guyline adjustment strategies–line-locs vs adjustable knots

To be honest, I've never been able to figure out the line-locs that come with most tents and usually just remove them. I've always used a type of knot, although I'm not sure what it's called. It's not adjustable, but it holds tension really well and is easy to release and re-tension if necessary. I'd say if you have a good adjustable knot you know, you're good with that.

I like using the line locs personally, as they offer quick adjustments and are a breeze to use if your hands are cold. You should know how to tie an adjustable knot as well in a pinch. Zpacks sells 12 micro line locs in a pack for $7.80. Eight on a tent only weigh 0.2 oz total.

Learn the knots, of course. Learn them so good you can tie them blindfolded. But if you're going to be wearing gloves or having to set up camp in a hurry, use line-locs. As a previous post stated, good quality lightweight line-locs can be had for not much money. You can always leave them at home in the summer….

Options:

* Fixed guy line length and move the stake. Works fine a lot of the time under good conditions. Very suitable for 1 mm Spectra and thinner.

* Guy line knot (taut line hitch) on suitable string. Easy to adjust, but does not work on thin Spectra or Dyneema as these are too slippery. Does not work too well in the snow when the knots freeze.

* Line-Locs: works very well on string >1.5 mm diameter and in the snow.

* Nite-Ize (I think that's how they are spelt): work OK but are heavier and more expensive than line-locs.

* MYOG custom variations on line-locs.

I use line-locs in the snow without hesitation, and either fixed length guys or some custom clips in the summer.

Cheers

Another popular method is instead of tying out at the stake with an adjustable loop (line-locked or taut-lined), simply run the cord around the stake and tie the end off back at the loop attached at the shelter end with a simple bow knot.

Advantages are greater holding strength from leverage with less stress on the knot. No linelocks to freeze up or break. Morning teardown is as simple as pulling on the loose end of each bowknot string.

Disadvantages are longer cordage and more knot tying for readjustments.

Depending on your shelter setup, you might even use one method for corner stakedowns, another for side tieouts, and something else for main pole tensioning. Even if you use linelocks, they can fail, so practicing basic knots is still something good to keep on on.

Just food for thought. Seems more like a personal preference thing when it's all said and done really.

This is BPL, so OF COURSE people are going to tell you to learn to tie knots. But I'll point out that eight line locs weight, what, an ounce?

On my silnylon DuoMid when it gets wet and sags in the middle of the night I can reach under the edge and tug on the line locs to tighten them without even leaving my sleeping bag. Try that with a tautline hitch. YMMV.

Thinner cord can used used with knots than line locks, the weight difference between 1 and 3 mm cord can be a ounce or more.

Weight, weight, weight, weight…

It is FAR easier to set up some rather permanent lines on my tarp with lopps at either end than using fiddly adjustments. Even knots can be time consuming and troublesome to untie. To tighten, I simply pull the stake and plant it a couple inches tighter.

Yup, a "light is right" aproach. No clips, no locs, no hardware of any kind. and yeah, I use .5mm line, too.

> the weight difference between 1 and 3 mm cord can be a ounce or more.

Well, yes, probably, but who at BPL would ever use 3 mm line for a guy rope????
A hammock maybe … (try Vectran, it would probably hold).

Cheers

I agree with Dean F.

This is a lot of fuss over a one ounce weight penalty that yields a significantly easier system. Linelocs can do things that knots cannot and you can always go back to knots if the linelocs fail (which for all intents and purposes won't happen).

I think if we had more conversations on BPL about functionality/unit weight of backpacking gear choices, the uninitiated backpacker perusing the forums would be a lot better off.

" but who at BPL would ever use 3 mm line for a guy rope???? "

see .. well.. there is this old italian guy ..
and he likes that 3mm rope because it's both easier to work with in the realm of wearing gloves, and seems to have a better hand when it comes to not working itself into a knotted tizzy