Best cord for tarp

It isn't the absolute lightest solution, but I like Kelty Triptease. It is a larger diameter so it is easier to work, it holds knots better than spectra, and it is reflective. There are a lot of good options though.

For cold hands that aren't good with knots anyway you might try braided masons line (it's cheap and effective) prepped with loops and micro-biners where needed so you don't have to tie anything when setting camp.

backpackinglight has several cords with locks that are UL

I use triptease. Works very good for me.

Try the Lineloc. Perfect for non-knotters and cold hands.

I like kelty triptease.

I really like masons line. You can find it at any hardware store. Best yet it is way cheaper than Kelty triptease. I bought 300 feet for around 4 dollars! As for knots go, i pre knot my line so when i get to my campsite, i can easily set up my tarp without hassle. How i tie my line can be easily followed here (near the middle). Whats important if you buy masons line is to buy braided, not twisted! good luck finding your cord of choice!

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/aircore_1_spectra_cord.html

-Samuel Kau

I like Rod's suggestion. It's fast and easy, but you can't use super thin cords. You might also consider fixed length cords like on the Hexamids. You won't be able to adjust it, but that might actually help you set up faster. The problem is that you may have to restake your tarp.

So to add to this, what line is best used with line locs?

550 Paracord is almost indestructible and pretty thick & light. Love this stuff. Has many uses.

Triptease works great in the linelocs. It also holds knots really well. A taut-line hitch works well for tightening lines if you don't want to add tightening hardware. I've found that this knot doesn't really hold with some of the braided mason line, but works great with Triptease. And, of course, the reflective-ness of Triptease is quite handy (although watching your buddies trip over guylines is usually pretty funny).

+1 on triptease/linelocs. Works great with my tarp.

I suggest using a cord that wont freeze so anything with nylon in the construction wont work. This means you need either a Polyester or Dyneema/Spectra based cord. Kelty Triptease is a nice cord with its Polyester sheath and spectra core but its pricey and not really that strong (not sure why)?? New England makes a good quality polyester accessory cord that is very cheap and strong. It's 3mm thick so it works good with gloves.. I used it for years but now I use Guywire which is a 100% Dyneema cord.

We had a discussion about this last year. Read the two pages discussing lines including braided mason's line, the right line locks, and tensile strength .
http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=34486

+1 for TripTease

Exped makes Dymeema too

Thanks for all of the input. I think I'm going to get some Triptease and put my big boy pants on, pull out my knots book, and learn to tie some decent knots.

Thanks again.

i use dynaglide
smaller size as triptease basically 6x as strong
visible during day, stealth (no reflection) at night
i always thought triptease was hard to untie.

check amazon or follow the yellow brick road: http://www.amazon.com/England-Green-DynaGlide-Throw-Line/dp/B0044U4U9E/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1296705887&sr=8-13

triptease is $14 for 50 feet
dynaglide is $30 for 150 feet

there are places you can get it in shorter length, like here: http://arrowheadequipment.webs.com/apps/webstore/products/show/1805222

the choice is personal. i like a lighter but stronger line and i hate reflective tracers.
others find them necessary at night.

3mm Triptease is not basically the same size as 1.8mm Dynaglide. Other than Dynaglide being too thin to work well with some Linelocs, it's made out of a very slippery material. I expect that Dynaglide in Linelocs would require a slippery hitch that cold hands may not care to tie. Okay, okay, it depends on which Linelocs are used. The easiest to use are the LineLoc3's and what I recommend, but works best with 3mm cord. Joe of Zpacks.com now sells Lineloc3's with a strip of grosgrain to allow them to be retrofitted onto your tarp with a microbiner. He also sells some LineLoc clamcleats that may work with smaller cord like the Dynaglide, but I've found that clamcleats are just as much hassle as using hitches.

Braided line and a taut line hitch will get ya going. I refuse to go out and spend $100 on stakes lines and locks. I just got braided nylon that works great. It is chartreuse so easily spotted during night or day. I didn't know the nylon was a bad thing so far I haven't had any problems with it. It certainly doesn't seem to be "freezing" on me, but I've far from put it through the ringer. I assumed it would be good down to about 0 degrees F.

Although I love braided masons line, it can get tangled very easy and is hard to work with in the cold. I still use it though:-)

Para-cord is way too heavy for my taste, but if your all thumbs and have mittens on, it may be the best choice.

I often find I use something in between like the Mountainfitter Guywire Braided 2mm Dyneema Cord. Strong, inexpensive, easy to work with in the cold, light, but doesn't attract attention by being overly reflective like most of the other lines of this type.

You should also look at the various forms of Spectra and Dyneema kite line available. Much cheaper from a kite shop, as they go through hundreds of metres of the stuff.

Cheers

"I just got braided nylon that works great. It is chartreuse so easily spotted during night or day"

That's my favorite part. On a good starlit/moonlit night or at dusk/dawn I can see the neon green looking masons line WITHOUT a headlamp. I'm not sure how many times I've tripped over the reflective stuff at night – I find it a bit gimmicky.

Larry,

"I'm not sure how many times I've tripped over the reflective stuff at night – I find it a bit gimmicky."

FWIW I had bright yellow Kelty Triptease on my Hennessy hammock for the rainfly tieouts while hiking in Alabama in 2009. I was on a 24 hour hike in rainy and overcast weather.

During a middle of the night necessary bushwacking trip ;-) I got completely turned around and disoriented as to my location. I did a slow 360 degree turn holding my LED light up to eye level and spotted a familiar landmark. I walked to it and did one more slow 360 and my rainfly tieouts lit up like lightening bolts in an otherwise dark forest.

That reflective stuff kept me from sleeping next to my tree ;-) until morning.

Gimmick or not it helped me find "home" in the middle of the night. At 1 oz per 50' I cannot complain about the weight either.

Party On,

Newton