Guy Point Question

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InsaneBoost
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Guy Point Question

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This might be a stupid question, but it's something I've been wondering about for awhile since I bought my Kelty. The tent has 7 total guy points, maybe one or two more, but I can't remember off the top of my head. The tent however only came with either 3 or 4 total guy lines.

Is there a point when you are supposed to use ALL guy points? I bought a new tent so I'm buying some rope and tensioners (?) to help drop the little extra weight, but for them to be easier seen in darker conditions.

Do I need to buy enough rope and tensioners for every single guy point? Do I only need them for half? Are there important/always ones to guy out over others?

I would assume the lower parts of the rain fly are for venting better, but what about the top/upper ones? Are those to help the rain flow down better? Or should they be guyed out too?

Thanks!
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maverick
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Re: Guy Point Question

Post by maverick »

Here are some articles for you to read, if you have any questions after please ask away:
http://www.outdoors.org/publications/ou ... ylines.cfm
http://www.trails.com/how_27912_properl ... -tent.html
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I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.

Have a safer backcountry experience by using the HST ReConn Form 2.0, named after Larry Conn, a HST member: http://reconn.org
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InsaneBoost
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Re: Guy Point Question

Post by InsaneBoost »

Answered my question spot on. I do have some questions though that now have come up after reading them.

i) Being I plan on making my own guy line out of reflective material, i) how long should the line be? I've read about 6-7ft, but not sure if that's ideal or not, ii) When cutting the rope, do I need to do anything special to it? Burn the ends? After tying the not at the end of one of the tenionsers, burn it so it's solid?

Staking the tent down.

I understand the whole 45 degrees and angle it away from the tent, but I've always used the typical camping stakes with the hook at the end (if that's the right thing to call it: http://www.boundarytec.com/images/i_tent_stakes_lg.jpg). Now that I have a Big Agnes I'll be using a different style I've never used before (https://www.bigagnes.com/resources/prod ... es-zm7.jpg).

How exactly are these used? Maybe it's just the image, but those little indents seem really small to hold a tent down unless the Big Agnes holes are different of course. And with the guy line, same thing? They just loop under? I'd be afraid of the wind almost sawing it off. Or will they not move with the tension?

Again, might be silly questions, but I'd feel better knowing then being lost out in the middle of the woods.

Thanks!
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gary c.
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Re: Guy Point Question

Post by gary c. »

I just recently started using the BA tent stakes and have had no problem so far but I've only used them a few times. For my other tents I have been using the Kelty Nobendium stakes. They are not as light as some of the others but I hate stakes that bend. I have yet to bend one.

I also do not carry stakes for all my guy lines. I just carry the ones for my tent body and 1 or 2 extra for my guy lines and in case I loose one for the tent. For my guy lines I can almost always tie off to a bush / tree or find a rock to loop around.
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maverick
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Re: Guy Point Question

Post by maverick »

6-7 foot guy lines should be enough.

Depending on the material your guy line is made of it may fray easier and burning the cut end might be a good idea.
Shop around, some lines are better then others.

Those stakes are okay, but most companies usually include cheap stakes, Easton (8") and MSR (Groundhogs) are good stakes.
The 8" Easton's have the highest combined holding power rating in Moist Sods + Compacted Forest ground of 132lbs, the
MSR Groundhog at 127lbs.
The Easton is .52 oz and the MSR is .58oz.
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I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.

Have a safer backcountry experience by using the HST ReConn Form 2.0, named after Larry Conn, a HST member: http://reconn.org
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InsaneBoost
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Re: Guy Point Question

Post by InsaneBoost »

The plan was to buy Exped Reflective Dyneema Cord 2mm (http://www.moontrail.com/exped-dyneema-cord.php) for the guy line. That's what I had recommended to me by fishmonger a few days ago when discussing his tent. Is there really a way to tell what might fray and what won't? At least until they start doing it?

I just remember my father doing the whole burn thing to most stuff so I thought that was almost necessary after cutting, but then again I was only 13 or so at the time and either didn't ask or don't remember the reasoning.

I was looking at the Groundhogs originally (even before choosing the Big Agnes), and that seems to be a pretty popular choice so I might just go with those to make sure I have good sturdy ones.
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maverick
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Re: Guy Point Question

Post by maverick »

Professional Sierra Landscape Photographer

I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.

Have a safer backcountry experience by using the HST ReConn Form 2.0, named after Larry Conn, a HST member: http://reconn.org
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InsaneBoost
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Re: Guy Point Question

Post by InsaneBoost »

Electric Stove it is! LOL. Girlfriend is going to love me big time. New house and all. Hey. It's in the name of backpacking dammit!

Thanks!
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