hmmm, The length of paracord run through the loops and spiraled down and staked off is what I had done in the past. I still had some issues with the pole coming out of the pocket. The velcro tie seems to remedy the problem quite nicely and stores well just by wrapping around the paracord. The ties will undoubtedly have some other applications as well. Check them out.

A length of para-cord running through those loops, pulled tight, wrapped down the center pole, and tied off with some half hitches works too; the issue lies with the invariable wind lift. I prefer the centerline as it keeps the tarpped space more open. If there is a center loop on the tarp I do the bear rope pitch to tie that one off; there is a length of cord attached to the center loop on the tarp that has a prussic's on it...more adjustable especially if one is not using static line/no stretch.

For those of you who like a centerpole in your tarp set-up (that would be me) you will want to be careful of your centerpole losing its moorings and damaging your tarp.

I have a cooke custom sewing tarp which I think is first rate. They have a pocket configuration of sorts which "holds" or "grips" the centerpole. I was never quite satisfied with the arrangement as I have had it pop out several times. Fortunately I have caught it before damage was done.

I have hit on what I condsider an ideal solution which I will pass on. Rig as usual but then go to home depot and get a "velcro strap". They are widely available but easily overlooked. Sold in a set of 5 or 6 they are about 8" or so and have a slot where you can feed the velcro through the strap. It is infinitely adjustable and you can really get a bite around your center pole and the hook and loop closure system. Used it for 11 days during blustery conditions and it worked like a champ.

Another bonus to having a bungie loop on the tarp corners is how easy it is to attach a pole.  Just a couple wraps of the bungie and you're done.

Not a fan of center poles either.  Much prefer to string it up on a line.

I hang a cord from the underside center point.  From there I can loop in/daisy chain all sorts of stuff.  Hanging gear out of the dirt, out of the way, dry & safe.

After the wind last year I can't get a completely taught rig anymore.  There are spots that are just streached out and saggy now.

Having had the wind switch 180 and blow rain into my shelter on that same trip, I'm more aware of the potential now.

db I love the use of prussics in your pictures.  Nice tarp sets.

My pleasure but wow, that's the nicest thing anyone has directed in my general direction for months w/o an obvious caveat and I've been providing this potluck for more than a dozen years now. There comes a time you get tired of those who forever consume w/o ever bringing a dish to pass. Think of the he share page as a local deli....

After two/three months into it ... there's no real difference. Most can get sort-of a picture by perusing the (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links) and doing some math but my life is so much easier now w/o the extra eyes a day, I should have committed years ago. The indignant complaints tapered off after a week or two. What people need to keep in mind is that QJ is not an outfitter's tool. It's simply focused/real people sharing ways to do something they love a bit better - IMHO. Technology hasn't yet advanced to the point of smelling who loves it more but I can assure you someone's working on it.

What's really funny to me these days is that when I started this site, and I'd have to login with a username and password, it freaked me out thinking that the internet ... no, the whole world stopped cold waiting for me to enter the correct combination.

It's still a trip for me and as for QJ type subscribers and paddlers go, I do hope that both the words and and pictures they can find 'round here improve some trips.

db, 
Thanks for including the photos, 1 picture gets me further down the road than the written word. I guess that explaines my report cards of past.
and Thanks for going to a subsciption base, I just hope your doing well.

I like the center of the tarp high and I do not like carrying a pole so I run a rope over head to hold the center of the tarp up.  Other than that I string it much like DD’S with a ridge line running under the tarp. The center of the ridge line is held up by loops sown to both sides of the tarp. This does leave some tarp slack but I do not mind.
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Wow, thanks guys! Looks like I need to re-think this idea of shock cords. Nothing like getting different view points.
Best Wishes, Rob

All the reasons for the different set-ups makes me glad I got my Kondos version of the Dri-Fly.

With 3 sides protected, the odds of the wind changing 180 degrees to the front are pretty small. I can pitch it close to ground in inclement weather, or higher off the ground when I want a 360 view.

On cool/rainy nights/days, the 3 sides hold the heat in from a nice campfire. At the same weight as a similar sized tarp, it's worth a look see IMHO. Built tough and has multiple loop attachment points.

No bungies here either.  I am in the camp that says a well-strung, taut tarp sheds wind far better than one strung with bungies.  The extra "give" in a bungie setup just allows the wind to grab the tarp better instead of sliding over it. 

I do look at likely wind directions when I string up the tarp and try to set it in such a way that if the wind shifts on me, I can drop the side facing the new wind direction and raise the other side without too much effort.  This also maximizes the rain protection of any tarp.

I do use a tarp pole.  Used to cut/find a suitable dead young tree of the proper thickness and height but I just bought a collapsible pole so I could eliminate the hunt.  With a Cooke tarp, there's no worries about the pole falling out and it helps provide a lot more headroom underneath with a lot less effort when you string up the tarp.  It also helps you to adjust to shifting winds without having to completely reset everything.