What's A Good Knot?

[affreeman]

What's a good knot to use with the elastic tie-outs that are used to spread and stabilize the Hennessy hammock? I tie my lines to stakes and the usual taut line hitch I use on guy lines doesn't hold in the elastic.

[jlb2012]

I used a bowline loop on the elastic lines - just pull it out and hook over the stake - no need to untie just leave the loops always tied

[kwpapke]

Most folks double-up the elastics. If you do, you don't need a knot at all, as the elastics make one big loop. I almost always use my trekking poles to support the tarp, so I just loop the elastics over the trekking pole handles.

See: http://www.hammockforums.net/gallery/files/1/2/5/0/20080722_17_thumb.jpg (http://www.hammockforums.net/gallery/showimage.php?i=4411&c=member&imageuser=1250)

--Kurt

[affreeman]

Most folks double-up the elastics. If you do, you don't need a knot at all, as the elastics make one big loop. I almost always use my trekking poles to support the tarp, so I just loop the elastics over the trekking pole handles.

See: http://www.hammockforums.net/gallery/files/1/2/5/0/20080722_17_thumb.jpg (http://www.hammockforums.net/gallery/showimage.php?i=4411&c=member&imageuser=1250)

--Kurt

That looks like a great solution, Kurt. So how do you tie the trekking pole into the tarp; do you loop the tarp guy line around the trekking pole handle, then down to the stake?

[deadeye]

I just use a clove hitch - very easy to get on & off, and to make anywhere along the line

[kwpapke]

So how do you tie the trekking pole into the tarp; do you loop the tarp guy line around the trekking pole handle, then down to the stake?
I don't actually tie it. I wrap the tarp tiedown line 3 times around the trekking pole handle, then tie the end down to a stake (I use a Nite Ize Figure 9). I've never had the line detach even in high winds. 3 wraps around the handle seems to be the magic number for me. The makes teardown incredibly easy: pop the elastic off the pole, pull out the stake and the wrap just falls off the trekking pole.

--Kurt

[Spock]

All those are good solutions. If you want one more for your repertoire, try a figure-8 knot to make a loop around the stake. Elastic cord is notoriously prone to untying itself, and the figure-8 seems to stay tied a little better.

[Ramblinrev]

I turn the treking pole upside down and insert the tip through the loop in the tieout cord where it ties to the tarp. The basket keeps the loop in place. No additional knots or loops. But then I got cheapo treking poles so I don't much care.

[Youngblood]

I turn the treking pole upside down and insert the tip through the loop in the tieout cord where it ties to the tarp. The basket keeps the loop in place. No additional knots or loops. But then I got cheapo treking poles so I don't much care.

I thought that was the way most folks used their hiking poles with tarps, with the tips up. You can do like you suggested by using a loop in the tie out cord or use a clove hitch. You can tie a clove hitch with a two-loop technique so you don't have to have the end of the cord and you can slide it off the end of the tip when you want to remove the hiking pole such that the clove hitch unties itself.