THE NEW AND IMPROVED RIDGELINE

A QUICK DEPLOY RIDGELINE IS A GREAT IDEA FOR CAMPING.THE RIDGELINE HAS PRE MADE UP CONNECTORS FOR ATTACHING A HOST OF TARPS AND OTHER SHELTER DEVICES. A BOWLINE IS USED AT THE END TO ALLOW A QUICK ATTACHEMNT TOTHE FIRST TREE. THREE LOOPS TWO OF THEM HAVE SOFT SHACKLES TO ATTACH TO THE TARP EITHER THRU A GROMET OR TO A SEWN LOOP. FINALLY A PRUSICK ALLOWS THE LINE TO CREATE A LOCKING TRUCKERS HITCH AT THE SECOND TREE TO SECURE THE RIDGE LINE FOR USE.FOR TARP CAMPINGITS A GREAT THING TO HAVE.

[@mdsuave13]

That is pretty slick adding in the soft shackles with the prusik knots.. Instead of using the rubber band or a bead etc to lock it, just pass the loop end in between the knot, up and over the knot, it will lock it on and you don't need to worry about the other motions or things.

[@i_am_a_freespirit]

Thank you for this Video...I should have gone to boyscouts when I was a little girl in the 60's...I love learning about knots...the soft shackle sounds good, will practice it with my knitting yarns until I become familiar with everything...🧐🤭

[@neiljohnston3407]

Blackie ... to combine some ideas ... IF you can get your knots through your grommets ... Prusik and Jungle knots = no soft shackle needed. Prusik your line, put your first overhand knot an inch or so down the line from this, and then another at the end of your line. put that through your grommet & then back between the Prusik & first overhand knot (obviously between the 2 cords) - tension holds it in place - but you could add your rubber bands.

[@janetburrows137]

I’ve watch this ridge line on many occasions. But I honestly can’t get too do it????? It’s driving me crazy love. 😮😮😮😢😢😢🤷‍♀️❤️🇬🇧

[@corwinchristensen260]

I make combination soft shackle/prusiks with a loop of desired size, 2 strand matthew walker knot (chosen because it is symmetrical and will not move once tightened), an inch or two and then a button knot. This leaves the button loose to be used as a shackle connection and not interfere with the prusik. Also, instead of a band, I pass the end of the loop between the strands that go into the button then flop the tip of the loop over the button. In non-critical conditions, this is a very secure way of connecting a soft shackle without the spliceable line loop or an extra band. This method works as a conventional prusik or soft shackle without any adjustment or additional parts. I also use a prusik/trucker style tightener as it is easily replaced and saves wear and tear on my main line.

[@alf3553]

Awesome setup. Going to make these tonight 👍.

[@blackoracle69]

Have fun!

[@journeyman7189]

Excellent concept Blackie. i will be adding it to my kit. Thanks Nate

[@charlesartificer2158]

Interesting concept. I took your guy line idea from your last video and changed it slightly to work with my system. Thanks for the ideas.

[@blackoracle69]

Excellent!

[@christosfratello2424]

In my opinion one of the best set ups, I think this way might be better if you have an injury in one of your hands, not many knots to tie. Watching this all the way from Greece, great work Kudos.

[@gregsanderson2470]

On your bowline side, instead of passing the whole hank through, slip a bite through and put a toggle in place? That way you don't have to pull the hank through when taking it down . Just take out the toggle, bang down.

[@jscoyle1]

Toggle also works well for tarp connections, grommet or web loop.

[@blackoracle69]

you can do that ..and you can also tie a quick timber hitch for a quick disconnect..lots of options

[@danielgerrick5153]

Hope all is well with you , just have to say I really enjoy your videos, especially the onewind hammock upgrade video. Thank you too, helping me decide on my hammock set up.

[@timlacy2284]

Blackie , I like the way you think , you have thought me a lot and I am 60 years old and U. S. Army vet and reach the Rank of Life Scout in Boy Scout , and the outdoors is where I really like to be Hunting and Fishing and Woods Craft. Thanks again Blackie for a great video and passing on the craft.

[@blackoracle69]

thank you for watching

[@im4pees]

Wisdom of the Ridgeline ! Perfection !

[@blackoracle69]

thank you

[@kayakcobber524]

Yes like the prussic as truckers hitch..... mainly because lines wear out even if I have good ones from sailing. But I do long distance Walking projects months in a row. So i give it a try.

[@blackoracle69]

yep and it will wear out a easy to replace loop not the same place over and over in the main line

[@kayakcobber524]

Yes it's more the friction with the trees. You have to limit this. Anyway I use lines for a few years but still worth to consider

[@tankdiesel9738]

I LIKE IT... Gonna give it a shot... keep the great videos coming Blackie 👍

[@blackoracle69]

will do

[@kenglennie7219]

JUST thinking about what Greg Sanders said about using a toggle at the bowline end, what I did was to put another prusick on the bowline end with the knot out and chucked the bowline around the tree and soft shackled it to the bowline, save putting everything through the bowline. :)

[@jamieschmotzer]

Good stuff, Blackie!

[@blackoracle69]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@wwolf6976]

Great video! Thanks for the lesson. I will be updating my ridge line with this. Thanks Blackie!

[@blackoracle69]

Glad it was helpful!

[@suzz1776]

ooo weee.. lol... I just got my new mini double blade case xx pocket knife with abalone shell, in. it is soo beautiful. o wish i could take a photo and post it. lol. so beautiful :)

[@paulhutchings7527]

I like the soft shackle concept! I went ahead and built one of these Ridgeline to try. However in my experience using paracord prusik knots won't work. Usually you have to use a smaller line then your Ridgeline for a prusik knot to work. I will try this and see if it works. I will definitely use the soft shackle and additional prusik for the truckers hitch those are excellent ideas!

[@blackoracle69]

Great tip!

[@floydsmith2296]

Excellent job! I really like this idea of using a "prusk" instead of trucker's Hitch. I admit I was skeptical when I started watching, but you nailed it Blackie. Very good ideas! I will share this with my buddies. Thanks for all you do.

[@randygalichia]

Very informative I know what my next project is

[@blackoracle69]

Glad it was helpful!

[@herbsmith6871]

Those are some great ideas my friend! I will be using them 🤠

[@blackoracle69]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@boomshanka8743]

Blackie I got my haversack yesterday, thank you! Very very nice! Great video, good thing I bought another roll of paracord last month. Mrs. Boom thinks I must eat the stuff. 😄

[@blackoracle69]

Rock on!

[@james_lessick892]

@boom shanka I too received my Blackbird havershack yesterday, I'm going to set it up today! I'm so excited.

[@forestgnome55]

Great idea! The "prusk", a true epiphany! No longer will I be plagued with jammed knots in wet cord! My life replete! LOL! Thanks Blackie and Dan!

[@blackoracle69]

Rock on!

[@rldickie]

Your quick connect system changed my life for the better just to last spring. I'm not ready to give it up yet.

[@blackoracle69]

enjoy it..maybe you will find a better way once you have used it a bit..hope so..safe journeys to you

[@ChrisC30]

You've just made me completely redesign my own ridgeline. :-)

[@blackoracle69]

Go for it!

[@ChrisC30]

@@blackoracle69 I will. I find myself rearranging most of my cordage whenever I watch your videos.

[@james_lessick892]

I also changed my ridgeline and it's Awesome!

[@justinmaddox8353]

I wish I knew your system, especially the softshackle when I was a medic in the army. thanks

[@houstonsam6163]

Really appreciate the careful thought you put into preparation to make work in the field as quick and simple as possible. Tremendous lessons and principles for the multitudes of us who lack your experience.

[@garybraches9936]

Blue Jay approved! Great tip

[@blackoracle69]

Excellent!

[@dennislindenpellinge]

Bravo ! Thank s !

[@jobygochoco2731]

outstanding....

[@lessage760]

great vidio sir this was the best wisdom thanks or sharing

[@blackoracle69]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@tfisher808]

great ideas and video

[@blackoracle69]

Glad you think so!

[@Hoonozit]

Thanks for the video.

[@blackoracle69]

You are welcome!

[@olexandrelevchenko900]

Merci. Very useful.

[@blackoracle69]

You are welcome!

[@MichaelR58]

Great idea , thanks for sharing, God bless !

[@blackoracle69]

You are so welcome

[@markgibbs904]

Cool loop!

[@blackoracle69]

glad you think so

[@shastaham7630]

Outstanding, as usual. Nice going, Blackie. I am in the process of redoing two identical ridge lines (one tarp/tent, one overfly) using the soft shackles. I am, as you suggest, using 4X Prussic knots. I am making two small modifications. I am using distinctive colors for the “trucker’s hitch” Prussic, for the end loop Prussics and for the center loop Prussics. If I am in a rush, I won’t overlook a Prussic and use the wrong one. Secondly, I am using diamond knots instead of overhand knots. Diamond knots are less prone to loosening (when properly tied) and, what can I say, I need the practice.

[@blackoracle69]

sounds good

[@virginiacopeland108]

Thumbs up!!! Clark

[@janetburrows137]

You make it look so flipping easy????😢😢😮😅😊❤️🤷‍♀️❤️🇬🇧

[@bradbailey3304]

This setup looks like it would work well for quick set up in heavy wind, if you have any other great tips for dealing with a tarp in heavy wind I’m all ears All these great tips have really helped me learn to refine my set up much more efficiently keep them coming brother cheers 🍻

[@michaeljones5395]

Great improvement over the the other way for a quick and easy tarp shelter setup! Thanks to Dan Lutz as well for helping you create this improvement! I am going to redo my ridge line this way now.

[@jeffconley6366]

Great Ideas! I really like the paracord shackles for the ridge line. Saves me making toggles on site or packing in my bag. And the prusik knot for the truckers hitch. I think I will use #36 Bank line for the prusik knots and replace the ones on the ends of the ridge line with with Kleimheist knots. (3 Kleimheist and 3 prusik) Thanks

[@mbarr1029]

Brilliant idea, sticks can be a pain. Sometimes soft shackles too. I have Made a Prussic with Zing It and a soft shackle built in. One piece and is always on the ridgeline. But it can be fiddly. And still use sticks in the cold weather. Nice to have options though. I will try this one, looks bigger for my fat fingers.

[@donwilson9939]

Instead of a soft shackle, I use a small toggle made from a stick. Works great for me and less cordage to deal with.

[@blackoracle69]

Great tip!

[@donwilson9939]

@@blackoracle69 Thank you. Love your channel. I have learned plenty from it and look forward to more content.

[@thefamily_ak1863]

thx blackie

[@blackoracle69]

you are welcome

[@zchuss1]

Instead of threading ridge line through the top loops of my tarp as I usually do you made think of using soft shackles next time....thank you

[@blackoracle69]

Good point!

[@mikedebell2242]

Those blue jays were trying to drown you out.

[@blueoutside3394]

Thanks for this video. I was wondering about a knots ridge line. I've watched that video too. Could you use a heavy duty zip tie instead of the rubber band? I'm gonna make one of these because I just got a new tarp.

[@swassige]

Hey, great vid! Do you ever find that paracord can stretch or slack out when it gets wet? I feel like there are alternatives like spectra / zing it that don’t stretch and are just as strong... and less bulky.

[@trynsurviven2440]

😎😎

[@badhat3051]

that is a great idea, but we all know that rubber bands eventually deteriorate get brittle and fall apart so my question is, "How often do you replace the rubber band"? once a month? twice a season? every year? or what or how about instead of a rubber band, you tie a piece of fishing line or a thread of #6 bank-line around the loop

[@blackoracle69]

right or a plastic bead will do anything that has proper friction

[@MrRourk]

Ever try KZbinr Pharraoh's Pyramid Tarp Shelter Set Up? fairly fast and effective alternate tarp set up. Gotta have fairly tall tress around.

[@james_lessick892]

You are so awesome, I totally love your videos and THE BLACKBIRD HAVERSACK! It came yesterday, and I'm setting it up today. Where did you get that leather scarf holder???

[@blackoracle69]

that was a gift from the guys at feed the fire

[@patrickpeters8708]

Great video, as always! I'm trying to put together a lightweight emergency shelter system using the SOL 2-person survival blanket, which doesn't have grommets. Is there a way to use soft shackles to secure the pebble or whatever I use as the anchors wrapped in the corner of the blanket?

[@blackoracle69]

yes take the soft shackle and in the middle of the opened shackle use the cords to go around the pebble and tie like a granny knot then use the still open ends to lock the soft shackle as usual now if it was me i would make a small canadian jam know and use that to anchor the pebble and have the soft shackle body trapped to use as a connector

[@patrickpeters8708]

@@blackoracle69 Thank you! (Now I just need to watch some KZbin videos on what a Canadian jam knot is!)

[@tattooninja]

Will soft shackles work w/bankline instead of rubber bands? I'll mess around w/this soon.

[@MrRourk]

Oh Etowah Outfitters is having a sale on tarps. Their Survival Tarp Kit is $32 right now

[@swjdbinc]

What size pony bead do you use on your soft shackles? Great Video !!!! Keep up the good work.

[@blackoracle69]

i will be doing a up date video soon to show soft shackles/ adjustable strap /bushcraft rip ties /bushcraft twist ties /and guy lines

[@MattS-ru1ys]

Mr. Blackie, I was looking to buy the Wcsk or the black bird. Which one in your opinion is the best knife for almost all situations.

[@blackoracle69]

in my view both are great knives..but i carry the blackbird as a everyday woodscraft tool..the WCSK rides in my bug out bag

[@jamesparker6383]

would it be possible to use a small zip tie instead of a rubber band ?

[@blackoracle69]

yes any thing thats got the right amount or friction but will still slide

[@gregsanderson2470]

What did Blackie say about sinc -crow -nicity . As that's what I used. Ps this isn't a dig on Blackie..its the ai on my phone wouldn't accept it.

[@dianabenobo]

what happens if you marry a prussik to a soft shackle? ... can long softshackle's reproduce?

[@CorneliusFahey]

Complicated.

[@aleistercrowley5167]

Ah yes, more hand gestures 😒

[@blackoracle69]

i seem to know your name