Quickest way to deploy the tarp?

[Hawk-eye]

My favorite rig has a Nite Ize Knot Bone on one end ... I usually fasten that to the first tree ... then wrap the line around the second tree and secure to a Nite Ize figure Nine on a prussik. That gives me a secure line ... my tarp in DIY mesh skins is attached to the line via two prussiks that have one Nite Ize Small S-biner on each side of the ridge line of the tarp. Simple and easy to quickly deploy. Slide the skins back and stake out the tarp as needed.

Another benefit to this rig is ... by adjusting the prussiks holding the tarp ... I can move it along the ridgeline to the spot I need it the best. Another benefit is with the OGEE tarp ... I can unclip and adjust the tarp to another configuration without taking down the ridge line!

[gargoyle]

http://www.youtube.com/user/shugemery

While watching, don't drink anything that will hurt when it comes out your nose.

Boris

Best advice I've heard in a while.

[gargoyle]

And he ships fast! Good feller that Paul ... but don't tell him I said that ... he gets the big head really fast

More worthwhile advice

[mbiraman]

Like the snakeskins and the ridgeline with Knot bone and figure 9 and prussiks. Works for me and you can leave the tarp in the skins above the hammock for open sky feel and deploy when necessary.

[Rug]

A lot of people like using figure 9's, but I am not one of them. In practice I know they are fine, but part of my gut does not like the way the 'toothed-V' could damage the rope.

I use a single length of rope (under tarp ridge line), 2 'mini-biners', and 3 shock-cord'd prussics.

1 end wraps around a tree and is connected via the biner.
The other end wraps around the other tree and that biner is attached to one of the shock-cord'd prussics.
The remaining 2 prussics attach to the tarp.

I use STL's for my guy-lines.

Tarp is rolled up, and tucked into a stuff-sack.

Total setup/tear-down time is very minimal. Less then half of the hammock setup time (and that is uber-fast with whoopie-slings).

[Hawk-eye]

.... Works for me and you can leave the tarp in the skins above the hammock for open sky feel and deploy when necessary.

That's a great benefit isn't it ... love that feature alone.

[Trooper]

I use this method and snakeskins:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwvNoxKi428&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KE7dx...eature=related

Listening to Ray explain it tends to lower my blood pressure as well.

[Hawk-eye]

.... Listening to Ray explain it tends to lower my blood pressure as well.

Yeah ... big fan of Ray myself ... but as far as the tarp rig ... I think I'll stick to my system ... faster and easier for me the way I've got it rigged.

[terceiro]

I'm with Trooper on this. Ray Mears' system uses knots that are simple to tie and are all slipped, so in the morning it takes just a tug to get 'em down. There's no hardware to fail, there are no additional mechanical stress to your lines, either.

So if you're following Mears technique, you'll use an evenk hitch (he calls it a Siberian hitch) on one side of your ridgeline and an adjustable hitch (he calls it an adjustable knot--but most people don't really care about the distinction between a hitch and a knot). On any guy lines, it's adjustable hitches for me, too.

As far as I know, neither knot appears in Ashley's Book of Knots, but that shouldn't dissuade you from giving them a shot. For further discussion on the evenk hitch, see http://notableknotindex.webs.com/haltersiberian.html. See http://www.layhands.com/Knots/Knots_...tableGripHitch for some good background on the adjustable hitch.)

Once I learned about how easy it is to tie a slipped adjustable hitch I've never looked back. I'm not sure why the Boy Scouts continue to teach the harder-to-tie and less secure taut line hitch in place of the adjustable hitch, but there it is.

I'm no gram weenie, but I do like the bushcraft adage that the more you have in your head, the less you need to carry on your back. So learn your knots and leave the hardware at home.

[Doctari]

Whatever method listed above (& below ) that you chose, Practice, Practice, Practice!

Firewalker & I use similar methods, my set up (& take down) is faster. I'm walking towards the morning swimming hole with my pack ready to go when he is just finishing packing his tarp. My average number of times setting up is about 150 - 200 a year, his is about 30 or less. As I say, our systems aren't that different, I've just done it more often.

Add to that, I practiced till I was sick of setting up my hammock & tarp, then I did it 30 more times. Now I can literally do it with my eyes closed.

At a usual campsite set up, I don't need this speed & often take my time, but when tired & a T storm is rapidly approaching, having practiced is truly appreciated.

I use the overhead ridgeline method Shug has on his video. A nice thing about this method, if I don't suspect rain, I put just the ridgeline up & set the Prusuk knots in advance. This allows me to set up FAST if it starts to rain.