Guy Line Ideas

[Crazy8]

I got some 1.75 ironwire coming on Saturday (I scooped up the last 2 that he had) and I have been trying to think of some guy line ideas. I have used zing-it whoopie slings, and I like how those work, but require a bit of material to make them. My overall plan with my whole hammock camping setup is to go "soft" with no extra hardware for things like guy lines (stakes don't count), ridge lines, and suspension. One thing I have wondered is what are some of the best ways to create guy lines that are very effective, quickly deployed, and are the most efficient use of the cordage to make said guy line?

My thought on this is, if it's raining, or even snowing, I'm not going to want to remember how to tie all sorts of knots with cold/wet hands and struggle with the line in anyway to get things tied down.

What ideas do you guys have? Have any of you implemented this type of approach to your guy lines?

[mathineer]

I tie a farrimond hitch at the stake end to tension the guy line. (see http://www.animatedknots.com/farrimond/ )

I use small s-biners (http://www.niteize.com/product/S-Bin...less-Steel.asp) to attach to the tarp so that I can easily move from tarp to tarp without un/retying each time I use a different tarp. A bowline (http://www.animatedknots.com/bowline/) provides attachment to the biner, but could be tied directly to the tarp. If you don't move from tarp to tarp, you only need to tie it once.

I use the Evenk or Siberian hitch at one end, and the Farrimond at the other to tie off a ridgeline, and prussiks to connect to the tarp for tensioning and adjusting position.
http://www.animatedknots.com/siberian/
http://www.animatedknots.com/prusik/

I don't see how you're going to avoid a few knots if you don't want to use hardware. These are really good knots to know, in case hardware fails anyway. Practice and tie often. At least for me, it's amazing how easy these are to forget...

mathineer

[RENDAWG]

Great info. Also Thanks for the new web site http://www.animatedknots.com/knotlist.php to look at. Like I needed another one.

[cmoulder]

Zero hardware... Simplicity... I like it.


Guy lines. At the tarp end, loops thru the grommet/D-ring/whatever with tautline (or midshipman variation) or Blake's hitch for adjustability, using a MSH at the stake end.

Ridge line. Prusik or Klemheist loops on the tarp ridge tie-outs to CRL, anchor one end of the CRL with a Bowline or Kalmyk, other end with wraps around the tree, looping the free end of the line around the CRL for a tight cinch, finishing off with a slipped half hitch.

Suspension. Simple CLs on hammock. Venom, Myerstech or Dutch Spider (all UHMWPE straps), 12-15', tied into hammock CL with J-Bend or Becket hitch.

[jeff-oh]

This is an area that I think is way over thought. I attach all my guy lines to the tarp with a Bowline hitch. This make a loop that will not constrict. Then at the stake end I tie a taught-line hitch. (AKA midshipman's hitch) Very effective use of line and once tied the knots do not need to be taken apart. The Taught-line hitch will slide up and down the guy line to tighten or loosen as needed. No big deal.

If you do not like a bowline you can always tie two-half hitches at the tarp.


Cmoulder, Will you educate me? I have a hard time seeing the advantage of putting the taught-line hitch at the tarp and a MSH at the stake. Why do you prefer this arrangement.

[OCDave]

...

..., I'm not going to want to remember how to tie all sorts of knots with cold/wet hands and struggle with the line in anyway to get things tied down.
...

You don't need to remember "all sorts of knots" but, you should know 2-3 knots that you can tie anywhere, anytime, cold, wet whatever.

My tieouts are 1.5 mm Z-Line. I run them from my tarp, around tent stake back trough the D-ring of tarp for 3:1 mechanical advantage, then taut-line hitch. Same thing, every time. I don't have "remember" I just know. Same as I know how to breath.

Good luck

[cmoulder]

Cmoulder, Will you educate me? I have a hard time seeing the advantage of putting the taught-line hitch at the tarp and a MSH at the stake. Why do you prefer this arrangement.

Jeff, I like it at the tarp end for a few reasons... I use Lawson Ti shepherd hooks and like to drive them into the ground so that the hook part is almost completely buried in the soil or duff, which keeps the stake from rotating around in strong wind. This means that there would be some friction/wear if the cord were pulled through when adjusting. Another reason is that I experience fewer tangles because there are no loops down there to catch. This also dovetails with my method for quickly taking down and stowing the tarp with no tangles. Minor pluses: It's also a bit easier to reach for adjustment, and keeps the knots a bit farther away from mud, etc.

As usual, I offer this as my take on things and what works for me.

[cmoulder]

You don't need to remember "all sorts of knots" but, you should know 2-3 knots that you can tie anywhere, anytime, cold, wet whatever.

My tieouts are 1.5 mm Z-Line. I run them from my tarp, around tent stake back trough the D-ring of tarp for 3:1 mechanical advantage, then taut-line hitch. Same thing, every time. I don't have "remember" I just know. Same as I know how to breath.

Good luck

Exactly... if you know tautline, bowline, clove hitch, prusik, MSH and sheet bend (Becket hitch), that's enough for about 95% of hammock applications.

[Malcolm]

I'm a big fan of Andrew Skurka's method. https://andrewskurka.com/2016/guylin...arps-hammocks/

He recommends using thicker lines that are easier to manipulate in cold weather, but there's no reason this wouldn't work with ironwire. Also, it fulfills your requirement of not using extra hardware.

[mathineer]

Exactly... if you know tautline, bowline, clove hitch, prusik, MSH and sheet bend (Becket hitch), that's enough for about 95% of hammock applications.

I used to use tautline, but switched to Farrimond because
1. It's easier to tie if your "free" end is a big wad or long length of line, and
2. It's super easy to untie - just pull on the free end (you can put a stick in the loop and pull it so it captures the stick to prevent accidentally pulling it through. I do this with the Siberian hitch too.)

Any way, hike your own hike, hang your own hang, tie your own knot (HYOH, HYOH, TYOK)! If you want to walk on the wild side, give the Farrimond a try! :-)

mathineer