will 1.3 mm guylines be worth it to save weight?

[Bear In The Forest]

Hi!

I’ve just started making my first pyramid tent and I’m trying to minimize the weight as much as possible.

The guylines I have right now are about 2-3mm thick, and they feel a bit heavy. I’m thinking of switching to 1.3mm cord from Z-Packs, with their matching linelocks. Has anyone used 1.3mm guylines with linelocks? My concern is that they might feel too fragile, and I’m not sure if the weight savings are worth the tradeoff in durability.

[Jerry Adams]

I just use 1.5 mm mini cord from rsbtr.  0.5 g/foot.  Taut line hitch.

Zpack says to use their micro line loc with 1.3 mm cord.  Probably the lineloc 3 you linked to would work.  That cord is 0.27 g/foot.  Probably a short enough total length for guylines that it doesn’t matter much.

I’ve used the micro lineloc which works.  I have some laying around but I just use taut line hitch.

[Jerry Adams]

That’s weird, if I type lineloc it substitutes a link to lineloc 3.  If I type line loc I can get around that substitution.

Normally, I don’t care that BPL substitutes with a link that they get affiliate compensation for, but in this case it substitutes with a different model of line loc which is a bit confusing.

[Bear In The Forest]

Hi Jerry, thanks for the quick response!

It’s interesting that you mention the 1.5mm thickness—based on what I’ve found online, it seems to be a bit of a sweet spot. From what I understand, pure Dyneema tread doesn’t offer as much grip as tread with other materials incorporated into the surface. What’s your take on this?

The guy lines I plan to use for the tent will be around 3 meters each, which is why I’m looking to cut weight wherever I can—it definitely adds up!

Regarding the “taut line hitch” you mentioned, I’m actually pretty new to camping and have never used locks before. The tent I’m working on is a prototype for a new line of tents that will eventually be sold, so I want it to feel lightweight but also be user-friendly.

 

[dirtbag]

I use the 1.3 Zline without any hardwear or linelocs. I use knots.  Taut line hitch,  bowline.. with all my tarps.

[Link .]

this 2016 blog from Andrew Skurka might interest you My guyline system for tents, tarps, and hammocks.

[Jerry Adams]

If you’re going to sell a tent probably line locs would be better.  Less fiddly.  Cooler.

I don’t think any of those cords will break.

The only thing bad about dyneema is it’s slippery so harder to get a taut line hitch not to slip.  But, if you use a line loc then it doesn’t matter.

If you use a taut line hitch, you really have to tighten the loops together and tighten it to get it not to slip.

[Bear In The Forest]

Thanks for the answer Erik. It seems lika many uses this sollution.  I will sell this tent however so i will get locks and similar things that is a bit user friendly.

[Bear In The Forest]

Thanks Link. I will read.

[Bear In The Forest]

So basicly if i buy a linelock made for 1.3 mm it shouldn’t be a problem?  I zpacks line especially good, or will any dyneema line do?

[JG H]

Paria has 1.5mm Dyneema reflective cord in reflective yellow. It weighs the same as the Zpacks 1.3mm reflective orange Z-line but its a little thicker (should hold a little better), a little stronger, and yellow seems to be a little easier to see at dawn/dusk than orange. I personally wouldn’t use any non-reflective cord for my guy lines.

https://www.pariaoutdoorproducts.com/products/ultralight-dyneema-tarp-tent-guy-line?srsltid=AfmBOoo6nTl4TYjlSZ47JSkDJhOCo_HoMkPXsk3z7OKCTMhF-lUM4mb3

 

 

[JG H]

Oh, and to your original point about weight of cordage… If you’re using 3m guy lines and have six affixed to your tent, the weight penalty for going with the 1.5mm reflective line over the 1.3mm non-reflective is about 2.5g total.

[Bear In The Forest]

Thanks for your response, JG H. I actually started looking at the Paria 1.5mm cord first, but the shipping to Sweden was ridiculously expensive. I also read some online reviews suggesting that the Paria cord might not be very durable—there’s even a review on their site where the cord broke, though I’m not sure what to make of that.

As for the color, it’s just a personal preference, but I lean towards solid neon colors. That said, I understand your point, and I did come across a cord where the entire body was reflective. That would be an even better option.

Thanks again for the feedback!

 

[JG H]

Yeah, that shipping price is obscene!

[Jerry Adams]

good calculation JG H – so, weight of guyline really doesn’t matter

I have run into guylines before so I only use reflective ones

[Bear In The Forest]

Quick question, how well does your line glow in the dark?

[Jerry Adams]

If it’s daylight it’s quite visible

At night, it’s visible if you have a flashlight

If i walk around in the dark I’ll trip over it

[Bear In The Forest]

Right, my thinking is that a reflective line wouldn’t be visible in the dark without a flashlight as well, right?

[JG H]

Well, yeah… hence “reflective”… its needs something to reflect. 😉👍🏻

[Bear In The Forest]

Yes sir ;) i am simply trying to understand if the nyon yellow from z-packs is seen good enought in the dark with a flashlight, if so i would rather go for that line.

 

[JCH]

In my experience, If you are going to go “knots only” then you can safely go with a sub 2mm line…the tent attachments will fail before the line breaks. I have found that thin line with the Linelok V adjuster’s referenced in the OP to be unreliable, i.e. the line slips wearing a groove in the plastic and the adjuster is useless thereafter.  The Micro Linelocs do work very well with thin guylines…I think they are Roger Caffin’s adjuster of choice

As JG H’s calculation points out, there really isn’t much weight to be saved with thin guylines (unless they are quite long).  There are many other areas of shelter design/material selection that make a much more significant difference in weight.

[Bear In The Forest]

Thanks for the reply, JCH.

I think 1.5 mm is a good sweet spot. I’m especially considering how much more compact it will be compared to 2-3 mm lines. That’s one of the reasons I’m leaning toward it. I also really like the solid orange/lime color.

Just to clarify, when you mention the “microlocks,” are you referring to LineLoc 3?

I understand your point about weight. According to my calculations, switching to thinner lines should save about 30-35 grams in total tent weight. It’s not a huge amount on its own, but combined with other improvements, it will help me get the total weight (for both the inner and the rainfly, including all the stakes) under 1 kg.

 

[JCH]

The Micro Lineloc is the one you posted in the first post.

[Bear In The Forest]

Yes i know, but when i click the link i am presented with the “linelock 3”, must be something wrong with the link. I have contacted rsbtr and ask them for advice, thanks again for all the help.

 

[JCH]

This

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