Tip coupler for tent pole spreader bar
For the last couple of bridge hammocks I made, I slipped the tip end of the tent pole spreader bar between two pieces of cord that tighten together under load. The length of the gap between the two pieces of cord is 2 or 3 inches by design, to allow me the generality of using a hiking pole or some other spreader than the tent pole. The ingenious pockets that others have come up are great for their individual types of poles, but I still hope for generality.
While no pole has ever slipped its mooring when I'm in the hammock, I've always been mighty cautious getting in to not jostle the poles loose. They have jostled loose when not under load.
I had my hammock at a picnic this weekend, gathered a small crowd who were curious about it, and had some folks getting in and out of it. I'd advise them to be gentle, and most were, but my heart about stopped when a big guy, maybe 250 lbs, just dropped BOOM into the hammock. Well the poles held and the tips stayed put and the two bodies of 1 oz fabric held up so all was well. But I knew it was time to make the poles a little more secure.
Turns out just a small bit of cord does the job. I'm using LashIt here, really strong, really small, really light. Perfect for the job.
So, a small loop tied around the pair of cords that trap the pole tip.
http://www.hammockforums.net/gallery...ng-1_thumb.jpg
Then I push the end of the loop up where the tip will go, getting ready to slip the pole tip into that loop and between the two cords.
http://www.hammockforums.net/gallery...ng-2_thumb.jpg
Insert the pole tip
http://www.hammockforums.net/gallery...ng-3_thumb.jpg
And now the two cords can't separate enough to let the pole pop out.
http://www.hammockforums.net/gallery...ng-4_thumb.jpg
I should have worked this out months ago....;)
Grizz