Wrapping Tarp Guyline to Eliminate Tangles

I hate tangled guylines. When it’s time to pack my tarp, I take special care to wrap each guyline so it is ready to deploy. One advantage of coiling up guyline is that it helps avoid tangles in the line and unintentional knotting. In some wind storms, I’ve had my guyline tie itself into knots thanks to the constant whipping and curling as it is blown around. In these conditions, I wrap the extra guyline when the tarp is pitched.

I basically use two wrapping techniques for my guyline: the figure-8 and the hand wrap. Both work well, but the figure-8 wrap is nearly 100% effective in eliminating tangles, no matter what line you choose. These wrapping techniques are also handy with full-length ridge lines. A popular line used for ridge lines (and even some guylines) is 1.75mm Zing-It. This Dyneema line is very strong for its size, but prone to knotting and it tangles easily. The figure-8 wrap is very effective in making this line just open up when it’s time to deploy.

The other line I often use is braided mason line. I like this line because it is inexpensive, easy to knot, lightweight, and packs down small. I also like the visible neon colors. I most often use a palm wrap for this line and it works great.

Some tarps, notably the Hennessy Hammock models, have pockets on the corners near the guy points. These pockets are a handy place to store your guyline, but I still recommend wrapping your line first otherwise you wind up with a rat’s nest that becomes a nightmare to untangle.

Wrapping Tarp Guyline to Eliminate Tangles

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18 responses to “Wrapping Tarp Guyline to Eliminate Tangles”

  1. Brian Avatar

    Figure 8 is the best ever! Never had a knot form in my tarp guylines since I started using it. Thanks for sharing the tip.

    1. Derek Avatar
      Derek

      Thanks Brian! I agree — the figure-8 wrap is great, and it’s easy too! It really doesn’t take that much time and the benefits outweigh the small time it takes.

  2. Julie Trevelyan Avatar

    The visuals are priceless. Excellent tip, thanks!

    1. Derek Avatar
      Derek

      Thanks Julie!

  3. Jason Avatar

    Rather than doing a slippery hitch, when I reach the last few inches of the string I simply push it through the loop that I’m winding towards. Leaving a couple of inches hanging through the loop is enough to keep it from coming undone.

  4. Matthew Avatar
    Matthew

    Makes me want to go open up my tarp and rewrap my guylines

  5. Jim Neal Avatar
    Jim Neal

    I wrap my guylines around their individual stakes. All I have to do is connect it to the tarp and stick it in the ground. Works great for me.

  6. […] a nice graphic on how to figure-8 hand wrap a tent or tarp […]

  7. jeff w Avatar
    jeff w

    You da man. Thanks!

  8. […] Setup knots: – Ratchet straps and spikes use the Marlin Spike Hitch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7NZVqpBUV0#t=199 (Feel free to listen to intro for Shug’s entertainment value =], but Marlin Spike Hitch demo starts around 3:45.) – Use tautline hitch or carabiners to setup tarp ridgeline – Use a bowline on one end of the guylines to attach to tarp grommets: http://www.animatedknots.com/bowline/ , http://www.proknot.com/assets/images/bowline.jpg – Loop the free end around a stake, tree, rock, pole using the tautline hitch for adjustability: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jkN3K5G8eE, http://www.netknots.com/files/1813/6996/2880/tautline_hitch2.jpg – Use “Figure 8″ wrap on the ridgeline and guylins to avoid tangles when you pack up: https://theultimatehang.com/2012/11/wrapping-tarp-guyline-to-eliminate-tangles/ […]

  9. patrick h Avatar
    patrick h

    I’ve been using this technique for managing almost all of my cable and cordage, for both EDC and backpacking: http://youtu.be/V5UTu1rhJAU

  10. Mauro Marzorati Avatar

    In general for generic bundling of lines I find that when wrapping the finishing wrap around the bundle that it works better if the wrap over the line instead of going forward (as pictured). I find that wrapping over the line itself prevents the finishing wrap to lose its tension/grip on the “free” end (the end that doesn’t have the slippery hitch). The only difference is that I start the wrap at the end of the straight-line right before going around the bend/bend instead of beginning the wrap after going around the bend(thumb, pinky, side-of-the-hand) or beginning of the straight-away.

    However, if I’m bundling my tarp guylines to go into a pocket and the tarp goes into its snakeskins I don’t even bother with the slipper hitch, just figure-8 and final wrap of just a couple of turns will do. The pocket keeps everything tight. I start wrapping as pictured, on the secured end. When I get to camp I often times don’t even unravel the entire guyline, merely pulling it from the standing end just as much as I need I can easily form a lark’s head on the stake,. The bonus is that the extra line is already bundled next to the stake.

    Got the book. Love the site. Refer to it often. Cheers.

  11. […] just stuffing (which is easier with silnylon tarps), folding keeps the packed size really small. I hand-wrap each of the guy line to prevent tangling. The guyline is a little spongy, which is typical for low-price line. Polyester tarps don’t […]

  12. […] a good guide on how to do this. Super […]

  13. Phil Avatar
    Phil

    I know this post is 6 years old but the links to the zing-it and braided mason line are broken. Can you recommend a current supplier for either or both?

    1. Derek Hansen Avatar

      I pick up my braided mason line at Home Depot. For Zing-it or Lash-it, a good source I like is Dutchware.com