Clamp Cleats Mini Review
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Well I finally managed to venture out and try out the cleats today.
The cleats are simple pieces of plastic with a ratchet type of grip that once setup will prevent the line from moving. If the line needs further tightening or loosening then this can easily be achieved by pulling open the lower loop (the bit that goes around the peg) and pulling the lines apart releases the tension.
In the basic camping range i.e. ones to be used on tent guy lines, we have two variations of the cleat (as seen above). There is the large cleat for larger diameter line (2-5mm) and the small cleats for your basic string type of line (0-3mm). I opted for the glow in the dark large cleats (because they looked cool) and the standard mini cleats. The metal guy line runner is just used for comparison.
I am testing the mini cleats on the Hennessy Hammock's main tarps guy lines and the large cleats on my bog standard army issue type tarp.
As I was setting up my Hennessey Hammock, the weather was a howling gale (besides the weather report that informed me that it was going to be a nice day) but I quickly attached each of the mini line locks to each of the guy lines of the main tarp without too much problem. Its basically a case of threading it through two holes and tying a stopper knot.
I then attached the larger ones to my old army type tarp guy lines. I was going to try the cleat on the main line that holds the tarp up as an improvised tensioning system (this is what we are aiming for with hammocks as well) but my main line diameter is far too large to fit through the cleat, so I will try it with some thinner line another time.
The army tarp set up under tension.
I then improvised some stakes and pegged down the guy lines. A quick tension and they were firmly in place in seconds. I usually have to faff about with the old metal style runners as they kept pinging free, but no such problems with the cleats, once in position they arent going anywhere.
Next I usually use line tensioners to keep the Hennessey tarp tight, especially when you get into the hammock itself, the lines usually sag something chronic and this leaves a saggy tarp that flaps about driving you mad. So I use a length of elastic, about twenty centimetres and tie a basic clove hitch at the top and then after tensioning with the lovely cleat, simply tie another hitch across the lower line and then tension the elastic by drawing the knots away from each other until tight. So now when you get in the hammock the guy lines will sag, but the slack is taken up by the elastic. It is not 100% full proof, but does the job and is fairly safe unless a peg works itself free.
As you can see, after adjusting all the guy lines the tarp is fairly taught.
The other thing I suggest is the use of two sets of snakeskins for the Hennessey hammock. One to keep the hammock rolled up inside and the other to encompass the rolled up hammock and the tarp upon putting it all away. I se the largest snakeskins for both jobs and find it a knack to get the last bit of the tarp into the snakeskin ready for packing away. The only thing is you will have to undo the prusik knots on the main line to put the snakeskins on for the hammock.
The below sort of gives you the general idea.
I had just set up the camp,
got the old tea boiling away with the newly purchased Kelly Kettle, when the sky turned black, around a hundred geese flew overhead (an omen), a huge sheet of lightning and the skies opened up. Perfect I thought and a torrential downpour ensued. It really tested the new system and it held up (luckily), except the tarp does sag when wet anyway. So I sat down and busily slurped my tea for the next couple of hours, before returning home to dry everything out, a top day indeed.
I would highly recomend the cleats to all users of guy lines in all shapes and forms (there uses are endless) and seeming they are so cheap its not going to break the bank either.
Dave.http://www.cleats.co.uk/home/default.asp
