I too had issues with Zing-It and Reflect-It slipping out of Line Loc 3’s. I bought Lawson 2.5 mm Glowire and have not had any problems. The line feels like over kill for the tarp, but I find it much easier to work with when my hands are cold and wet. I think the increase in weight was negligible compared to the speed and ease I can adjust my tarp now.
I had a terrible night once a few years ago when a hard wind and rain came out of nowhere and my zing-it lines slipped through my line locks. I was at a campsite besides a lake so I had few choices on how to hang my hammock and tarp. I've since replaced that tarps guy-out lines with Lawson glow wire in the 2.5 mm version and have been hammocking happily ever after. No slippage what so ever and no need for any knots, of which I wish I had thought of when I had zing-it installed.
I got so super soaked that night. My sleeping bag took two days in the sun to get mostly dry. It was a good experience and great lesson - since it was in July.
I think this is a better option for tarps than using zing-it. First, like you said, it's easier to work with. Second, it's reflective. Last, I like my tie-outs to be weaker than the tarp. If I trip on it, I'd rather break the line than tear the tarp.
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>If I trip on it, I'd rather break the line than tear the tarp.
That’s one reason to have some bungee in the circuit - for a little give. I used to use split rings on the ridge line - sort of like a fuse - but that was when I setup with a continuous ridgeline that was like an ovel with the tarp part of the circuit. Now I use a single - not oval - continuous ridge line with the tarp hanging from it via Nama Claws. So stress on the line isn’t transferred to the tarp. If the wind is so strong that I worry about it in that configuration, it’s time to move.
In order to see what few have seen, you must go where few have gone. And DO what few have done.
I've now switch to Mason line for the tarp tie-outs. I made the Mason line into woopie slings and larks headed them onto the tarp. Loop it over the stake and tighten. It's not reflective, but if it gets tripped on it will break and not tear the tarp. No hardware, no knots.
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I found myself in some rather nasty weather in May (there was a tornado warning in effect at the time) and woke up to find that although everything held, my lines had slipped a couple of inches and the tarp was no longer taut. And this was with Lawson + Line Locs.
I haven't tried it out in the field yet, but I have since added some Dutchware tarpworms to my lines. It was a super, super tight fit to get them on the lines, but the intent is to take the tarpworm and snug it up underneath the Line Loc to prevent slippage. As others have suggested, you can just as easily tie a hitch. But I have this thing for titanium .........
Lawson Glowire/Guywire is particularly fond of Blake's hitch. No hardware and never slips even a micron.
Five Basic Principles of Going Lighter (not me... the great Cam Honan of OZ)
“If everybody is thinking alike, then somebody isn't thinking.” ~ Gen. George S Patton
I like Blake's Hitch too. Once you get the hang of it, it's pretty quick. I also like it because it reminds me of an obscene hand gesture, which is how I remember how to tie it.
On my winter tarp, I use orange Reflect-It, which is a touch small at 1.8mm for Line-Loc 3s. I usually just add a slippery half-hitch under the Line-Loc after tensioning, and it holds pretty well through some rough stuff.
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