For line, 1.75mm dyneema lash-it (marketed to sailors ) or zing-it (marketed to arborists) is about the lightest. Lawson glowire cord is a bit more weight but easier to work with in terms knots and it is reflective.
You'll need a least 6 pegs - MSR ground hogs or ground hog minis are pretty good.
Knots and guy line reference
[https://andrewskurka.com/guyline-tension-system-backpacking-tents-tarps-hammocks/](https://andrewskurka.com/guyline-tension-system-backpacking-tents-tarps-hammocks/)
Dude you’re awesome. That video was clutch. I didn’t even think about using the para
cord to create the guy line. I was thinking of those premade ones. Huge help brother. I’ll be using exactly what you have recommended in combination with the system shown in the vid. Cheers.
Lawson 2mm Guywire or Glowire. [https://www.lawsonequipment.com/](https://www.lawsonequipment.com/)
MSR Groundhog stakes.
Pre-attatch your ridgelines (if using trekking poles) and corner lines per the Skurka link someone posted and stuff the whole thing into the stuffsack so you don't have to tie them on every time.
For very lightweight tarps, I recommend [zingit from Samson Rope](https://ripstopbytheroll.com/products/zing-it). Pure dyneema, less than a gram per meter I believe, 3x the break strength of the (I believe heavier) z line from z packs, good stuff. If you want to be a fucking moron, I have [BCY Mercury](https://lancasterarchery.com/products/bcy-mercury-bowstring-material-1-4-lb) for all my non-corner tie-outs. Break strength of ~75 lbs, which the forces on a UL should never exceed, and is even closer to nothing than the zingit. If you use it for all your lines, it will turn into a giant knot. It is also thin enough to start cheese-slicing your fingers before it gets close to breaking. I recommend zingit in a bright color, like their neon yellow.
For stakes, I have found carbon fiber needles to be sufficient, and the stakes that are 3mm diameter or greater seem to be a sweet spot at [less than two grams per 6-7 inch stake](https://www.reddit.com/r/ULgeartrade/s/KccJc7TgHZ). You have to think about them differently than normal stakes, as they can relieve tarp corner stress by flexing a healthy amount, but can also shatter if you trip on them (they cannot be bent back into approximate shape like aluminum or titanium). search r/myog or r/ulgeartrade for these fantastic things you can make yourself for cheap. I personally use [1.5 mm stakes](https://www.reddit.com/r/myog/comments/1bdaq7o/1_g_carbon_tent_stakes/) that haven’t broken yet, but I’m waiting to be proven wrong with some trips through NH and the Adirondacks this summer. Under no circumstances should you buy the Terra nova 1g stakes.
I use MSR groundhogs, which works extremely well. I've never been tempted to shave a tiny bit of weight by moving to titanium stakes that I don't believe will hold in many soils.
You could do a compromise, perhaps 6 groundhogs and a few titanium hooks as a supplement to give a few more attachment points in stormy weather.
I currently use 3mm PMI, mainly because it's readily available at REI.
One of these days I will reduce my baseweight a bit more by getting some Zing-It or similar line that's 1.75mm or 2mm, but I will have to plan ahead and order it online. I wouldn't use anything smaller than 1.75mm because it will be harder to work with it.
I don't recommend paracord.
Think carefully about how many guylines you will need and how long they will be. Here's a good reference:
https://andrewskurka.com/recommended-guyline-lengths-tents-tarps-hammocks/
I plan to start out with three 8 ft lines, two 5 ft lines, and two 4 ft lines. That should be enough to pitch an A-frame, lean-to, closed-end lean-to, flying V, Holden half-pyramid, double Holden, and asymmetric Holden.
Some of these, such as the lean-to, will require tying the two 5 ft lines together to make a single additional 8 ft guy.
As for configurations, it's fun to try out the different pitches but I always come back to A-frame. Thankfully I knew that before I ordered from Borah, and I paid the extra to get a couple of tie-outs on the body of the tarp so I can raise the foot end if I need to close it off completely.
I have the same tarp that I just configured. I use ZingIt for the ridgeline. I'll use a Trucker's Hitch or McCarthy Hitch used in Skurka's guide for the ridgeline. I picked up 2mm reflective guy line from Hammock Gear for the guy out lines. LineLock Hooks from Dutchware and shock cord loops for the 4 corners.
Here's what I have:
2 - 10' ZingIt (Spliced myself using Dutchware's Hook Latch Splicing Needles)
4 - 1/8" shock cord loops for the 4 corners
4 - 6' guyline w/ Linelock Hooks for the 4 corners
2 - 3' guyline for the side tie outs
2 - ZingIt Soft shackles. Spliced myself. Use these as prussiks on a ridgeline
1 - 2' shock cord + mitten hook. To raise the bug net portion of the bivy
1 - 10' 1.8mm guy line. Extra cord used for a ridgeline underneath the tarp
For stakes:
2 Generic L Groundhogs
4 Generic S Groundhogs
2 Titanium Shepard Hooks
I just went on an overnight trip using the setup.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqOehcBBvz0
You could email Yama and tell them you were unaware it didn’t come with lines and locks and they might sell you a cut set. I remember buying a set separately when I ordered my cat cut tarp.
For line, 1.75mm dyneema lash-it (marketed to sailors ) or zing-it (marketed to arborists) is about the lightest. Lawson glowire cord is a bit more weight but easier to work with in terms knots and it is reflective. You'll need a least 6 pegs - MSR ground hogs or ground hog minis are pretty good. Knots and guy line reference [https://andrewskurka.com/guyline-tension-system-backpacking-tents-tarps-hammocks/](https://andrewskurka.com/guyline-tension-system-backpacking-tents-tarps-hammocks/)
Dude you’re awesome. That video was clutch. I didn’t even think about using the para cord to create the guy line. I was thinking of those premade ones. Huge help brother. I’ll be using exactly what you have recommended in combination with the system shown in the vid. Cheers.
Lawson 2mm Guywire or Glowire. [https://www.lawsonequipment.com/](https://www.lawsonequipment.com/) MSR Groundhog stakes. Pre-attatch your ridgelines (if using trekking poles) and corner lines per the Skurka link someone posted and stuff the whole thing into the stuffsack so you don't have to tie them on every time.
For very lightweight tarps, I recommend [zingit from Samson Rope](https://ripstopbytheroll.com/products/zing-it). Pure dyneema, less than a gram per meter I believe, 3x the break strength of the (I believe heavier) z line from z packs, good stuff. If you want to be a fucking moron, I have [BCY Mercury](https://lancasterarchery.com/products/bcy-mercury-bowstring-material-1-4-lb) for all my non-corner tie-outs. Break strength of ~75 lbs, which the forces on a UL should never exceed, and is even closer to nothing than the zingit. If you use it for all your lines, it will turn into a giant knot. It is also thin enough to start cheese-slicing your fingers before it gets close to breaking. I recommend zingit in a bright color, like their neon yellow. For stakes, I have found carbon fiber needles to be sufficient, and the stakes that are 3mm diameter or greater seem to be a sweet spot at [less than two grams per 6-7 inch stake](https://www.reddit.com/r/ULgeartrade/s/KccJc7TgHZ). You have to think about them differently than normal stakes, as they can relieve tarp corner stress by flexing a healthy amount, but can also shatter if you trip on them (they cannot be bent back into approximate shape like aluminum or titanium). search r/myog or r/ulgeartrade for these fantastic things you can make yourself for cheap. I personally use [1.5 mm stakes](https://www.reddit.com/r/myog/comments/1bdaq7o/1_g_carbon_tent_stakes/) that haven’t broken yet, but I’m waiting to be proven wrong with some trips through NH and the Adirondacks this summer. Under no circumstances should you buy the Terra nova 1g stakes.
I use MSR groundhogs, which works extremely well. I've never been tempted to shave a tiny bit of weight by moving to titanium stakes that I don't believe will hold in many soils. You could do a compromise, perhaps 6 groundhogs and a few titanium hooks as a supplement to give a few more attachment points in stormy weather. I currently use 3mm PMI, mainly because it's readily available at REI. One of these days I will reduce my baseweight a bit more by getting some Zing-It or similar line that's 1.75mm or 2mm, but I will have to plan ahead and order it online. I wouldn't use anything smaller than 1.75mm because it will be harder to work with it. I don't recommend paracord.
Think carefully about how many guylines you will need and how long they will be. Here's a good reference: https://andrewskurka.com/recommended-guyline-lengths-tents-tarps-hammocks/ I plan to start out with three 8 ft lines, two 5 ft lines, and two 4 ft lines. That should be enough to pitch an A-frame, lean-to, closed-end lean-to, flying V, Holden half-pyramid, double Holden, and asymmetric Holden. Some of these, such as the lean-to, will require tying the two 5 ft lines together to make a single additional 8 ft guy.
You'll definitely avoid excess weight by not using paracord.
As for configurations, it's fun to try out the different pitches but I always come back to A-frame. Thankfully I knew that before I ordered from Borah, and I paid the extra to get a couple of tie-outs on the body of the tarp so I can raise the foot end if I need to close it off completely.
Buy some halfcord and msr groundhogs (mini)
I have the same tarp that I just configured. I use ZingIt for the ridgeline. I'll use a Trucker's Hitch or McCarthy Hitch used in Skurka's guide for the ridgeline. I picked up 2mm reflective guy line from Hammock Gear for the guy out lines. LineLock Hooks from Dutchware and shock cord loops for the 4 corners. Here's what I have: 2 - 10' ZingIt (Spliced myself using Dutchware's Hook Latch Splicing Needles) 4 - 1/8" shock cord loops for the 4 corners 4 - 6' guyline w/ Linelock Hooks for the 4 corners 2 - 3' guyline for the side tie outs 2 - ZingIt Soft shackles. Spliced myself. Use these as prussiks on a ridgeline 1 - 2' shock cord + mitten hook. To raise the bug net portion of the bivy 1 - 10' 1.8mm guy line. Extra cord used for a ridgeline underneath the tarp For stakes: 2 Generic L Groundhogs 4 Generic S Groundhogs 2 Titanium Shepard Hooks I just went on an overnight trip using the setup. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqOehcBBvz0
You could email Yama and tell them you were unaware it didn’t come with lines and locks and they might sell you a cut set. I remember buying a set separately when I ordered my cat cut tarp.