When setting up a tarp shelter in a classic configuration, securing the guying-out of the corners is critical. You should have a set of tarp shelter knots that keeps your tarp tight, so it sheds rain, and secure enough that it doesn’t loosen in the wind. You need tarp ridgeline knots and a tarp guyline knot.
As part of your tarp knot repertoire, tarp guyline knots take the role of a “tarp corner knot”. This is a knot to tie down tarp corners but also be able to adjust the tension in the lines attached to the tarp corners. Rather than fixing everything rigidly, ideally it should allow you to make minor adjustments easily, without having to re-tie everything.
It sounds easy on paper.
But if you’ve ever experienced frustration with slippery cords, fiddly knots, or sagging corners, you’re not alone.
In this article, I’ll teach you a very reliable tarp guyline knot.
It’s another of the adjustable knots for tarps. This tarp guyline knot makes pegging out corners easier. You’ll find this tutorial especially helpful if you’re new to tarp camping or bushcraft shelters.
This simple hitch allows you to tighten your guylines to the desired tension. You can, however, also easily adjust the tension of each tarp corner without untying anything. Thus, you have more control, fine adjustability, and fewer headaches at camp.
What Is This Knot?
The knot we’ll look at here is the adjustable guyline hitch. Sometimes called a slippery adjustable loop, this knot allows you to create a sliding knot to tension your guylines that will stay in place.
This is an adjustable hitch that you create by tying the end of the guyline around the standing part of the line. Once tied, it allows you to slide the knot up or down the line to adjust the tension, and then holds fast under load.
For the knot nerds, the adjustable guyline hitch shares a close relationship with the taut-line hitch and the midshipman’s hitch. The adjustable guyline hitch is a reliable way to make your guyline adjustable. Moreover, it’s easy to learn. It’s one of the best knots for tarp shelters.
The adjustable guyline hitch is the third knot in our tarp knot series. It follows the Evenk Hitch, for attaching the ridgeline to trees, and the Taut Tarp Hitch for anchoring the other end of your ridgeline and tensioning it. With this third tarp hitch knot in your repertoire, you’ll have a complete, functional system for pitching a tarp shelter between two trees and pegging out the corners.
Why Use The Adjustable Guyline Hitch?
If you don’t know what knots for tarp guylines, then learn this knot.
A significant part of mastering tarp set-ups is having control over tension of the cordage being used. This is especially true at the corners, where you want the tarp pulled taut to achieve even tension across the tarp sheet. A tension knot for tarps that can set the guylines how you want them is therefore needed, and the adjustable guyline hitch fulfils this role.
This knot gives you:
- Adjustability – slide it to tighten or loosen the guyline after pegging out.
- Security – it remains taut, even in wet or windy conditions.
- Simplicity – you don’t need extra hardware, such as tensioners or sliders.
In addition to its primary functionality, this tarp guyline knot is particularly beneficial when…
- You need to re-tension after the tarp has settled, stretched, or become wet.
- You want to make quick adjustments without having to untie and retie.
When Should You Use This Knot?
This tarp guyline knot is perfect for:
- Pegging out tarp corners or sides.
- Bushcraft tarps and lightweight shelters.
- Camp setups where you want to avoid plastic line locks or mechanical tensioners.
- Tent guylines when you lose or break the tensioner.
This knot to tighten tarp guylines works best with cordage that has some grip (e.g. 2–3mm (0.08-0.12 inches) accessory cord or utility cord works very well on smaller, lighter tarps, 5mm on larger tarps). Very slippery lines may not hold well with this knot. But if you do find any guyline slipping a bit, there is a simple fix (see further down this article).
How To Tie This Adjustable Tarp Knot
Below is a sequence on how to tie the knot, step by step.
Adjustable Guyline Knot: Step-by-step Photos
Start by bringing the guy-line down from your tarp, around the peg, or other fixed point you are using to tie out, then return the line back up towards the tarp.
If the Guyline Hitch Slips…
Once you’re happy with the tension, the knot should hold fast on its own.
If you find the knot slipping, then pull the quick-release portion and add another wrap to the two that already exist.
Finish by retying the quick-release part.
Tarp Guyline Knot: Video Demonstration
Watch: How to Tie an Adjustable Guyline Hitch
In this short video, I show exactly how to tie this adjustable guyline hitch and offer some tips on its use in the field.
Tips for Using This Guyline Knot in the Field
- Dress the knot with care – ensure the wraps sit neatly and the knot is cinched down before tensioning the line.
- Test the grip before relying on it — some synthetic cords may slip under tension.
- Add an extra wrap or two if the cord is slipping
- Make the knot quick-release
- Leave a decent tail on the working end — at least 10cm (4 inches) is ideal.
- Practice before heading out – this knot becomes second nature with a bit of repetition.
Adjustable Guyline Hitch – Conclusion
This simple adjustable guy line knot helps you peg out tarp corners better. You can also make quick tension adjustments without needing to untie and retie lines.
It’s one of the most useful knots for anyone starting with tarp camping, and it pairs well with the other knots we’ve covered in this series.
Related Tarp Knot Material
- How to Tie a Quick and Secure Tarp Ridgeline Knot to a Tree (Evenk Hitch)
- Tensioning Your Tarp Ridgeline (Taut Tarp Hitch)
- Tarp Guyline Attachment Options – Tips & Tricks
- Hang’ Em High: Tips for Getting Organised Under Your Tarp
- How to Keep Your Tarp in Place on a Ridgeline (Using a Prusik Knot for Tarps)
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