I will pique your curiosity for the DVD. Cliff establishes a ridgeline where one entire length of the tarp is anchored to a tight rope. Quick release knots are used. The nice thing about the Cooke tarp is the multitude of anchor points.

I never use any sort of shock cords and instead I use cord and truckers hitches and quick release half hitches to get a drum tight tarp that breaks down quickly without any tools to undue the knots. Slick. (thanks Cliff [smiley=thumbup.gif])

I also bring a shockcorded collapsible center pole (REI) specially designed for tarp set-ups. I detest looking for the right tree limb after a long hard day. I have enough long hard days throughout the year to have to hassle with scrounging up a workable tree limb.

The Cooke tarp once again shines as it has a specially designed pocket to handle a center pole. I use a cable tie to insure the pole stays where it is supposed to. The whole set-up is quick, easy, quiet and breaks down quickly. No hassles is what I like. If a tarp is a hassle you are less likely to pitch it and it's not up when you need it.