Failure of Cuben Tarp Ridge Line Tie Outs

**Black Foot** · 01-27-2013, 19:04

Had my new HG 4S Cuben Tarp out for the second time last weekend. Unfortunately the plastic D-Ring on the ridge line snapped off during the first night followed by the one on the other side the next morning. The ridgeline was snug but not overly so, but the temperature was in the low single digits so I assume the plastic was more brittle than usual. It's still a little disappointing on a tarp that cost this much . I just used a larks head knot on each side through the loop on each side to put it back up.

Wondering if anyone else had this same issue on their tarp? I'd also be interested in thoughts on how to rig the ridgeline now. I know some cut these off to save a bit of weight and the larks head works fine but I don't necessarily want to have the tarp be the weakest link in the chain so to speak and risk tearing it.

**Ewker** · 01-27-2013, 19:06

Have you talked to HG about this to see if anyone else has said something about this happening to them also?

**Black Foot** · 01-27-2013, 19:09

Originally Posted by Ewker

Have you talked to HG about this to see if anyone else has said something about this happening to them also?

I haven't, it seems so minor I hate to bother them. Maybe it's worth an email just to let them know that it happened and to get Adam's advice on what I should do. I'll drop him an email.

**stormcrow** · 01-27-2013, 19:22

Hi Blackfoot,

Sorry to hear about the D-rings snapping. More than likely it was due to the colder temperatures affecting the plastic while under load. While we have tested them in most conditions, including single digits, and had good results, I can see that there could be conditions where they might fail (obviously). They are, after all, 1/2 inch plastic d-rings.

We decided to use those particular rings for a couple of reasons. One, they go a long way to keep the weight down. I would put Dutchware titanium d-rings on every tarp if I could afford it. They are strong and who does not like titanium?

Also, we build the tarp in such a way that if there is a failure to one of the d-rings, the remaining webbing attachment can still be used for the pullout. This allows the user to finish the trip and send it back to us for repair if deemed necessary.

We have a good number of our cuben tarps out in the market now and we have had only heard of a very few instances of failure. Few enough that manufacture defects of the d-rings themselves could be a factor.

It goes without say, but I will say it, that we will fix your tarp if you send it back to us. I apologize for any hardship you might have experienced out on the trail.

~Stormcrow

**Black Foot** · 01-27-2013, 20:17

Originally Posted by stormcrow

Hi Blackfoot,

Sorry to hear about the D-rings snapping. More than likely it was due to the colder temperatures affecting the plastic while under load. While we have tested them in most conditions, including single digits, and had good results, I can see that there could be conditions where they might fail (obviously). They are, after all, 1/2 inch plastic d-rings.

We decided to use those particular rings for a couple of reasons. One, they go a long way to keep the weight down. I would put Dutchware titanium d-rings on every tarp if I could afford it. They are strong and who does not like titanium?

Also, we build the tarp in such a way that if there is a failure to one of the d-rings, the remaining webbing attachment can still be used for the pullout. This allows the user to finish the trip and send it back to us for repair if deemed necessary.

We have a good number of our cuben tarps out in the market now and we have had only heard of a very few instances of failure. Few enough that manufacture defects of the d-rings themselves could be a factor.

It goes without say, but I will say it, that we will fix your tarp if you send it back to us. I apologize for any hardship you might have experienced out on the trail.

~Stormcrow

Thanks for getting back so quickly and for your kind offer to repair but it hardly seems worth the trouble. I'll use Fallkniven's suggestion and replace with a couple of key rings. No hardship experienced - worked as you intended and I was able to quickly re-rig using the webbing attachment in less than a minute.

On the positive side - it sure was nice to be able to be able to see the nearly full moon through the tarp and my 20* Phoenix with a 2 oz. over-stuff kept me toasty warm down to 5*

**ninjahamockman** · 01-28-2013, 09:32

Originally Posted by stormcrow

Hi Blackfoot,

Sorry to hear about the D-rings snapping. More than likely it was due to the colder temperatures affecting the plastic while under load. While we have tested them in most conditions, including single digits, and had good results, I can see that there could be conditions where they might fail (obviously). They are, after all, 1/2 inch plastic d-rings.

We decided to use those particular rings for a couple of reasons. One, they go a long way to keep the weight down. I would put Dutchware titanium d-rings on every tarp if I could afford it. They are strong and who does not like titanium?

Also, we build the tarp in such a way that if there is a failure to one of the d-rings, the remaining webbing attachment can still be used for the pullout. This allows the user to finish the trip and send it back to us for repair if deemed necessary.

We have a good number of our cuben tarps out in the market now and we have had only heard of a very few instances of failure. Few enough that manufacture defects of the d-rings themselves could be a factor.

It goes without say, but I will say it, that we will fix your tarp if you send it back to us. I apologize for any hardship you might have experienced out on the trail.

~Stormcrow

This is why I like cottage vendors they support the customer after the buy. Yeah stormcrow will take care of you

**Black Foot** · 01-28-2013, 12:28

Originally Posted by ninjahamockman

This is why I like cottage vendors they support the customer after the buy. Yeah stormcrow will take care of you

Absolutely, and just to be clear StormCrow did reach out to me both in the forum and privately within an hour of the original post offering to do whatever was needed to repair the tarp to my satisfaction at no cost. You have to love a vendor who stands behind his gear 100%. Thanks Adam!

**Acer** · 01-27-2013, 19:09

Contact Adam or Jen and they will take care of anything wrong for sure. They are awesome on their cuben tarp repairs and such. You could have just gotten a lemon of a plastic D Ring is all. I just got back my cuben tarp where something caustic caused a melted spot on it,,and it looks new the way it was repaired. I still don't know how or what I got on it to cause the cuben material to melt, so take care of your cuben goodness. Love the cuben and will keep abusing it all I can.

**breyman** · 01-27-2013, 19:14

+1 on contacting HG. I'm sure they'll help make it right. Did the D ring itself break or the place where it was attached to the cuben? I haven't seen any other reports of similar failures.

**Black Foot** · 01-27-2013, 19:17

Originally Posted by breyman

+1 on contacting HG. I'm sure they'll help make it right. Did the D ring itself break or the place where it was attached to the cuben? I haven't seen any other reports of similar failures.

I sent an email to HG. The D-Rings snapped - the tie out itself is fine - so at least the right part failed