Has anyone here ever used these? I ordered an off brand from Amazon at a much cheaper price. I intend to use them on my turkey blind in place of those worthless black plastic two-hole line tensioners. And also for my CCS tarp. I haven't tried them yet, but they look promising. There are several vids out there showing different methods. This is just one. Thoughts?
Alien loop

I have not used these but they look like they would work. I use the Nite eze figure 9 rope tighteners. They are a lot faster to tie and a lot faster to tighten.

I have been intrigued by the loop aliens, but was also already using the NiteIze figure 9's and haven't had a reason to switch. Let us know what you think.

Guy-line are often the first thing I replace on new to me tents. I switch to bright cordage and tensioners, but a large range of colors can be found. I have a bunch of these in various sizes
I use Nite-Eze a lot also but the triangular tensioners are my favorite.
The Alien Loops look interesting and I have seen them in plastic (less possible line wear, variety of colors). More potential uses but also fiddly.

butthead

Yes, I use the figure 9s as well. But I was thinking these might be better for the guy lines on tents and blinds. Maybe not, but they at least have to be better than those stupid black plastic things, right? And while I'm at it, I'll try them on the tarp, too. Just because.

Goldenbadger: "Has anyone here ever used these? I ordered an off brand from Amazon at a much cheaper price. I intend to use them on my turkey blind in place of those worthless black plastic two-hole line tensioners. And also for my CCS tarp. I haven't tried them yet, but they look promising. There are several vids out there showing different methods. This is just one. Thoughts?
Alien loop "

Ever try a 3 hole line tensioner? There's one on every line of my tarp and they work great in my experience.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qw21w08kGW4

uqme2: "

Goldenbadger: "Has anyone here ever used these? I ordered an off brand from Amazon at a much cheaper price. I intend to use them on my turkey blind in place of those worthless black plastic two-hole line tensioners. And also for my CCS tarp. I haven't tried them yet, but they look promising. There are several vids out there showing different methods. This is just one. Thoughts?
Alien loop "

Ever try a 3 hole line tensioner? There's one on every line of my tarp and they work great in my experience.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qw21w08kGW4 "

I have a definite hate relationship with those 3-hole tensioners. Annoying to position IMO.

straighthairedcurly:"I have a definite hate relationship with those 3-hole tensioners. Annoying to position IMO."

I agree. I've tried several variations of those things. It seems there is a new size or shape on the market each season. I find it much easier and quicker to simply tie a Trucker's Hitch to tighten up a tarp or rainfly guy line. I find that those little gizmos just get tangled up in my lines during storage. That's my 2¢

uqme2: "

Goldenbadger: "Has anyone here ever used these? I ordered an off brand from Amazon at a much cheaper price. I intend to use them on my turkey blind in place of those worthless black plastic two-hole line tensioners. And also for my CCS tarp. I haven't tried them yet, but they look promising. There are several vids out there showing different methods. This is just one. Thoughts?
Alien loop "

Ever try a 3 hole line tensioner? There's one on every line of my tarp and they work great in my experience.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qw21w08kGW4 "

I was mistaken in my original description. The plastic three hole tensioner are the ones I dislike. I find that they slip a lot. Maybe it's the string that comes on my turkey blind. But they frustrate me.

HangLoose: "

straighthairedcurly:"I have a definite hate relationship with those 3-hole tensioners. Annoying to position IMO."

I agree. I've tried several variations of those things. It seems there is a new size or shape on the market each season. I find it much easier and quicker to simply tie a Trucker's Hitch to tighten up a tarp or rainfly guy line. I find that those little gizmos just get tangled up in my lines during storage. That's my 2¢
"

:-)
I do uses some simple 2-hole tensioners on my tent fly lines, but I'm forever grateful for the lessons provided by the kind folks here to teach me the Prusik, Siberian, and Taut-line knots I use on my CCS tarp. Simple and quick, if you can remember them...

Hey butthead!

When I saw your pristine B&D Workmate again today, it made me think...

I got my father's folded up one out from under the workbench only to become frustrated when I couldn't figure out to raise it since I've not used it in a while.

I finally figured out how to raise it and ya know what? At a foot high, it was the perfect solution for what I wanted to do today.

Thanks man!

I have Fig9s and some of Dutchware's doodads. They're neat, but the more of such things I use, the more clear it becomes that they are just fluff that no one really needs. I can achieve the exact same things with knots and bends. My Dutchware wasp and Fig9s are just a trucker's hitches. That Alien Loop just looks like a more complicated taut-line/midshipman's hitch or prusik. Dutch hook is just a Siberian hitch. Dutch fleas are just a trucker's hitch again or a taut/midship/klemheist. Built-in three-hole and triangular grip tensioners are just taut/midships again.

I use what I have because I already have it, but I'm not about to buy more. I'm also not about to recommend them to anyone unless they have a really niche need. The only thing I can think of is that I do like things like Fig9s or similar on my tarp because they keep all the tension adjustments right at the tarp loop which keeps me dry if I need to adjust them in the rain as opposed to leaving the shelter of the tarp to reach and adjust a hitch.

mschi772: "I have Fig9s and some of Dutchware's doodads. They're neat, but the more of such things I use, the more clear it becomes that they are just fluff that no one really needs. I can achieve the exact same things with knots and bends. My Dutchware wasp and Fig9s are just a trucker's hitches. That Alien Loop just looks like a more complicated taut-line/midshipman's hitch or prusik. Dutch hook is just a Siberian hitch. Dutch fleas are just a trucker's hitch again or a taut/midship/klemheist. Built-in three-hole and triangular grip tensioners are just taut/midships again.


I use what I have because I already have it, but I'm not about to buy more. I'm also not about to recommend them to anyone unless they have a really niche need. The only thing I can think of is that I do like things like Fig9s or similar on my tarp because they keep all the tension adjustments right at the tarp loop which keeps me dry if I need to adjust them in the rain as opposed to leaving the shelter of the tarp to reach and adjust a hitch."

I agree with your general sentiment. I like the Dutch wasp on the tarp ridge line because zingit slides freely across metal as opposed to abrading itself when using a trucker's knot. The tie outs are under less stress so I just use trucker's knots.

I tried the Loop Aliens but they are not my cup of tea. Confusing.

HangLoose: "

straighthairedcurly:"I have a definite hate relationship with those 3-hole tensioners. Annoying to position IMO."

I agree. I've tried several variations of those things. It seems there is a new size or shape on the market each season. I find it much easier and quicker to simply tie a Trucker's Hitch to tighten up a tarp or rainfly guy line. I find that those little gizmos just get tangled up in my lines during storage. That's my 2¢
"

I'm here, too, but use a Butterfly Hitch instead of the Trucker's. Hard to lose a knot, and I haven't yet found a gizmo that works better than the knot.

TZ

I like the doo-dads because I'm terrible at knots. There are so many and I can never remember which to use and how to tie them. I wish I were better at them.

Goldenbadger: "I'm terrible at knots. There are so many and I can never remember which to use and how to tie them."

I stand corrected--maybe it's not so hard to "lose a knot"!

TZ

TrailZen: "
I'm here, too, but use a Butterfly Hitch instead of the Trucker's. Hard to lose a knot, and I haven't yet found a gizmo that works better than the knot.
TZ"

I find that I can forget both a knot and how to use some of these tensioners. So knots win because there isn’t a physical thing to lose too.

TZ: when you say that you use a Butterfly hitch instead of a trucker’s hitch, do you mean that tie a butterfly loop knot as part of a trucker’s hitch or is it a completely different way to tighten ropes? I tried looking it up and all I could find is a butterfly loop. And that looks like a great knot: elegant, easy to remember, and useful. So thanks for bringing it up.

andym: "

TrailZen: "
I'm here, too, but use a Butterfly Hitch instead of the Trucker's. Hard to lose a knot, and I haven't yet found a gizmo that works better than the knot.
TZ"

I find that I can forget both a knot and how to use some of these tensioners. So knots win because there isn’t a physical thing to lose too.


TZ: when you say that you use a Butterfly hitch instead of a trucker’s hitch, do you mean that tie a butterfly loop knot as part of a trucker’s hitch or is it a completely different way to tighten ropes? I tried looking it up and all I could find is a butterfly loop. And that looks like a great knot: elegant, easy to remember, and useful. So thanks for bringing it up."

Andym, I stand corrected yet again--I use a butterfly LOOP as a way to tighten cords such as tarp lines, guy lines, etc. I prefer the Butterfly because it stays where I want the loop--especially nice on ropes that will be repeatedly used for the same task. It's a great knot: It's very secure (doesn't slip), so it can be used to put a "handle" or two for pulling or lifting. It doesn't jam, and can be easily untied even after being heavily loaded. Glad you like the knot!

TZ

I have never used the Alien Loop but, I have used a number of the Dutchware Gear devices with similar concepts. While they work great with Lash-it or Zing-it, most other cordage is either too large or not tough enough. I use Dutchware Stingerz for my hammock tarp ridgeline but, the CCS cordage on my CCS Tundra Tarp would be too large for the Stingerz.

If you order Alien Loops, you might consider adding a spool of Zing-it or Lash-it to your order. The 1.75 mm is the right size but is harder to splice and feels a bit sharp on the hands when tightening the line. The 2.2 mm is a bit oversized but is easier to both splice and use.

Good Luck. I hope something here is useful.

mschi772: "
I use what I have because I already have it, but I'm not about to buy more. I'm also not about to recommend them to anyone unless they have a really niche need. The only thing I can think of is that I do like things like Fig9s or similar on my tarp because they keep all the tension adjustments right at the tarp loop which keeps me dry if I need to adjust them in the rain as opposed to leaving the shelter of the tarp to reach and adjust a hitch."

Bingo!

My eyes rolled on how to actually tie and use the alien doohickey thingy so I googled three hole tensioner just because it was a simple way to show what I meant. I watched the whole video I linked to today and it turns out the guy gave poor instructions on how to increase the tension.

The "how to" is right about "this is where you're going to stick your steak through" but as far as how increase the tension, it was wrong imho.

The way to increase tension is to hold the line between the tarp/tent and the tensioner and simply slide the little doohickey thingy as far as needed to to pickup the slack to increase tension.

I'm kinda surprised no one bothered to mention that and that Dutch wasp thing made my brain hurt. But if something works, it works.

Goldenbadger: "I like the doo-dads because I'm terrible at knots. There are so many and I can never remember which to use and how to tie them. I wish I were better at them. "

If you can’t tie a knot, tie a lot. Then it will hold!
Those Alina Do-dads look like a lot of work compared to a knot. Sometimes better…. Isn’t better.
Tom

Thanks TZ. I’ll play with the butterfly loop.

Nice point about staying dry, uqme2. Food for thought.