How to Restring Tent Poles?
Restringing tent poles is a common maintenance task when the internal shock cord loses elasticity or breaks, making assembly difficult. The process involves replacing the old cord with a new elastic one.
Over time, the shock cord inside tent poles can stretch, lose tension, or snap. This prevents the pole sections from staying together, making it hard to pitch your tent. Restringing restores the pole's structure and functionality.
What You'll Need
To successfully restring your tent poles, gather the following materials:
- New Shock Cord: Measure the diameter of your old cord or the channel in the pole sections. Purchase slightly more length than your current pole's fully assembled length.
- Scissors or Knife: To cut the old and new cord.
- Wire Guide (Optional but Recommended): A wire coat hanger or specialized tool can help thread the cord through sections, especially longer or curved ones.
- Marker: To mark the cord for cutting.
- Tape: To secure one end of the cord if needed for threading.
| Material | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Shock Cord | The replacement elastic cord |
| Scissors/Knife | Cutting old and new cord |
| Wire Guide | Aids threading through pole sections |
| Marker | Marking cord length |
| Tape | Securing cord end for threading |
Step-by-Step Guide to Restringing
Follow these steps to replace the shock cord in your tent poles:
1. Disassemble the Pole
Separate the individual sections of the tent pole. It's often helpful to lay them out in order to remember the correct sequence for reassembly, although the shock cord dictates the order once threaded.
2. Remove and Measure the Old Cord
- Locate the knotted or secured end of the old shock cord, usually at one end tip or ferrule (the metal sleeve).
- Untie or cut the old shock cord.
- Carefully pull it out from the pole sections.
- Lay it down straight alongside a measuring tape or simply keep it intact so you can cut your new cord to the same length.
Reference Tip: The REI video at 0:25 shows this step of untying/cutting the old cord and laying it out for measurement.
3. Cut the New Cord
- Using the old cord as a guide, cut your new cord to the same length.
- Consider adding an extra few inches (e.g., 6-12 inches) to the new cord length before cutting. This provides ample material for tying knots at the ends and allows for future adjustments or retensioning.
4. Threading the New Cord
- Choose an end and attach the cord to its tab or the retaining washer/cap, typically by tying a secure knot like a figure-eight loop or double overhand knot. Make sure the knot is small enough to fit inside the pole section or cap.
- Begin feeding the free end of the new cord through the first pole section.
- Continue pushing the cord through each subsequent section, adding them one by one in the correct order. Using a wire guide can be very helpful here; attach the cord to the wire end (tape can secure it) and push or pull the wire through the sections.
- Ensure the metal ferrules connecting the sections are properly aligned as you thread the cord through.
Reference Tip: The REI video mentions attaching the cord to the tab on one end around 1:26.
5. Tension and Secure
- Once the cord is threaded through all the sections, lightly pull the cord taut from the open end.
- Assemble the pole sections fully to determine the correct tension. The sections should pull together snugly but not be so tight that they are difficult to disassemble. There should be enough tension to keep the sections connected when extended but allow for easy folding.
- Hold the desired tension and mark the cord at the point where it exits the last pole section.
- Tie a secure knot (matching the one on the other end if possible) at your marked spot. Ensure the knot is large enough to hold against the end cap or washer of the last pole section.
- Trim any excess cord, leaving a small tail.
6. Reassemble and Test
- Insert the final knotted end into its retaining cap or ferrule.
- Assemble the entire pole and check that the sections snap together firmly.
- Disassemble and reassemble the pole a few times to ensure the tension is correct and the knots hold securely.
By following these steps, you can successfully restring your tent poles, extending the life of your tent. For visual guidance, searching for videos like "How to Restring Tent Poles Guide" can also be helpful.
