Tarps. Why not use bungies instead of cord?

[gregorach]

I like those guy line runners- can they be bought indivudually do you know?

Not sure if you can buy them individually, but you can certainly buy them in packets. I draw the line at messing around with tautline hitches on my guys.

 

[Ogri the trog]

I can probably abseil a 10 meter cliff on various bits of my tarp and hammock rig.

Someone has got to say it.................



















.... And with bungees, you can do it again and again and again

Anyway, whats the point of learning how to make your own cordage and how to tie knots if your just going to spoil things with a posh elastic band.

ATB

Ogri the trog

 

[steven andrews]

Steven, is that Tarp square? .

It's 11.5 ft by 10.

I draw the line at messing around with tautline hitches on my guys.

So do I. A quick hitch round a tree and then slide the runner to adjust tension.
Then light fire, drink beer and eat too much.

 

[John Fenna]

The little knot takes no more time to tie than fitting a guy-runner does and once tied is there for ever if you want...
Works for me

 

[steven andrews]

Line runners work for me

 

[John Fenna]

You would never survive in Cardigan... spending money indeed......I see you are a long way from Scotland as well...no hope for you I am afraid......

 

[Shewie]

I've bought new guys and cleats from here after admiring Waylands reflective setup at Middlewood last year.

They're still sat in the jiffy bag though as I've not got round to fitting them yet.

 

[gregorach]

The little knot takes no more time to tie than fitting a guy-runner does and once tied is there for ever if you want...
Works for me

Yeah, I just find they're not quite as secure. Maybe it's the cord I'm using...

 

[John Fenna]

The knot works fine on El Cheapo Gelert/Highlander/generic para cord - don't want to spend money too freely do I?
Besides, I would not want my guys to be stronger than my tarp...I can replace a broken guy cheaper than repair my tarp....

 

[gregorach]

Whatever works for you, man.

 

[groundhog]

As regards line-lok guy runners I've just got some from Lurch at Lakeland Bushcraft not used them yet still on a paracord one side bungee the other set up but they look good and are small and light.

 

[spamel]

Another method used mainly be Infantry men of the old school as far as i can make out, is to runa length of paracord through the eyelet at one corner. You double it up and tie a series of simple thumb knots along the doubled cord. Once complete, you have a reasonably adjustable line for that corner of the basha. Carry out the same on each other corner. To use, you take the cord around the tree and poke the end through where it meets the line at the start of the wrap around the tree. The knot jams against the last knot and holds in place whn put under tension. Youi pass the remainder of the cordage back through the way it came so that when you need to go you just pull the loose end and it comes undone in an instant,

 

[drewdunnrespect]

very clever idea spam now me i just use DDhammocks basher rope smiple or strong hammock cordage or what ever they call it

 

[Native Nathan]

to all those who say rope/line/paracord is longer than bungees........rubbish

Simply attach two or more bungees together to get the required distance, or even add a peice of paracord to the bungee.

As as ex military guy I used bungges in the Army and I have used paracord in my bushcraft courses, I favour bungees, however, I have seen them hit people in the face or rap knuckles, but that was more because of their own stupidity rather than a design flaw.

I offer the following advice to anyone who is not sure which is best for them;

Give bungies a try but take enough paracord with you incase you decide its not for you.

I have 6 bungees attached to my tarp 4 corners and 2 as a ridge line
I take an aditional two as a back up incase one breaks or i need a longer reach.

Wrap the bungee around the tree and hook it back on its self or on to your tarp, if the distance is short.

Any way enough of me ranting.......

 

[sapper1]

How much space does 20 feet of bungee take up?
How much does 20 feet of bungee weigh?
I understand the army way of thinking ,get it up and down ASAP, but I'm never in that much of a rush.

 

[steven andrews]

to all those who say rope/line/paracord is longer than bungees........rubbish

That statement is rubbish. It doesn't make any sense.

As as ex military guy I used bungges in the Army and I have used paracord in my bushcraft courses, I favour bungees, however, I have seen them hit people in the face or rap knuckles, but that was more because of their own stupidity rather than a design flaw.

Tired, cold, moving into a harbour in failing light, stretching the elastic perhaps further than you should to try to reach an anchor point whilst holding onto a slippery piece of metal with a sharp hook on the end.
Quite a few people have mentioned that they have seen bungee-related injuries, so there must be more to it than "stupidity".

 

[Humpback]

I'll see your stupidity and raise with:

What do people use to mark your dark guy lines/bungees* to stop you/an idiot* tripping over them in a moment of forgetfullness/drunkeness/darkness* ?

I'm clumsy and am experimenting with bright yellow cord tied at appropriate height in daylight and float markers from Lidl for night time.


*delete as required

regards Alan
(paracord, tautline hitches and glow in the dark lineloks)

 

[Wilderbeast]

personally I think bungees are great, I take four with me as you can hang clothes from them etc.....From bushcraft terms "Being cold, tired etc causing accidents" doesn't factor too much as you should always set up camp, before fading light and when not tired etc...but I see what you mean, it's very easy to think,"oh it only needs to get stretched another inch , and PING it hits you in the face!"

 

[British Red]

Luminous cord works well Humpback (cave line)

I've never got the bungee thing (as in the thing with metal hooks on). Why not just use shock cord? A quarter of the weight - cut to any length you like, can be cleated like a guy line, clipped with cord connector or knotted - al the advantages of bungee and none of the disadvantage - cheaper too?

 

[Bulldog]

I must admit i find bungees a godsend, so quick and easy, i roll six up in my poncho and dont find the weight of them a issue to worry about.