Winter Tarp Guy Lines - Amsteel or Shock Cord?

**Donfish06** · 04-10-2017, 20:01

What is the preferred guy line, Amsteel or Shock Cord? How do you secure the guy lines to stakes w/out paying $72 for 8 Dutch wasps?

**droidrunner** · 04-10-2017, 20:03

Zing it with snow anchors. Anchors can be made from sticks. To secure them I start to make the knot you would use for a marlin spike hitch but I obviously use the stick for the toggle. Bites pretty good and then just tension the tarp and bury the anchor

Edit - Winter for NH means snow. In summer I do the same thing but with tent spikes. I don't have any bling for my tarp guylines. Like to keep it simple with my tarp.

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**Donfish06** · 04-10-2017, 20:36

Thanks! I went with the zing it. I think I'll use a farrimond friction hitch and tuck the tag end into itself, making 8t a permanent friction knot!

**Ranc0r** · 04-11-2017, 07:42

I use Reflect-it cord (from Dutch), 'cuz I hate tripping over them. I use a loop of shock cord and a Line-Loc 3. The Line Loc 3 weighs 1/4 g. and costs $0.32. I got them from Dutch, but you don't HAVE to give him all your money!

**Scouter_Ken** · 04-11-2017, 08:14

I use Lawson reflective cord that you can purchase from any number of vendors along with MSR groundhogs and some simple knots

**Donfish06** · 04-11-2017, 08:26

Originally Posted by Ranc0r

I use Reflect-it cord (from Dutch), 'cuz I hate tripping over them. I use a loop of shock cord and a Line-Loc 3. The Line Loc 3 weighs 1/4 g. and costs $0.32. I got them from Dutch, but you don't HAVE to give him all your money!

If they offered a mini spool of reflect-it I would do that. I like your idea though with the line-locs. I hadn't heard of them. I am adding them to my order!

**WalksIn2Trees** · 04-11-2017, 11:34

There's debate about Amsteel for Guylines: Concern that the tarp will give before the line will.

Debate with shock cord: does the extra flex contribute to the stakes not holding well in gusting winds. I can attest to this and prefer less flex in my line vs more

I used Amsteel all this winter, and only had to put a stake back in during the thaw when the soil was all loosened up from snow melt. Experienced some 50mph gusting several times this winter, and none of my guy-out loops tore off.

Reflective or not is more of a cosmetic preference... Though if you might need to stealth camp ever, you should skip the reflective cordage... tough to stay hidden if your cordage shines like a beacon.

Personally, I don't camp with others anyway, and I set up camp so that I won't ever need to go near the guylines, so I don't trip on them...I always setup with a planned path in

If you have kids running around playing tag on the other hand, best to get reflective.

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**Trail Runner** · 04-11-2017, 13:09

I've never been a fan of using shock cord on my tarps but many folks do in order to compensate for when their SilNylon tarps get wet and stretch. Not as big of an issue in winter but still a possibility. A potential downside to using shock cord in the winter is that it can freeze in position thus rendering it decorative.

**WalksIn2Trees** · 04-12-2017, 14:34

Originally Posted by Trail Runner

I've never been a fan of using shock cord on my tarps but many folks do in order to compensate for when their SilNylon tarps get wet and stretch. Not as big of an issue in winter but still a possibility. A potential downside to using shock cord in the winter is that it can freeze in position thus rendering it decorative.

Plus, when frozen, if you flex it the elastic core can get ruined, same for bungees or any elastic material. Side-pulls are the best way to compensate for stretch and sag... Never had an issue since I got my first tarp that had them.

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