The Exploding Tarp Setup — One Pull Takes Down Everything

The Bear Essentials "Outlaw Tarp Setup" — pull one line, and the whole tarp drops in two seconds. I developed this one as a quick setup AND takedown incase of emergency - but also found it really practical for just taking down your tarp at site fast, or, well.... impressing friends haha. It only uses two knots : Farrimond Friction Hitch + Interconnected Highwayman Hitches. If you want to support the channel and get an AMAZING 3D Knot Tying App — Just $5 USD for LIFETIME access (No subscription, No data collected, Fully OFFLINE) KNOT IQ — By The Bear Essentials: PLAY STORE (Android): https://play.google.com/store/apps/de... APP STORE (iOS): https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/knot-iq... This is the quick-release tarp ridgeline I use when speed matters — fast takedown for changing wind, embers from a fire pit, or when you need an escape hatch out the back of camp. CHAPTERS 0:00 The Outlaw Tarp Setup in Action 0:35 Why You Need a Quick-Release Tarp 1:43 How the Ridgeline is Built 2:50 How to Tie a Farrimond Friction Hitch 4:23 How to Tie a Highwayman Hitch 6:24 How to Lock and Tighten the Tarp 7:32 How to Take the Tarp Down in One Pull HOW TO BUILD THE BEAR ESSENTIALS OUTLAW TARP SETUP — STEP BY STEP 1. Pull a couple feet of paracord off your hank and wrap the running end around the first tree. 2. Tie a Farrimond Friction Hitch on the running end: form an underhand loop, lay it on top of the ridgeline, wrap it around the ridgeline twice (prussik-style), then feed a bite of the running end through the last wrap. This is your quick release. 3. Slide the Farrimond tight against the tree. 4. Pay out the ridgeline along the ground to the second tree, but don't tie it off yet. 5. At the first tarp corner, tie a Highwayman Hitch: run the ridgeline through the tarp grommet or webbing from the tarp side back toward the tree. Pull a loop of the tree-end through the first loop. Pull a loop of the tarp-end (this becomes the trip line) through that second loop. Tighten the trip-line loop first, then pull the tarp tight to lock it. 6. Insert a stick through the trip-line loop so the highwayman cannot accidentally release. 7. At the second tarp corner, tie another Highwayman Hitch the same way — oppositely oriented — and lock it with a stick. 8. At the second tree, tie a second Farrimond Friction Hitch and slide it tight to tension the ridgeline. 9. Center the tarp and fine-tune tension by sliding either Farrimond hitch toward the middle. HOW TO TAKE THE TARP DOWN IN ONE PULL 1. Pull both stick locks out of the highwayman trip-line loops. 2. Pull the shared trip line — both Highwayman Hitches release at the same time. The tarp drops. 3. Pull the tag end on each Farrimond Friction Hitch. Both release with no knots left in the rope. 4. Wind the rope back onto your bundle. Done. WHY THIS SETUP — THE ONE-LINE TAKEDOWN The two Highwayman Hitches share a single trip line. Pulling that one line releases both tarp corners at the same moment, which is why the tarp drops in one motion instead of needing to walk the ridgeline and untie each end. Lock the trip-line loops with sticks while you're camping and the setup holds against real wind. Pull the sticks and one line, you're packed up before you stand all the way up. Useful for an escape route out the back of camp, or when wind shifts and embers from your fire start hitting the tarp. WHEN TO USE THIS VS OTHER RIDGELINES Outlaw Tarp Setup (Farrimond + Highwayman) — quick release at all four anchor points, no knots left in the rope, holds in wind when locked with sticks. Trucker's Hitch ridgeline — adjustable and very secure, but no quick release. Standard bowline or two half-hitches — strong, permanent, slow to untie when the rope is loaded. More knots on Bear Essentials Outdoors: Trucker's Hitch (Auto-Locking) →    • The Trucker's Hitch...But Better. [Auto-Lo...   Absolute Best Camping Knot →    • The Absolute BEST Camping Knot! [And Easiest]   The Knot IQ App →    • This New KNOT TYING App is a GAMECHANGER!   Your friend, DJ #Knots #Bushcraft #Camping