How to Setup A Tarp with a Ridgeline

[@mo.girl4175]

Gosh some rude people on here! Well I thought it was helpful as I am just learning to set up a Walmart brand hammock and rain fly . May be cheap but at least Im outdoors! Thanks for the information! I took away that sometimes you work with what you have and now I feel more confident I can set my own system up !

[@PrimeReal]

Wow people are such complainers! I liked how real this video was. I learned a lot and can’t wait to pitch my tarp. This video also showed me that it’s important to try out your gear first. You don’t want to be I the woods taking your stuff out of the bag for the first time.

[@Wayondon]

Already 8 years when this was produced but still invaluable. Thanks

[@BlackOwlOutdoors]

To be honest, I'm not entirely sure what knot I used to attach the lines to the tarp. I think I may have just used a series of half hitches. And yes, we agree. An upgrade in audio will be our next improvement. Thanks for the comment. -Krik

[@geraldhenrickson7472]

This is but one way to use a ridge line with a tarp. There are so many. Experiment and use the one you feel most comfy with. I always hang my tarp under the ridge line yet that is just my way. Happy trails!

[@ktownc936]

Watched 10 plus videos, learning now I should adjust my prusik knots on my Ridgeline after I stake in my corners. Thanks for the good to info

[@BlindOwl-Outdoors]

i think i have watched all your videos very helpful and well done...

[@stevenstegall8937]

that intro is the safest place to have a fire lol great video

[@trainlinezoo]

I work with two ridgelines in case of windy conditions - run one under the tarp like you did, tie the peak (tarp) ends with enough cord to go the way to the trees and then run a second ridgeline on top of the tarp tied on the same trees again. Two trees, three lines on each tree and I'm not afraid to use ratchet straps for at least the bottom ridgeline. By this method, nothing should be able to make a tarp (even a 20x20 foot tarp) catch wind and fly upward or collapse downward from a falling branch or other debris. Sides are always a little tricky but if you have an axe or hatchet (and a saw) you can make custom support rods from whatever is around and then notch the ends to run the cord through and raise for tension. Your tarp will look origami cool and you will be able to control exactly where rain or snow drains.

[@ScottRauber]

way to adapt when things don't work just right! Thanks for sharing!

[@LueTm]

Black Owl Outdoors, on the logo is a penguin and you call us turtles... giggled

[@masterprediction7353]

That logo is definitely not a penguin

[@victoriaredman603]

When it ain’t only not a turtle nor penguin, but an 🦉 owl... confusion 😂

[@HarbardWild]

Nice video. Only problem i see with a ridgeline like that is that when it rains, all that rope will get wet and eventually will drip on you, that's why many people that uses ridgeline like this have the rope outside the tarp, but then again, all that rope will get wet too. I like to use two ropes from each side instead but during winter i like to use full ridgeline for the strength.

[@BlackOwlOutdoors]

yup. you're seeing it correct. in the process of drawing the logo, it kept coming out looking like a penguin. so we refined it and went with it. sometimes you gotta go with the flow. -Stony

[@BlindOwl-Outdoors]

Nice video guys they are always helpful, i have 1200 videos out there and wish i had the views you guys get, would go nuts with all the idiots commenting. thanks for all your efforts. BlindOwl Outdoors

[@PeteyP71]

It's because your name is "blind" owl

[@SteveB357]

For q small improvement on Stakes in general, cut a "doe's foot" on the top of the stake. This is just taking off some wood, cut flat, on the notch side of the stake: Cut it so the top of the stake is about as off-set as the notch is deep. This will protect the top of the stake from splitting down to the notch if you pound it IN, especially with a rock.

[@BlackOwlOutdoors]

Steve Brettell thanks steve. we'll be sure to try this method out next time we are in the bush. - stony

[@BlackOwlOutdoors]

Brightly colored guy lines are a great idea. I have thought about using bright colors for them. I've definitely tripped over my share. The siberain hitch doesn't seem to like paracord. But paracord has lots of other uses, as we know. Paracord will work just fine for a taught line hitch and a prusik. Hope this helps. -Krik

[@deanoboland]

Good effort guys 👍👍👍👍

[@TrekHammocks]

I like your way of doing the top ridgeline, ive never seen that before. However, this is a much easier way to pull the sides tight that will take all the guess work out. The little plastic pieces are actually line loks, something alot of people dont seem to know. If you just tie the line to the stake, all you have to do is pull the extra line through the line-lock and it will keep it tight for you

[@benhikescamps]

Many thanks for sharing this Krik. Greetings from the UK!

[@ElkArrow]

Ok. I'm getting this. The only thing I'm confused about at this point is how you got the plastic gear ties attached to the tarp loops? Can you explain that? I have a carbin fiber tarp with loops but no gear ties attached. Can I attach them myself?

[@Katalin-pu7io]

Why did you tie your prusik knots to the tarp? Using a toggle would be much better, allowing for a quick release.

[@BlackOwlOutdoors]

There would be very few instances where I would use my bag as an anchor. Maybe even none. But like I said in the video, the point was to illustrate you can use larger/oddly shaped objects as an anchor. -Krik

[@jooky5]

Nice set up I'm assuming if you were hanging a hammock beneath the tarp you would place your ridge line higher?

[@owenvillarino7725]

Enjoyed the end part where he walks away waving farewell like you just bought something in a dime shop.

[@jorgegonzales878]

Wow this video was very educative for me. Thanks

[@carpetfarmer]

Cool, thinking of trying a tarp/hammock setup, the larger anchor seems like it would deff help when setting up the other 3, thanks for the tips and vid.

[@reidcourtney8549]

Hey guys, great videos. But anyways, what length of cordage do you recommend for a ridgeline?

[@jrow84]

How far apart are your tie-offs?

[@BlackOwlOutdoors]

Thanks Keith. When Stony and I were attempting to design the logo, the owl kept looking like a penguin. So, we just went with it. -Krik

[@Wouter6431]

Hi Krik, my tarp came without ridgelines ore guylines. I was thinking of getting some paracord (orange for good visual) for this. Would this be great cordage for it, especially for all the knots and hitches (including the prusik) you made in this video? Thanks! great vid

[@BlackOwlOutdoors]

That depends. Maybe yes, maybe no. I plan on doing a video on the ENO onelink sleep system. Stay tuned for that. The lower you put the tarp to the ground, the better protection it will offer if the wind is blowing like crazy. -Krik

[@BlackOwlOutdoors]

Yea I didn't know that. Thanks for the tip. I'll try that next time I put up the tarp. I guess it sort of acts like the taught line I was using.

[@deanlevang6031]

I have a nylon tow rope for pulling a sled behind an ATV. The rope is 100' long. The sled has two eye-bolts at the front. I started with each end of the rope tied to the sled and secured the mid-point of the rope thru the hitch pin on my ATV. That put the sled about 50' behind the ATV. Since that was too far away and I don't want to cut the rope, would a taut-line knot be the right knot to take one rope end thru an eye-bolt and back to the ATV to achieve an adjustable distance from about 50' to 33'? And if that was still too far back, I would do the same to the other side and then I could get as close as 25', but still have a 100' rope.

[@gabemainwaring8789]

You want a sheep's bend. You can shorten your length and keep the strength.

[@rockymountboy]

Gabe Mainwaring I think you meant a sheepshank. A sheepshank knot is used to shorten length. A sheetbend is close to a square knot and is useful for tying together two ropes (or other materials, such as sheet or sails) of differing diameters.

[@CrustyClad]

Storing tarps in "snake skins" with prussics and ridge line attached makes setup super EZ. Just an FYI for those who have never heard the term. nice vid

[@sloanIrrigation]

What kind of cord is your prusic loops

[@renter6]

Beautiful woods. Man I miss PA.

[@brucehodson2763]

Aren't those line-locs at the tarp corners? Pretty sure they're supposed to be used to tighten the guy lines. Perm knot on stake, adjust with tag end at tarp.

[@BlackOwlOutdoors]

Yes, they are. And used exactly as you mentioned. I used them in a different video. Thanks for watching and commenting. -Krik

[@Rudecheers]

The taut line hitch's purpose is being able to adjust it in relation to the position of your peg, the hitch has no purpose at all if you keep repositioning the peg.

[@BlackOwlOutdoors]

+Rude Did I keep repositioning the stake?

[@cameronmoss1173]

I've had my CCS tarp out on a dozen trips, I run my ridge line over the tarp, that way my tarp will last 5 dozen more trips and not get sawn in half by the ridge line when wind beats on it for a week at a time

[@stephenalexander4048]

How do you hang the tarp under the ridgeline?

[@atomicpsych0]

@@stephenalexander4048 his tarp probably has attachment points throughout the length of the middle of the tarp. A DD tarp is a perfect example of this

[@BlackOwlOutdoors]

I know, I know. But change is always on the horizon. But for real, having lots of hair on my face feels gross in the hot, humid PA summers. -Krik

[@christianmurphy251]

What are the dimensions for that tarp?

[@loki77388]

Thanks for the great video, but why is your logo a penguin? And not an owl?

[@saturnvalleyswanson224]

Cause Penguins are badass that’s why. 😎

[@chriswebster24]

I’d assume it’s because owls are gay.

[@guycarrwuzright7189]

This video was very helpful. Thank you. I just subbed to your channel. Please keep them up.

[@carpetfarmer]

Cool Vid! Do you replace your bag with a stake when you have the other 3 done? It seems you wouldnt want it out there in case of rain.

[@BlackOwlOutdoors]

Well, personally, I prefer to have my cordage longer. I don't like cutting my cordage shorter than 40 feet, roughly. Forty feet may be long for a ridgeline, but I like having it at longer lengths. Do you have a tarp? Do you know how long the tarp is? Will you be putting up a ridgeline over a hammock? All of these questions will help determine what you'll actually need for the ridgeline. Let me know. -Krik

[@RichardBronosky]

I strongly support the concept of using 2 prusiks to attach the tarp to the ridge line by tying it to the grommets and not using any hardware or toggle. Once you have done this, consider it permanent. Don't ever remove the prusiks or ridge line from the tarp. Just pack them up together and your deployment will be a lot faster. The rest of this video was pretty painful to watch. It looks like a first time setting up new gear. I just went through this last weekend. I was motorcycle camping in the snow with a group of riders in their 70s. As you can imagine these are some hard fellows and they can talk some serious smack. They didn't waste a minute of the hour it took me to set up. (But that hour included cutting and burning pieces off a brand new spool of paracord.)

[@geraldhenrickson7472]

I agree that prusiks are the way to go yet after reading the comment above I need to see what a klemheist hitch might be.

[@RichardBronosky]

G Henrickson thanks for the reply. I should have replied long ago to agree because I also now use a kelmheist. I know that you can/will look it up so I'll tell you why I agreed with Greg and have changed. Think of it like a Prusik that only grips in one direction (which is all you need) and can be easily tied one handed (because no matter how many times you practice, sometimes you do things out of order and need to hold something off the ground while tying a knot).

[@ocelot9173]

you've got linelocs oon your tarp, and you're using a tautline hitch? I'd just put a bowline at the end of my guylines and use the linelocs

[@lukehall6027]

How man feet are your guy lines cut to?

[@ScottSmith-rb8gl]

Your tautline hitch needs to have the last turn go around in the same direction as the first two - opposite of the way you do it. Yours will slip under load, for some rope types. Tied correctly, no rope will slip. Prusik sounds like "moose", not "us". Picky picky, I know.

[@cdpape4]

What knot did you use to attach the guy line to the tarp? Krik/Stony, you do a great job. You should look at improving your mic next. Maybe a small wireless mic to clip on a shirt.

[@mrsonnyboy11]

Hey Kirk. I love you videos bud. Just got turned on to your channel. I've been enjoying going thru them systematically one at a time. I noticed you were wearing Fjallraven trousers in one of you vids. Did you get those in the US? I'm having a hard time locating them & didn't really want to have them shipped from Europe or Canada. eBay has some but they're limited. Thanks, Steve

[@BlackOwlOutdoors]

+Steve Sifuentez They actually have a US branch now - fjallraven.us

[@BlackOwlOutdoors]

+Greg Letter Thanks for the tip. I'll check out that hitch!

[@jhonyermo]

First knot was not a square knot. What is name of the second knot / hitch please?

[@mzkelektrikdiy4463]

Sir what's brand it this???

[@Curtis.Carpenter]

It's pretty frustrating that it's at 7 minutes into the video and I've seen this guy tie two knots without explaining their purpose or anything

[@charlietango1635]

You really need to tighten your ridge line first, then your tarp on the ridge line before adjusting your corner cords, that way you will get it to lay as you want it. ( just my opinion )

[@erictinney5041]

Looks like his rain fly has line locks

[@villhelmcranford5358]

Wait do you need more kite string?

[@Katalin-pu7io]

Why is your channel called black owl outdoors, yet your logo shows a penguin? (except in the comment section?)

[@BlackOwlOutdoors]

Nice dude. Were you sleeping in tents then? -Krik

[@Helicaloptera]

What's with the black Penguin at the beginning?

[@projournalistbison]

You're a penguin

[@sundaysorrow]

and calling us turtles !!!

[@matthewhorowitz8996]

Nice Trout Water in your intro

[@BlackOwlOutdoors]

+Matthew Horowitz In a way..... Water is too acidic due to strip mining up stream. Only trout are stocked trout.

[@May._.Sune.]

Black Owl Outdoors great video

[@matttoney6542]

to be honest man it shouldn't take 20 minutes to setup this tarp

[@May._.Sune.]

Matt Toney it's taking him 20 minutes because he's showing the people watching how to do it I bet that he is faster.

[@matttoney6542]

This particular tarp was designed to be deployed without the use of a ridge line. Taking out cordage on the ends was counter productive, because now he has to use a separate ridgeline, and attach with two Prusik knots. 20 minutes for this tarp is too long.

[@geraldhenrickson7472]

A ridge line can take the strain off the tarp material itself and can be accomplished in just a few minutes. I just watched one where it was up in five. It takes me about the same. BTW...I never put the tarp over... instead I suspend it underneath a very taut ridge line.

[@matttoney6542]

Jason I guess I offended you with my simple observation lol Anyways, it sounds like you're actually projecting your insecurities on KZbin. Maybe see someone for that??

[@matttoney6542]

Jason Bequette lmao this has been the best entertainment I've had all day. Thank you for that!

[@panther325]

is the owl a penguin ?

[@christophergraff6683]

Whats up Turtles ? seems .. semi insulting .. I'm not your darn turtle ;)

[@Aceinthehole1179]

Christopher Graff I so agree!!! I hate that! I thought I check the video out, but I was like did he just call us turtles 🐢???

[@christophergraff6683]

Since Then , I saw a video of him saying it is meant as " Friends" :)

[@Aceinthehole1179]

Christopher Graff Just say " What's up guys or Hey friends welcome back. Had a friend that had cancer & lost lot weight which made his neck look longer & people called him that. I know he means no harm , but with the public YOU jury got to be careful. Cool buddy

[@Peteru69]

It's kind of ironic seeing how long the video is and how it needed some serious editing. Perhaps he's a turtle, and he just thinks all humans are as slow as him.

[@Aceinthehole1179]

Christopher Graff Totally agree! I've unsubscribe, just boring

[@PeteyP71]

Dude you'll be there all week setting up your sleep system

[@Katalin-pu7io]

If there was to be a strong wind, your way of securing your tarp would not last.

[@atedadvocateofcommonmansch5361]

tiger Paul stealthy camper use a thick branches of 5 inches diameter as tent stakes with a loop on them for a trustworthy and reliable and stealthy camper stakes are not the best way for me urban camper

[@paulglancy2811]

Eh we use, well i use snap shut spring close pegs, to hell with knots...Paul.

[@SebastianNightshade]

Is this guy wearing dress shoes?

[@kerouacincarnate2155]

you are beating yourself up here....it's not this complicated. K.I.S.S.

[@brianhetrick1301]

I agree.

[@briangraham9646]

I've already seen this video. My trial and error. I don't think I will learn watching more videos of more videos

[@stuartwall911]

throws bag on floor !

[@villhelmcranford5358]

They have a thing Bungy cord. Look in to it.

[@The_Stoic_PhilosopherAU]

What did you call me, a turtle?

[@wotchermuggle]

Your channel could be so much better with better film equipment and better editing.

[@BlackOwlOutdoors]

+wotchermuggle you should check out our newest videos. this was one from the early days.

[@loki77388]

I understand. LOL

[@Katalin-pu7io]

Why do you call us turtles?

[@nyak63RUS]

How did this take you so long? If you don't know how to put up a tarp then don't make a video teaching how to put up a tarp.

[@villhelmcranford5358]

Run off to get more kite string.

[@SkinE-Vadee-Veechee]

1. Im going camping. 2. I better set up my tarp. 3. Oh its time go home. 4. I better take down my tarp. 5. Why did my camping trip seem so quick. 6. Shit no wonder ...I spent the whole time setting up my tarp. Very painful to watch.

[@villhelmcranford5358]

I actually feel bad for this guy. Sorry I made fun. He must be gifted.

[@villhelmcranford5358]

We need more string. More string Dammit.

[@newhampshirebound8551]

...

[@Katalin-pu7io]

You really don't know what you're doing!

[@landonandkaleigh]

Zzzzzzzzzz

[@villhelmcranford5358]

*time

[@villhelmcranford5358]

Was he actually proud of himself?...

[@jamesbrennan3744]

I'm completely worn out. I'll continue to use my tent which I can pitch in prolly 6-8 minutes, then go hiking. Based on what I see in these various youtube videos, I assume that people just love to fiddle around with their hammocks, tarps, bug nets, fires, cooking apparatus, etc., to the exclusion of the outdoor experience itself. I watched one where the guy actually cut down trees, built a complicated wood shelter, complete with a bench to sit on, built a fire pit by lugging heavy stones, cooked a complicated meal including roasting a whole chicken in a pot over the fire. Took him all day long and he worked like a dirty dog. Couldn't help but laugh. Priorities I suppose.

[@BlackOwlOutdoors]

You laugh that we may have different priorities?

[@jamesbrennan3744]

I laugh at anything that strikes me funny. Thanks for asking. Please excuse me while go practice all my knots, I'm up to 47, which includes 5 variations on the ever-popular taut line hitch (all with quick release).

[@SamSam-yf2xj]

@@jamesbrennan3744 you’re a sad man

[@atomicpsych0]

@@jamesbrennan3744 that's because the video you watched wasn't of someone hiking numb nuts. They were probably showing bushcraft skills. Some people like to go out in the woods sans be stationary say their camp and practice making things with nature. Not everyone likes to be in the move. And you probably don't know how to do half of what the other guy did

[@sojourn1544]

Real tarps dont have grommets!!!

[@sonofagreatsouthernland]

17 minutes....long and drawn out faff.

[@Dutch1911a1]

turtles....? WTF?

[@geraldhenrickson7472]

Wow...you have issues that need addressing. Especially in reference to hippies. Maybe with turtles as well? Talk to someone please...

[@stopwhinging8877]

this is a dreadful video and has been made to look bloody difficult, sorry man had to give this a thumbs down

[@OhiohiO216]

for some reason i don't like this dude