose fits thru the holes, hooks, etc.

Originally Posted by cmc4free

Yeah, I agree with the suggestion about hardware. A lot of the hardware is designed with 1.75mm Zing-It in mind and while 2mm might work with those, 2.5mm may not.

Lawson's 2.5mm cord was designed to work with Lineloc3 hardware, but that hardware isn't commonly used on tarp ridgelines, at least not as commonly as they're used for guylines. The 2.5mm stuff does work really well with no slipping in the LL3s, but otherwise it is pretty overkill for guylines. Nothing wrong with that other than the extra weight and bulk... which won't matter to everyone.

IMO, you'd be fine with either the 2mm or the 2.5mm. If you tend toward using heavier duty materials with greater factor of safety, choose the 2.5mm. If you'd prefer something lighter and less bulky, the 2mm will still be plenty strong enough for the task.

If you're using knots and hitches in your CRL, the larger diameter is typically a little easier to work with.

Thanks for the info!

I plan on using a bowline on one end, and either a truckers hitch or figure-9 on the other, prusik knots for tarp tension.

**GeneH** · 12-04-2019, 10:58

Any concern for damage to the tarp with the 2 mm as a continuous ridge line under the tarp?

**Rice-N-beans** · 12-04-2019, 11:04

Originally Posted by GeneH

Any concern for damage to the tarp with the 2 mm as a continuous ridge line under the tarp?

GeneH, I'm StinkBait from BCUSA forums that posted about glowire over there, I also want to know the answer to this question.

**GeneH** · 12-04-2019, 11:43

Originally Posted by GeneH

Any concern for damage to the tarp with the 2 mm as a continuous ridge line under the tarp?

Originally Posted by Rice-N-beans

GeneH, I'm StinkBait from BCUSA forums that posted about glowire over there, I also want to know the answer to this question.

HAHAHAHAHAH. HA. That's exactly what prompted me to ask the question! Smaller world than I realize sometimes.

**HandyRandy** · 12-04-2019, 12:28

Oh look at that. Lawson finally came out with the 2.5mm Guywire! And 25% off. Santa came early. EARLY!

**Countrybois** · 12-04-2019, 12:36

Originally Posted by GeneH

Any concern for damage to the tarp with the 2 mm as a continuous ridge line under the tarp?

I don't think you'd have to worry about tarp damage. You WILL need to be concerned with water intrusion from running/wicking down the lines under your tarp. I'd avoid that. I've seen too many guys' trip cut short due to wet gear from this.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk

**mehyatink** · 12-04-2019, 18:23

Originally Posted by Rice-N-beans

I like my 2mm Lawson glowire so much for my guylines that I'd like to use the same type of cordage for my tarp continuous ridgeline, except without the reflective properties, Guywire is supposed to be glowire without the reflective part.

My question is, for the ridgeline should I stick with the 2mm offering, or go with the 2.5mm or 3mm offering?
https://lawsonequipment.com/All-Prod...ord-p1131.html

My tarps are a silpoly 11' WB Superfly, and a heavier ETOWAH 10'x10' PU coated tarp.

Thank you in advance for the help!

Hey Rice-N-Beans,

I've been using Lawson's 2mm Reflective Glowire and bar tensioners for the last two years. It holds my Noah's tarp 16 and Superfly just fine and I haven't had to replace it yet. I use it for the ridgeline and guylines. I'd imagine the guywire would work the same just not reflective.