I'm looking at getting a 50' section of amsteel for my tarp ridgeline. Currently using paracord, but would love for there to be less stretch. I'll typically use a timber hitch on one tree and a trucker's hitch on the other for tension.

Is amsteel too slick/smooth for some knots?

I have had good luck with the truckers hitch on my amsteel ridgeline. It is slick but just go slow and don't get in a hurry and it is fine.

I use hardware from dutchware gear for zing it rope on my ccs lean and my hammock tarp ridgelines. And always carry spare plastic figure9's from nite ize which makes a clothes line go up real quick, or extra guy outs for my lean. I have used prusick with zing it as well and it worked fine. But I think it's always better to use a smaller diameter wrapped around a larger diameter when it comes to zing it, lash it, amateel products as the are slick.

Good deal! What diameter dyneema/amsteel do you use? the 3/8 would be nice for tying but seems like overkill. That's what I've got on my ATV winch!

OgimaaBines: "Good deal! What diameter dyneema/amsteel do you use? the 3/8 would be nice for tying but seems like overkill. That's what I've got on my ATV winch!"

7/64 or 1/8. Holds knots fine.

As I mentioned on a recent thread regarding best tips gleaned from BWCA.com, Dynema rope was the one I nominated. I had been using para for years but after one go with an experimental purchase of Dynema, I'm all in. I use Zingit as well now for my hammock tarps. Truckers knots are not a problem but I use Dutchwate wasp with the Zingit instead.

I also learned to splice eyes and end splice as well with home made tools from this board. It's easy with 7/64s and gets a bit harder with the narrower diameters. The eye splice is probably the best option at the anchor end. Just wrap it around the tree, pull a loop of a couple of inches through the working end and insert a toggle like a stick or a tent peg. No knots and easily removable or adjustable up or down the tree if you want to adjust the height.

The end splice is superior method of reinforcing the working end of the rope than burning it.

Dynema isn't as supple as para but it's significantly lighter, stronger, has way less stretch, and doesn't absorb water.

I use Zing-it!/Lash-it! and Amsteel for all my hammock fly rigging but if you are talking about a community tarp I would go with CCS 1/8" poly cordage.

Try Sterling Accessory Cord, it's good quality and no stretch. For a ridgeline I use 7 or 8mm. It's usually sold by the meter, can be pricey but worth every cent.

+1 for the CCS cordage.

I hope this doesn’t sound like a silly question but.
Do you always use a ridge line for hammock tarps ‘
I have been practicing with my Hex tarp by tying off to the d-rings at the edge of the tarp ridge . Is a dedicated ridge line recommend too?
I haven’t had any problems though it’s never been in storm conditions . Is it too much stress on the tarp without a ridge line?
Thanks for all on this forum, it’s really been helpful to get your insights!
Still gotta wait until mid August and can’t stand it!
Tim

Not a silly question, I think plenty use a split Ridgeline vs. a continuous, I just tie off to a d ring on each side of my hammock tarp. I have tried both ways, one advantage to a continuous Ridgeline is the ability to shift your tarp back and forth on the Ridgeline for easy placement between trees or over your hammock.
I think you need to just try both methods and see what you like. As for storms, I've been through very strong storms with a split Ridgeline, and it's been fine.

BonzSF: "I hope this doesn’t sound like a silly question but.
Do you always use a ridge line for hammock tarps ‘
I have been practicing with my Hex tarp by tying off to the d-rings at the edge of the tarp ridge . Is a dedicated ridge line recommend too?
Is it too much stress on the tarp without a ridge line?

I think you will find folks who use both methods with equal success. I suggest you try both methods and see which one works best for you. I've only gotten into hammock camping in the past year but have been out 15-20 times so far.
Personally, I prefer the continuous ridgeline for a couple reasons:
1- Super fast setup using ZingIt with a Dutch Hook and Dutchware Wasp with the tarp loops floating on the taught ridgeline.
2- Adjusting the tarp along the ridgeline (to get it centered over your hammock) is very easy using prusiks and toggles. I use small twigs picked up on site.
3- You can have a very tight ridgeline for good support without putting any stress on your tarp.
In the beginning I kept everything pre-rigged in a stuff sack so setup went pretty fast.
Now I use a snakeskin and setup is even a bit faster.
Try a couple different ways and pick the one that works best for you.

OldTripper: "

BonzSF: "I hope this doesn’t sound like a silly question but.
Do you always use a ridge line for hammock tarps ‘
I have been practicing with my Hex tarp by tying off to the d-rings at the edge of the tarp ridge . Is a dedicated ridge line recommend too?
Is it too much stress on the tarp without a ridge line?

I think you will find folks who use both methods with equal success. I suggest you try both methods and see which one works best for you. I've only gotten into hammock camping in the past year but have been out 15-20 times so far.
Personally, I prefer the continuous ridgeline for a couple reasons:
1- Super fast setup using ZingIt with a Dutch Hook and Dutchware Wasp with the tarp loops floating on the taught ridgeline.
2- Adjusting the tarp along the ridgeline (to get it centered over your hammock) is very easy using prusiks and toggles. I use small twigs picked up on site.
3- You can have a very tight ridgeline for good support without putting any stress on your tarp.
In the beginning I kept everything pre-rigged in a stuff sack so setup went pretty fast.
Now I use a snakeskin and setup is even a bit faster.
Try a couple different ways and pick the one that works best for you."

Agree with everything with one modification. I have gone with Nama Claws instead of Prussics on the 1.75 mm Zingit continuous ridgeling.

Agree on zing-it, and use CCS 1/8 cordage for the group tarp. I try to like the zing-it, and do like it a lot when I’m saving grams, but CCS cordage is just like the rest of CCS gear - no comparison. I’ve only used amsteel for suspension.

jillpine: "Agree on zing-it, and use CCS 1/8 cordage for the group tarp. I try to like the zing-it, and do like it a lot when I’m saving grams, but CCS cordage is just like the rest of CCS gear - no comparison. I’ve only used amsteel for suspension.

"

Another lash-it/ zing-it fan paired with some titannium hardware (wasp, flyz & nama claws). I’m not against using hardware, but when I start cranking down on the truckers hitch I find the knots on the lash-it/ zing-it/ CCS cord are unbearable to untie (slipknot portion) gets pulled so tigh I’m unable to untie without hardware. Maybe I’m doing that simple knot wrong? But when I start tightening, my slipknot gets tight along the way. Anyone else have this issue?

Lawnchair107: "

jillpine: "Agree on zing-it, and use CCS 1/8 cordage for the group tarp. I try to like the zing-it, and do like it a lot when I’m saving grams, but CCS cordage is just like the rest of CCS gear - no comparison. I’ve only used amsteel for suspension.


"

Another lash-it/ zing-it fan paired with some titannium hardware (wasp, flyz & nama claws). I’m not against using hardware, but when I start cranking down on the truckers hitch I find the knots on the lash-it/ zing-it/ CCS cord are unbearable to untie (slipknot portion) gets pulled so tigh I’m unable to untie without hardware. Maybe I’m doing that simple knot wrong? But when I start tightening, my slipknot gets tight along the way. Anyone else have this issue?"

If I'm understanding you correctly you may be creating your cinch loop from the wrong end of the cord. Be sure you are creating the loop by using cord from the direction of the tail and you shouldn't have this issue. See Trucker's Hitch animated.

Lawnchair107: "

jillpine: "Agree on zing-it, and use CCS 1/8 cordage for the group tarp. I try to like the zing-it, and do like it a lot when I’m saving grams, but CCS cordage is just like the rest of CCS gear - no comparison. I’ve only used amsteel for suspension.


"

Another lash-it/ zing-it fan paired with some titannium hardware (wasp, flyz & nama claws). I’m not against using hardware, but when I start cranking down on the truckers hitch I find the knots on the lash-it/ zing-it/ CCS cord are unbearable to untie (slipknot portion) gets pulled so tigh I’m unable to untie without hardware. Maybe I’m doing that simple knot wrong? But when I start tightening, my slipknot gets tight along the way. Anyone else have this issue?"

I'm confused. That's the reason why it's slippery. One tug and you're free.

I find that Zing-it!/Lash-it! are just too thin to use on a community tarp. Not only would it hurt too much trying to cinch the lines tight but I want to be able to see my lines as well so I don't run into them. That's why I use reflective 1/8" CCS cord at my corner tie-outs and standard 1/8" CCS cord for my continuous ridgeline.

campnfish: "Not a silly question, I think plenty use a split Ridgeline vs. a continuous, I just tie off to a d ring on each side of my hammock tarp. I have tried both ways, one advantage to a continuous Ridgeline is the ability to shift your tarp back and forth on the Ridgeline for easy placement between trees or over your hammock.
I think you need to just try both methods and see what you like. As for storms, I've been through very strong storms with a split Ridgeline, and it's been fine."

Another advantage is that you get to hang gear from the Ridgeline under the tarp.

Blackdogyak: "

campnfish: "Not a silly question, I think plenty use a split Ridgeline vs. a continuous, I just tie off to a d ring on each side of my hammock tarp. I have tried both ways, one advantage to a continuous Ridgeline is the ability to shift your tarp back and forth on the Ridgeline for easy placement between trees or over your hammock.
I think you need to just try both methods and see what you like. As for storms, I've been through very strong storms with a split Ridgeline, and it's been fine."

Another advantage is that you get to hang gear from the Ridgeline under the tarp."

Another reason to use a continuous ridgeline is that you can hang and take down the tarp without it ever touching the ground.

Continuous Ridgeline setup and take down video

plander: "

Blackdogyak: "

campnfish: "Not a silly question, I think plenty use a split Ridgeline vs. a continuous, I just tie off to a d ring on each side of my hammock tarp. I have tried both ways, one advantage to a continuous Ridgeline is the ability to shift your tarp back and forth on the Ridgeline for easy placement between trees or over your hammock.
I think you need to just try both methods and see what you like. As for storms, I've been through very strong storms with a split Ridgeline, and it's been fine."

Another advantage is that you get to hang gear from the Ridgeline under the tarp."

Another reason to use a continuous ridgeline is that you can hang and take down the tarp without it ever touching the ground.


Continuous Ridgeline setup and take down video "

Thanks for the video and also thanks for the responses everyone. I picked up a ridgline stuffsack from Dan at the expo this past weekend and am having a good time messing around with the setup.