Guylines also known as guys or guy ropes are nylon cords that are attached to a tent and then pegged into the ground in order to support it against winds and bad weather. They are usually attached to areas of weakness within the tent and should always be used. Many campers don’t bother using them during calm weather but the conditions can quickly change so it’s always best to spend a few more minutes and peg them out. Large family tents with stand up heights  can be very susceptible to gusts and so it’s important that guyline are always used. Another benefit of guylines is the tensioning of the tent material which stops pools of rain water collecting in sagged areas.

Any type of tent peg can be used – have a look at our tent peg guide for some examples. Guyline lengths can also be adjusted by using the guyline runner which will be a plastic or metal piece somewhere along the length. Simply pull the cord through to lengthen or the opposite to shorten. You want the guyline to be about a metre or two from the tent. If its too far away you may risk people tripping over it and cause damage to your tent or another camper! The guyline will be attached to the tent via a triangular piece of material. You want this material to stay straight out at right angles to the tent and should not fold or be pulled against the tent (see photos).

Replacement guylines can be easily purchased either by the metre or in set lengths with the runners attached. You can get the standard white colour or glow colours such as orange or yellow which can be seen in the dark so campers don’t stumble over them!