Storage of Guy Lines

[rweb82]

First, no need to break it down... leave tarp ridge line and guy lines attached. I've never understood the rationale for removing all the cordage, which is only going to be re-installed the next time the tarp is pitched.

I agree completely. I'm always gonna need the guylines attached to the tarp when I pitch it- may as well just keep them connected permanently.

[Tpatter]

Great idea, Tpatter. What is that little thingie that looks like it slides on the shockcord?

This is a connector that this company makes, but I’ve made my own. Just a loop of shock cord with an overhand knot to form a smaller loop to hold the wrapped cord.

[Phantom Grappler]

I keep ridgeline and guylines attached to tarp.
Have an oversized stuff sack and no snakeskins.
I’ve never learned the figure8 wrap, instead I use a rapid accordion wrap and give it a few circular wraps to hold accordion wrap intact and seal it with a slip knot.
I always unwrap and unwind all guylines at home to ensure there is no mold or mildew camping out on my suspension.

Maybe I’ll see error of my ways, when I get to pitch or pack tarp during high winds and rain.
Then I’ll say, why didn’t I get tarp skins for no mess deployment and take down.

[MikekiM]

Dutch cord is 1.3mm and reflective (as is Zpacks z-line) and is a lot stiffer and doesn't tangle as easily in my opinion. The long term durability is still somewhat of a question to me. They also won't work with Line Lock 3s, but work well with the Line Lock V (available from Dutch or Zpacks), the Slide Lock the Dutch sells, or knots of course.

Reflective Z-Line is 1.2mm. I use it with modified Lineloc 3s, and Vs.

This just blew my mind. Thank you for the reason to buy different cordage colors!

I am experimenting with this on my Palace. Orange Z-Line and yellow Dutch Wire.

Great idea, Tpatter. What is that little thingie that looks like it slides on the shockcord?

Those are Squeeze Hooks. Not sure exactly how they are being used there.

[cougarmeat]

Just a note on cmoulders comment about removing guy lines. Keeping them on works if you are using only one tarp. But if you have a variety of tarps you are either configuring each one or moving the “set” from one tarp to another. That said, with the cost of things in this avocation, guy line is pretty inexpensive. So putting a set on each tarp would probably be the least expensive I’d incur for a long time.

[cmoulder]

Just a note on cmoulders comment about removing guy lines. Keeping them on works if you are using only one tarp. But if you have a variety of tarps you are either configuring each one or moving the “set” from one tarp to another. That said, with the cost of things in this avocation, guy line is pretty inexpensive. So putting a set on each tarp would probably be the least expensive I’d incur for a long time.

That makes sense, although it also greatly increases the odds of pulling a tarp out of the pack at a campsite far, far away, only to discover it has no cordage. I don't carry a bunch of spare cordage so that would be very inconvenient.

One upside of removing them is that you can dry the cordage and tarps separately. Tarps tend to dry quicker, so there's the possibility of rolling it up and storing it with damp cordage, ending up with mildew. For this reason I usually leave tarp open and cordage spread out for a couple of days after returning from a trip... want that thing bone dry before storing.

[deadeye]

Just a note on cmoulders comment about removing guy lines. Keeping them on works if you are using only one tarp. But if you have a variety of tarps you are either configuring each one or moving the “set” from one tarp to another. That said, with the cost of things in this avocation, guy line is pretty inexpensive. So putting a set on each tarp would probably be the least expensive I’d incur for a long time.

All of my tarps are pre-strung, ready to go. A little extra cordage is just a few bucks. And whatever shelter I'm bringing, the checklist has a separate box to check for the stakes, so I don't forget those.

[BuckeyeFan]

I got tied of rolling my guylines into the tarp & snakeskin only to have a tangled mess when I next set-up. So I'm trying this: I took a rubber hair tie and lark-footed one to each corner & door d-ring. Then I figure 8 bundled each guyline and secured it with the hair tie. Then I rolled my tarp like I always do and ran the snakeskins over it. I use the ridgeline to wrap the tarp into a manageable bundle.

Between the trees and above the ground.

[cmoulder]

All of my tarps are pre-strung, ready to go. A little extra cordage is just a few bucks. And whatever shelter I'm bringing, the checklist has a separate box to check for the stakes, so I don't forget those.

I like to carry that a step further and also store the stakes with my tarp, thus ensuring that the entire shelter system is a complete, single unit. It helps that my stakes are Ti shepherd hooks, which are quite compact, and I put them in a ziploc freezer bag which is rolled in when the tarp is rolled up. The tip ends are at the top of the ziploc, where the thicker material is rolled over and rubber banded so there's nothing poking the tarp material.

Of course, this might not be feasible with different stakes/tarps, so as long as you have a foolproof system that works every time, so much the better.

[Phantom Grappler]

My stakes are carried in an empty plastic water bottle. Once in bottle, cover with lid. None fall out, and very unlikely to puncture tarp or anything else in pack.
Water bottle has been stepped on, and is almost flat,to reduce volume. They are carried in net pocket on back of ULA.
Possibly you could roll it all in with tarp.