The STAKE end of the tarp tie-out line

[SkyDog]

6" to 8" of BRIGHT ORANGE ribbon on each stake - I *HATE* losing Ti stakes!

I also have a loop of strong cord on each stake (just big enough to get two fingers in) - makes it easier to pull 'em out of the ground.

[packeagle]

I attached a spliced continuous loop of Zing-It to the using a larks head. Turned that loop into a prussic around the zing it guy line. Then I have a spliced eye just below the tensioner then I can adjust the guy out from under the tarp if ever need to in the rain. If I ever want to set my tarp up closer to the ground than my tensioner allow I just use a malin spike hitch like others have mentioned.

[Deacon]

Interesting discussion from everyone on the various tensioning methods.

However, I failed to see if you are applying these methods to silnylon tarps only, or, do you recommend using tensioners on spinn as well?

[MAD777]

I have a spinn MacCat tarp and don't add tensioners. I believe they are just extra weight and another potential point of failure and they simply are not needed.

I made a DIY tarp which would have been spinn if any were available to buy, but had to settle for silnylon and I have tensioners for that because they are mandatory for silnylon, in my opinion.

P.S. They are not needed for cuben either. If anyone wants me to prove that to them, simply send me a cuben tarp

[Wags]

i suck at tying knots so this is what i do.
-drive stake in about 1/2 way (sometimes i have to move my stake significantly if i can't drive it in. pa rocks and roots)
-wrap the line about 5 times around my stake
-tie a sort of ghetto slip knot back on the line
-drive stake all the way into the ground

this has held pretty well for me in all conditions i've faced in PA. 4 seasons

[BrianWillan]

I do a fixed eye at the stake end and prusik on the tarp. ^Shane^ has a nice setup too.

This is the method that I use. My tarp tensioner is right above the bury of the fixed eye splice. I simply larkshead the fixed eye over my stake and then use the prussic at the tarp tie out to adjust its length. It is exactly how whoopieslings.com makes their tarp lines with tensioners.

It works great.

Cheers

Brian

[oldgringo]

I do a fixed eye at the stake end and prusik on the tarp.

That's what I'm using. My prusik loop is Speer No-tangle...holds on the ZingIt like a pitbull.

[Dylan]

Marlin Spike on the tent stake THEN put the stake in the ground.

This is what I do too, fast and simple.

[Mustardman]

I leave figure 9 rope tensioners permanently attached to my MSR groundhog stakes. That way, I never lose them, and they are easy to adjust. The guylines are left attached to the tarp, with a girth hitch on a loop, so they are easy to remove and move around if I want to.

I can tie knots, and have used many of the methods mentioned here, but I keep going back to the figure 9's as they are really fast and easy to tension, and I don't mind the slight weight penalty.

[kc7fys]

I'll give a Blake's Hitch a try.Thanks.