Nite Ize figure 9 tent line kit...

**PTAaron** · 06-23-2013, 16:49

Does anyone know anything about the reflective guy line rope that comes in the kit?
I picked it up today for $8, thinking the figure 9s would be useful for tarp tie downs, but I was just wondering if the reflective rope was "good" or not. I'm not super concerned about weight - more so curious about if it is something that will stretch on me overnight or if it gets wet.

**flatline** · 06-23-2013, 17:41

I use those for staking out my tarps in porch mode. I have not noticed any stretch.
I don't know anything about the specs of the cord.
I noticed that it will only reflect directly back to the light source, that is to say, I can only see it glow when I have my headlamp on.

**PTAaron** · 06-23-2013, 17:57

Good to know!

I was thinking of just using shock cord loops at my tarp anyway, in case it stretches - maybe I'll try it without that and see how I like it.

**historyteacher** · 06-23-2013, 18:13

I replaced the stock lines on my HH Hex with those, mainly for the figure 9's. I've had it out a couple of times with no problems. I'll keep using them until I do notice any significant problems (stretch, fraying, etc). Or, until I start playing around with splicing some zing-it.

**digrat** · 06-23-2013, 18:20

I camp with teenagers a lot (Scouts, dontcha know...) who have a nasty habit of not respecting other peoples' guylines. They run between tents, often tripping on lines that they've tripped on 5 minutes before, and had had a "talking to" about doing so. So I use these reflective lines on about everything I can, especially on my tarp: Ridgeline, corner guys, drip loops, you name it. It has helped a bit, since they're super-dee-duper conspicuous. I haven't had any issues with them stretching at all. I use a single ridgeline and prussiks to hold the tarp to it.

The figure 9's are super easy to use, and I use "dog bones" for the corners, which are almost as easy.

**flatline** · 06-23-2013, 20:16

Originally Posted by PTAaron

Good to know!

I was thinking of just using shock cord loops at my tarp anyway, in case it stretches - maybe I'll try it without that and see how I like it.

my usual stake out line is 3/16 shock cord (12" loops). I add the NiteIze tie outs to that only on the porch side.
I find the shock cord keeps everything tight and is forgiving. I use the #0 plastic "S"biners to attach the shock cord to my tarp to serve as a weak link.
So far no problems.

**desmobob** · 06-23-2013, 20:32

I've bought a couple of sets of them... the combination of the reflective line and the figure 9s are a bargain for the price. I use the lines (but not the figure 9s) for tarp guy lines and they work great with no stretch. I use 2mm climbing accessory cord to make Prussik loops on the reflective guy lines.

Take it easy,
desmobob

**weaver2469** · 06-23-2013, 20:35

In terms of just reflective ability, they are about as bright as it gets with a headlamp beam. I replaced all of the reflective ties on my MSR groundhog stakes with leftover nite ize stuff, since it was more reflective than the original cord.

**PTAaron** · 06-23-2013, 21:42

Thanks for the feedback everyone!

The "bang for the buck" aspect is why I picked it up... I wasn't sure what I was going to use for guy lines (major newbie still) so I had to grab this from the army surplus store today