Canvasdale

Guy line

By the Canvasdale team · Last checked

A guy line is a cord fixed to a tent's guy point, a loop or tab on the outer fabric, and pegged to the ground to steady the tent in wind. Many guy lines have a small adjuster that tightens or loosens them. "Guy rope" means the same thing.

Where you'll see it

Guy lines appear in the pack contents on tent pages, often as "guy ropes" or "guy lines". Pitching instructions show where each line goes, and campsite pages may ask you to peg guy lines securely in windy weather. Missing or slack lines can let a tent move more in wind.

What to check

  • Whether the tent includes the full set of guy lines, and how many guy points the pitching guide shows.
  • Whether the lines are reflective or brightly coloured, which helps you see them in the dark.
  • Whether the adjusters are included and are listed as part of the set.
  • The pitching guide, which says where each line goes and how taut it should be.
  • Whether the maker sells spare lines, so you can replace a worn one.
  • Tent peg: the stake that holds the other end of the line.
  • Flysheet: the outer layer the lines attach to.
  • Pitch: the space the tent and its lines need.

Read more: how to pitch a tent and, if one fits, the tent peg calculator.