Broken Guy Lines??

**dirtwheels** · 08-12-2016, 20:15

After getting an UGQ tarp with 2 tiny split rings as seeing Paul use them like a belt buckle or descending rings for hammock suspension, I found I really like the convenience. All my other tarps have continuous loops prussic'ed to the guy lines. Staying dry while securing the tarp in the rain is a plus IMO.

Originally Posted by MikekiM

I never understood why manufacturers would put a metal split or d ring on a tarp. I've removed all of them. I'm pretty sure I have all of my pull outpoints started with a low break line.. corners have shock cord which will fail pretty quicklu and ridge lines have simple loops with sliding whipping knots over diamond knots that will give with a serious tug.

there are other places in my kit I am focused on shaving weight, so not having the lightest guy lines isn't a priority.

**zukiguy** · 08-12-2016, 20:17

I thought bank line was treated with tar, not wax? The roll I have would be overkill for guy lines (#36 I think). It smells like asphalt.

I tried the braided mason line once and it almost immediately fuzzed up and collected about every piece of forest litter that it touched. I know others have had much better luck but I'll stick with the micro cord.

**Doctari** · 08-12-2016, 20:57

My ridge line for my tarp is Dynema, I want it to hold as good as it can, but like you I wonder about having line that is stronger than my tarp. The new tarp is going to be rigged with 200 Lb line from Ollie's (yea, still likely too strong, but,,,,,) But will continue to use masons line for my stake out points. The Mason's line seems to hold up to whatever my tarp can take, & I have been in some WINDY conditions, so that is good enough for me.

**Wkerber** · 08-13-2016, 05:26

I love split rings. I had set up a tarp (with split rings on the ridgeline tieouts) in our back yard to test, knowing that we were supposed to get some rain that day. I pitched it nice and high so I could go out during the rain and walk under it to check the seam for leaks. Well, we had rain, but also got surprise wind gusts up to 60 miles an hour. I was inside watching and thinking, well that tarp is going to get shredded. Then it started flapping in the wind. When I got out there one of the split rings had straightened out. Pretty sure that saved my tarp.
If I was actually hanging under it, it would have been pitch low to the ground and not up high like a sail.

**dirtwheels** · 08-13-2016, 05:35

You are correct, it's tarred, and I'm not a fan of either of those. I do like the idea of incorporating a failure point to protect the tarp, I have a SpinnUL tarp and IMO it's irreplaceable! Thanks for this thread it's got me thinking of the best way to do that.

Originally Posted by zukiguy

I thought bank line was treated with tar, not wax? The roll I have would be overkill for guy lines (#36 I think). It smells like asphalt.

I tried the braided mason line once and it almost immediately fuzzed up and collected about every piece of forest litter that it touched. I know others have had much better luck but I'll stick with the micro cord.

**johnspenn** · 08-13-2016, 06:45

Originally Posted by zukiguy

I thought bank line was treated with tar, not wax? The roll I have would be overkill for guy lines (#36 I think). It smells like asphalt.

I tried the braided mason line once and it almost immediately fuzzed up and collected about every piece of forest litter that it touched. I know others have had much better luck but I'll stick with the micro cord.

Do you have a link to the cordage you use? I'd like to check it out.

**zukiguy** · 08-13-2016, 07:28

Originally Posted by johnspenn

Do you have a link to the cordage you use? I'd like to check it out.

Not sure which you were talking about. Here's a link to the bank line. This stuff is great for bushcraft projects and such but the smell and coating would be kind of messy for guylines (and it's huge). http://www.selfrelianceoutfitters.co...line-1lb-roll/

For guylines I switched over to Attwood MicroCord. I think I actually bought mine off Amazon or somewhere. The prices seem to vary wildly depending on the vendor once you factor in shipping. It's strong and comes in about every color of the rainbow. They have a similar cord with reflective properties. I just went for bright yellow and orange....

http://atwoodrope.com/collections/micro-cord

**MikekiM** · 08-13-2016, 08:36

So now I'm thinking about putting the split rings back on my ridge line. :-(

Posted from somewhere east of Montauk

**SoaknWet** · 08-13-2016, 09:00

Has anyone used Atwood glow line? 100# strength seems to be plenty strong enough for tie outs and I like the fact it glows so even my big feet can avoid tripping at night. My new WB superfly came with spit rings which i was thinking of removing but after reading these post I decided to leave them alone, might even add them to the tie outs.

**underserviced** · 08-28-2016, 21:41

A response to one of the early questions first post: I had been buying line from MSR or Niteize. Seemed cost effective and I like that it is reflective. I recently needed cordage and I was able to pick up Amsteel for .51 per foot and that isn't the cheapest price you can get it for... Do I need a light weight line that will hold that much? Nope. But for .51 per foot I'll keep buying it over MSR and Niteize.