fishing line for Tent!!

[rocketsocks]

I have used worn out fly fishing line for zipper pulls. It's probably strong enough for secondary lines for a tent. The main lines should be stronger. Spectra works great but doesn't hold knots well.

Tinker makes an excellent point, if using Spectra (which is great stuff, easy to see, very strong for it's size) tie with a fisherman knot, improved clinch knot, blood knot, grapevine...climbers knot, all cinch type knots, (the more load on them the tighter they get), and fashion yourself a "Marlin Spike" out of one of the spoke tent pegs. Trust me on this Good early mourning Tinker

[Don H]

There was a discussion a while back on backpackinglight.com about using the center wire from a throttle cable as tent pegs. The poster had a homemade tent constructed with window film and homemade wire stakes. The whole outfit was very light. He made stakes out of 7 or 8" lengths of the cable wire and bent a complete loop at the top so that the tent line couldn't come off the peg. You can find the article on the Philmont forum on backpackinglight.com under "homemade tents".

I tried it but didn't think it held good enough.

[Connie]

Spokes? I thought of all people you would use spokes. My bad.

Maybe DT's flat blade spokes used for racing? No temptation, there?

Well, I like the idea of bamboo skewers. If they don't work out well, at least I could kebabs.

I do like these lightweight stakes. http://gossamergear.com/shelters/tit...v-stake-2.html

I like Z-packs 1.5 mm Z-Line Spectra Cord and Micro Line Loc Guy Line Adjuster. http://www.zpacks.com/accessories/spectra_cord.shtml


edit: I don't like the idea of fishing line in the woods. It kills grazing animals, if any is left around. I also don't like to see it hanging from branches of trees, if used to bear bag.

[dla]

I was on base last week and came across fishing line that looked like small rope. I said to myself this would be some good light weight rope to tie my tent/trap down with. Has anyone used fishing line for this? If so what type/test did you use? Also I was reading where some hikers was using bicycle spokes for stakes. Any information on this? Thanks HS

I've used fishing line - pretty good if you get the right stuff. The following might help -

[hikingshoes]

dla,
Thanks for the video.. I got turn on to this Zing-It line from HF.. Looks like im going to check this out as well..Thanks,HS

[Drybones]

Thanks,grayfox
I was talking about titanium spokes sorry guys.. Why I'm looking into this is? It's all about the weight up to some point,when I got back into hiking my pack was5lbs with no gear in it, and with3-4 days of food/gear it was 45-50lbs,now its 25lbs w/4 days of food and1L of h2o .. I'm just looking to same a little weight is all.

Excellent job getting the weight down.

[Hairbear]

I've used fishing line - pretty good if you get the right stuff. The following might help -

this is the line i use to control trees sometimes when cutting them down.we shoot the rope into the top of the trees with a weighted shot bag and a big sling shot.when the shot bag makes it to the ground we tie half inch arbor plex into the small zing it line and pull that into the trees.the zing it line will take one or two people pulling on it well,but if the rope sticks in a fork you can break it but it will take quite a bit of pull for one person before it does.

[Bootbanger]

Not sure about the bike spokes.... I use a very light weight aluminum stake that came with my Sierra Design Tent. They bend pretty easily if you are not careful, but they seem to hold in the ground pretty good.

[rocketsocks]

I just gotta say, how much weight can be saved by using fishing line vs. mason's line vs. spectra, I mean I know there's a difference but, Dam really!, even the titanium spokes available can't weigh much more than a spoke, what's all the hoopla? I guess it's a gram weenie thing

[Hairbear]

something to think about this codage is strong enough to make your rain fly the weakest link, and will probably tear the bageezis out of it in a strong wind.i would definately tie some bungie cord type material on the ends of the zing it line to have some give.wouldnt want to be in the middle of nowhere with no rain fly.

[Tinker]

About stakes: I've found that most places on the AT, the titanium skewer stakes I've used don't have much holding power (sand or duff). They work best in good solid turf grasses (sod) or compacted mineral soil (you can find that pretty easily, but it's often full of rocks which prevent good stake placement). I've recently been using a combination of MSR Groundhog and Kelty No-bendium eight side (or is it six? - I'm not getting up to look ) aluminum stakes. Ti skewer stakes don't have much surface area, so they tend to pull out on wet, windy days and nights.