Camping trip last fall cost me a lot if trouble setting up my REI Half Dome 2+. Arrived at my trail site at night... pitch black...no moon. Found the bungee cord it my poles was completely shot and the poles would not stay together. Took me over an hour to set up with the help of duct taping the sections together. Found your video, ordered new bungee cord and in less than 45 minutes my tent poles are back to like new. Thanks for the video...and yes, the hemostats were the perfect tool to make thus job a breeze.
Really appreciate this video! Just re-strung my 2015 half dome 2 plus tent after watching this. I first attempted this with the black shock cord stocked at the REI near me, which as DJ references was definitely thicker than the old cord I was removing. I got through a couple of poles with the stuff, but then shattered one of the black plastic pins in the hub attempting to pull one of the loops through. REI customer service directed me to a place called TentPole Technologies, which hooked me up with replacement pins and 3/32" shock cord that looked really similar to the stuff that came out of the tent. I bought 34' of cord, which was about perfect (had 4' or so left over). Thanks for posting!
Awesome, Matt! Proud of you for fixing your gear instead of just buying new. Good skill to have anyway. I believe I used 3/32" as well! Hope you have many safe, fun nights in your tent! I took some of my extra cord and made a bungie net on my backpacks web loops. Makes a nice place to stuff a rain jacket or outer layer quickly.
This is a really helpful comment! I snapped a few of the black plastic pins too. I was trying to force 1/8" shock cord through the junction. It was the smallest diameter REI had. Now I need to replace those pins. I'll try to get in contact with TentPole Technologies. I think it would make more sense if the pins were made of metal. Maybe TentPole will have some sturdier ones I can buy. Thanks!
Thank you! I just replaced all the cord in my REI quarter dome 3 and saved $90. It's really a shame most people with REI tents of this time period have had the same thing happen to the shock cord.
Yeah I had a hard time believing it happened. My tent gets stored in a plastic tote in my house so it doesn't see extreme temp fluctuations like if it was stored in a shed. Good to hear you were able to fix your gear!
I agree! I'm here for my REI Half Dome 4 which the cords went bad after about 5 years. Only used a few times because I have other tents/accomodations. My family has 30 yo Eureka tents that still work as new. Wtf. And the response from REI on repairs was send it in to get restrung and they'll tell me the price afterwards and not send back until I pay... Um no. Couldn't even quote a ballpark price.
Great video & explanation. The only thing I would consider to reduce headache during this whole operation would be to tie the new shock cord around the old shock cord you're pulling through. That way, you don't have to fish the new cord through. Other than that, very handy video. Thank you!
Thank you for this video! I am currently repairing my well loved REI tent to use again next weekend! I bought 3/32 in bungee cord and it slides through great!
Infinitely better than the REI video. You made it simple enough for me to do. This pole cord issue is built in obsolescence for the Dome 2+ system. There should be a better pole setup that with elastic strings that do not dry rot. Thank you so much! Thumbs up!
You are right! Don't know the age of my Half Dome, got it from my brother, but will be replacing shock cord. Had a Walrus single person tent, 20 plus yrs old. Poles with NO issue! Thanks for vid DJ.
Just pulled out my half dome 2+ and discovered the issue with my cords. Couldn’t find any 3/32” so I ordered 1/8” and hope I can make it work. Cord should be here tomorrow. Got a canoe trip planned for next week and hope to have this tent to take. Really disappointed when we pulled it out today and discovered the cord issue. Thanks for doing this video. I was about to scrap the tent and buy new but hopefully I can salvage this one.
Thank you for putting this video together man. Just got done redoing my tent following the video, and there's no way I'd have been able to do it without this vid. Cheers.
Thank you for making this. I bought my REI half dome 2 in 2016 and have never used it. I decided 2022 I was going to make use of it. Took it out to practice setting it up only to find the cords all stretched out and loose. So glad I decided to do this now that the day of the trip! Initially i was disappointed thinking I had a defective product. Looked into buying replacement poles which are no longer available to running across your video. After seeing it a couple of times I decided I could easily fix this myself. Thanks again! ⛺️⛺️
This is the most helpful video I found for replacing shock cord in my 2015 half dome 4! I needed this video because you show the knots up close! Thanks!
@@melissafish hey buddy. Did you try pulling the knots tighter? They might get smaller and fit if you get them really taught. When you're talking about burning the ends do you mean melting two ends and fusing them together?
Thank you for the video and also to the helpful commenters. I ordered 32 feet of 3/32 size shock cord from Tent Pole Technologies and it was exactly the right amount to replace all the elastic without any waste. This was for REI half dome plus 2 tent purchased around 2013. Following these instructions my husband and I completed this project in under half an hour and poles are like new again.
I have a REI Half Dome 2 and replaced the shock cord per the video. Thanks it was very helpful. The REI site says to use 1/4" (3mm) shock cord. That size worked ok for me. Maybe 3/32" is an easier choice to do it quicker and easier, but I think either will do.
What an awesome video! I also found the comments/questions/answers extremely helpful. I'm hoping that 30 ft of 3/32 cord will be delivered soon and that I can rewatch the video to fix this myself. The knot tying portion was also enlightening. I watched a bunch of these videos but this is the only one that really explained everything in simpe terms for the Half Dome, including info on the button and the dimple!!!
This video is so helpful!! Thank you! The shock cord was definitely easier to pull through with the tweezers as mentioned and everything about the knot tying and lengths in here is great. Just replaced our 2017 half dome two cord for a trip to Patagonia and it worked so well. Much better than buying a new tent, thanks DJ for this info!
@@djlesinski7978 it’s silly not to repair a perfectly good tent! I got everything done last night. I had to order special the 3/32” shock cord. The fools at REI sold me 1/8 and that does not work on these all that well.
Great video very instructional with your steps. Just back from a Utah/Montana trip and the cord in my half dome is definitely in need of replacement. Thanks for the help!
Thanks for this great video! I couldn't figure out how to rethread the cord through the junction, and you explained it perfectly. It looks pretty identical to my Big Agnes Rattlesnake tent.
This video was so helpful! Thanks for posting your repair. The REI Half Dome tent pole system with the connecting hubs is very similar to my Big Agnes Seedhouse SL 2. Your video gave me a jumping off point to rethread my poles. (Knowing how to make that streamline knot for the loop was critical!) I have 25 feet of new shockcord and a complex pole system to rethread. Here goes nothing!
Good luck! Best advice I could give is really look at how it's currently setup and take some pictures as references. Don't throw the old cord away until you're done and it's working in case you need to compare anything. Good on you for fixing rather than throwing away and just buying new!
@@djlesinski7978 Mission accomplished! That's exactly what I did, DJ. I took a bunch of photos, numbered and lettered all the various pole segments, noted all the three-way hubs and two-way hubs, and took careful photos of all three different shock cord attachment 'thingies' and where they inserted, and then, literally, cut the cord! To be honest, it felt really daunting, but good backpacking tents are in short supply right now here in Canada and MEC (Mountain Equipment Coop), Canada's version of REI, isn't doing gear repairs right now, on account of the pandemic. Doing this repair myself has given my tent a new life, and at least a few more years of adventures. Thanks again for your video and giving me the confidence to give it a try!
Totally wonderful, helpful video. Don't seal the shock cord prior to threading it through the poles, seemed like a good idea, it wasn't. Basically follow the instructions. I used 40 inch of shock cord for the roof of the tent and 66 inch for the legs, time will tell if these measurements were too long. Thanks again, so helpful.
This video is awesome, thank you! I have somehow lost one of the pieces seen at 1:45 in the video, the small black capture which holds the cord in place. Anyone know where to find replacements?
Hey! So I came back to this comment after thinking for a while- you might get away with the correct size ziptie. Folding it and using the head of the ziptie as the retaining bit.
Video looks like my poles. And it answered my question as to how to open up ends of poles to tighten the cords as a quick patch. But, replacement of the cords is definitely needed. I called REI and they are sending me a free kit (Item #188828 REI Co-op, Half Dome 2 / 2+ w/plastic hub) of the cord needed. A supervisor at REI had to be the one to find that part no. The kit number is not visible on the REI website.
Our pole set was never right from the day we bought it. REI has always been better for us than that. At least this way we can fix it. We love the tent, just not the goofy elastic problem.
Hey there thanks so much for that video. Superrrr helpful and easy to follow. The last part I have a question about... are you pinching the cord in it’s relaxed state and stretching the last of the cord to tie a knot? Or what are you pinching and then stretching out? Kinda confused there
I'm stretching and then pinching. That way the cord inside the tube is under tension and what's outside (past where I've pinched off) is free. The result is that once I tie the knot and release the pinched area all the cord retracts into the tube relieving the tension. If this doesn't help explain reply again!
@@djlesinski7978 gotchaaa thanks so much, I ended up figuring it out but want to leave the comment in case anyone else is like me🤪 thanks again and thanks for a quick reply!
Thank you DJ! This was exactly the video I was looking for. I went camping and with the Skeeters eating me alive I struggled to put up my tent with the elastic all stretched out... Would you guestimate about how long a cord is needed for the Co-op Half Dome 2 plus? 30ft? 50ft? And would 1/8th" work?
Glad I could help. I used 3/32" cord. 1/8" would be 4/32" so it has a good chance of working (make sure you tighten down the knots then as they get bulky). I would suggest 50ft just to be safe. Good luck and enjoy camping!
This video is great and I’m about to restring my poles that I didn’t know were worn until I got to my campsite in the Idaho backcountry with 30 minutes of daylight. Glad we had duct tape. One question- how long should I cut the cord before starting? Just actual length of the pole without tension?
Hi Shea! I bought a big spool of cord so I wasn't much worried about trimming excess. I would probably leave yourself about half a pole length extra to give you room to tie the knots.
Video is great! Where can I find replacement parts for the little black cap part which holds the elastic in the hub? We have had 2 break. Trying to find a way to keep in place. REI does not carry that part!
Camping trip last fall cost me a lot if trouble setting up my REI Half Dome 2+. Arrived at my trail site at night... pitch black...no moon. Found the bungee cord it my poles was completely shot and the poles would not stay together. Took me over an hour to set up with the help of duct taping the sections together.
Found your video, ordered new bungee cord and in less than 45 minutes my tent poles are back to like new. Thanks for the video...and yes, the hemostats were the perfect tool to make thus job a breeze.
Really appreciate this video! Just re-strung my 2015 half dome 2 plus tent after watching this. I first attempted this with the black shock cord stocked at the REI near me, which as DJ references was definitely thicker than the old cord I was removing. I got through a couple of poles with the stuff, but then shattered one of the black plastic pins in the hub attempting to pull one of the loops through. REI customer service directed me to a place called TentPole Technologies, which hooked me up with replacement pins and 3/32" shock cord that looked really similar to the stuff that came out of the tent. I bought 34' of cord, which was about perfect (had 4' or so left over). Thanks for posting!
Awesome, Matt! Proud of you for fixing your gear instead of just buying new. Good skill to have anyway. I believe I used 3/32" as well! Hope you have many safe, fun nights in your tent! I took some of my extra cord and made a bungie net on my backpacks web loops. Makes a nice place to stuff a rain jacket or outer layer quickly.
This is a really helpful comment! I snapped a few of the black plastic pins too. I was trying to force 1/8" shock cord through the junction. It was the smallest diameter REI had. Now I need to replace those pins. I'll try to get in contact with TentPole Technologies. I think it would make more sense if the pins were made of metal. Maybe TentPole will have some sturdier ones I can buy.
Thanks!
One of the best DYI videos I’ve ever seen on TH-cam. REI owes you $.
Thanks! Just hope it helps people save their gear.
Thank you! I just replaced all the cord in my REI quarter dome 3 and saved $90. It's really a shame most people with REI tents of this time period have had the same thing happen to the shock cord.
Yeah I had a hard time believing it happened. My tent gets stored in a plastic tote in my house so it doesn't see extreme temp fluctuations like if it was stored in a shed. Good to hear you were able to fix your gear!
I agree! I'm here for my REI Half Dome 4 which the cords went bad after about 5 years. Only used a few times because I have other tents/accomodations. My family has 30 yo Eureka tents that still work as new. Wtf. And the response from REI on repairs was send it in to get restrung and they'll tell me the price afterwards and not send back until I pay... Um no. Couldn't even quote a ballpark price.
Great video & explanation. The only thing I would consider to reduce headache during this whole operation would be to tie the new shock cord around the old shock cord you're pulling through. That way, you don't have to fish the new cord through. Other than that, very handy video. Thank you!
Great idea! Thanks for the comment.
Bloody brilliant, glad I read this before starting!
Thank you for this video! I am currently repairing my well loved REI tent to use again next weekend!
I bought 3/32 in bungee cord and it slides through great!
Infinitely better than the REI video. You made it simple enough for me to do. This pole cord issue is built in obsolescence for the Dome 2+ system. There should be a better pole setup that with elastic strings that do not dry rot. Thank you so much! Thumbs up!
Glad I can help! Hope the best for you!
You are right! Don't know the age of my Half Dome, got it from my brother, but will be replacing shock cord. Had a Walrus single person tent, 20 plus yrs old. Poles with NO issue! Thanks for vid DJ.
Same happened to my big agnes mtnglo. Had to replace after 3 years. Not good enough.
Just pulled out my half dome 2+ and discovered the issue with my cords. Couldn’t find any 3/32” so I ordered 1/8” and hope I can make it work. Cord should be here tomorrow. Got a canoe trip planned for next week and hope to have this tent to take. Really disappointed when we pulled it out today and discovered the cord issue. Thanks for doing this video. I was about to scrap the tent and buy new but hopefully I can salvage this one.
Thank you for putting this video together man. Just got done redoing my tent following the video, and there's no way I'd have been able to do it without this vid. Cheers.
Glad to hear it helped! Enjoy camping.
@@djlesinski7978 Thanks man. You made the most clear and succinct video I've seen on this by far.
Thank you for making this. I bought my REI half dome 2 in 2016 and have never used it. I decided 2022 I was going to make use of it. Took it out to practice setting it up only to find the cords all stretched out and loose. So glad I decided to do this now that the day of the trip! Initially i was disappointed thinking I had a defective product. Looked into buying replacement poles which are no longer available to running across your video. After seeing it a couple of times I decided I could easily fix this myself. Thanks again! ⛺️⛺️
Come back and ask questions if you have any! Good luck. Enjoy camping!
This is the most helpful video I found for replacing shock cord in my 2015 half dome 4! I needed this video because you show the knots up close! Thanks!
Too bad my knots dont fit into my pole which is why a thinner cord would help. Can i burn ends and put no knots for long poles
@@melissafish hey buddy. Did you try pulling the knots tighter? They might get smaller and fit if you get them really taught. When you're talking about burning the ends do you mean melting two ends and fusing them together?
Thank you for the video and also to the helpful commenters. I ordered 32 feet of 3/32 size shock cord from Tent Pole Technologies and it was exactly the right amount to replace all the elastic without any waste. This was for REI half dome plus 2 tent purchased around 2013. Following these instructions my husband and I completed this project in under half an hour and poles are like new again.
Awesome! Hope you get a lot of good use out of the tent again. Enjoy!
I have a REI Half Dome 2 and replaced the shock cord per the video. Thanks it was very helpful. The REI site says to use 1/4" (3mm) shock cord. That size worked ok for me. Maybe 3/32" is an easier choice to do it quicker and easier, but I think either will do.
Glad I was able to help! Hope you continue to enjoy your gear.
What an awesome video! I also found the comments/questions/answers extremely helpful. I'm hoping that 30 ft of 3/32 cord will be delivered soon and that I can rewatch the video to fix this myself. The knot tying portion was also enlightening. I watched a bunch of these videos but this is the only one that really explained everything in simpe terms for the Half Dome, including info on the button and the dimple!!!
Good luck! And kudos to you for repairing gear instead of buying new! Come back and post any questions you have.
Thank you! I didn't even search for the half dome 2 plus but magically ran across your video. Worked like a dream.
Glad I can help! Kudos to you for fixing gear rather than buying new!
This video is so helpful!! Thank you! The shock cord was definitely easier to pull through with the tweezers as mentioned and everything about the knot tying and lengths in here is great. Just replaced our 2017 half dome two cord for a trip to Patagonia and it worked so well. Much better than buying a new tent, thanks DJ for this info!
Enjoy your trip!
Thank you for making this video! I just got what I need to restring my 2016 and just having the knot explained is going to help sooooo much!
Good luck! Kudos to you for repairing gear instead of buying new.
@@djlesinski7978 it’s silly not to repair a perfectly good tent! I got everything done last night. I had to order special the 3/32” shock cord. The fools at REI sold me 1/8 and that does not work on these all that well.
Great video very instructional with your steps. Just back from a Utah/Montana trip and the cord in my half dome is definitely in need of replacement. Thanks for the help!
Thanks for this great video! I couldn't figure out how to rethread the cord through the junction, and you explained it perfectly. It looks pretty identical to my Big Agnes Rattlesnake tent.
Glad I can help and that you were able to fix your gear! Enjoy it.
Brilliant! Thanks for being so detail oriented.
Thanks for the compliment! Feel free to ask any questions if you have them.
Thanks DJ! Great tutorial! Used it to replace cord in 4 poles in under and hour.
Nice job! Hope you get some good use out of your repair! Glad I can help.
This video was so helpful! Thanks for posting your repair. The REI Half Dome tent pole system with the connecting hubs is very similar to my Big Agnes Seedhouse SL 2. Your video gave me a jumping off point to rethread my poles. (Knowing how to make that streamline knot for the loop was critical!) I have 25 feet of new shockcord and a complex pole system to rethread. Here goes nothing!
Good luck! Best advice I could give is really look at how it's currently setup and take some pictures as references. Don't throw the old cord away until you're done and it's working in case you need to compare anything. Good on you for fixing rather than throwing away and just buying new!
@@djlesinski7978 Mission accomplished! That's exactly what I did, DJ. I took a bunch of photos, numbered and lettered all the various pole segments, noted all the three-way hubs and two-way hubs, and took careful photos of all three different shock cord attachment 'thingies' and where they inserted, and then, literally, cut the cord! To be honest, it felt really daunting, but good backpacking tents are in short supply right now here in Canada and MEC (Mountain Equipment Coop), Canada's version of REI, isn't doing gear repairs right now, on account of the pandemic. Doing this repair myself has given my tent a new life, and at least a few more years of adventures. Thanks again for your video and giving me the confidence to give it a try!
Totally wonderful, helpful video. Don't seal the shock cord prior to threading it through the poles, seemed like a good idea, it wasn't. Basically follow the instructions. I used 40 inch of shock cord for the roof of the tent and 66 inch for the legs, time will tell if these measurements were too long. Thanks again, so helpful.
Glad you were able to repair your gear!
Great Video! Your a natural teacher!
This video is awesome, thank you! I have somehow lost one of the pieces seen at 1:45 in the video, the small black capture which holds the cord in place. Anyone know where to find replacements?
Hey! So I came back to this comment after thinking for a while- you might get away with the correct size ziptie. Folding it and using the head of the ziptie as the retaining bit.
Thanks for the video! My sad tent is fixed and ready for my next trip!
Glad I can help! Enjoy!
I love uuuuu! Was just about to get a new tent
Glad I can help! Good luck!
Thank you so much! This is exactly what I was looking for!
Glad I can help! Post any questions if you have them.
Success! Thanks for taking the time to create this video - huge help!
Glad to hear! Enjoy your gear.
Great closeup video and explanation. Thanks!
Glad I can help!
Video looks like my poles. And it answered my question as to how to open up ends of poles to tighten the cords as a quick patch.
But, replacement of the cords is definitely needed. I called REI and they are sending me a free kit (Item #188828
REI Co-op, Half Dome 2 / 2+ w/plastic hub) of the cord needed. A supervisor at REI had to be the one to find that part no. The kit number is not visible on the REI website.
Glad they are helping you out!
Our pole set was never right from the day we bought it. REI has always been better for us than that. At least this way we can fix it. We love the tent, just not the goofy elastic problem.
Good luck trying to sort out your problem!
Hey there thanks so much for that video. Superrrr helpful and easy to follow. The last part I have a question about... are you pinching the cord in it’s relaxed state and stretching the last of the cord to tie a knot? Or what are you pinching and then stretching out? Kinda confused there
I'm stretching and then pinching. That way the cord inside the tube is under tension and what's outside (past where I've pinched off) is free. The result is that once I tie the knot and release the pinched area all the cord retracts into the tube relieving the tension.
If this doesn't help explain reply again!
@@djlesinski7978 gotchaaa thanks so much, I ended up figuring it out but want to leave the comment in case anyone else is like me🤪 thanks again and thanks for a quick reply!
Thank you DJ! This was exactly the video I was looking for. I went camping and with the Skeeters eating me alive I struggled to put up my tent with the elastic all stretched out... Would you guestimate about how long a cord is needed for the Co-op Half Dome 2 plus? 30ft? 50ft? And would 1/8th" work?
Glad I could help. I used 3/32" cord. 1/8" would be 4/32" so it has a good chance of working (make sure you tighten down the knots then as they get bulky). I would suggest 50ft just to be safe. Good luck and enjoy camping!
This video is great and I’m about to restring my poles that I didn’t know were worn until I got to my campsite in the Idaho backcountry with 30 minutes of daylight. Glad we had duct tape. One question- how long should I cut the cord before starting? Just actual length of the pole without tension?
Hi Shea! I bought a big spool of cord so I wasn't much worried about trimming excess. I would probably leave yourself about half a pole length extra to give you room to tie the knots.
Great video and great advice. Thanks so much. Got everything restrung and didn’t need to unnecessarily have to buy a new tent.
What diameter are you using for this tent? I have a Half Dome 2, about 4 years old. Great video - thanks for posting.
3/32" is what it's advertised as. Was fine for me.
Very informative. Great video!
Thank you thank you thank you saved me!!!!!!❤
Great thorough video! I just fixed mine.
Nice! Glad you'll get some more use out of your tent!
Video is great! Where can I find replacement parts for the little black cap part which holds the elastic in the hub? We have had 2 break. Trying to find a way to keep in place. REI does not carry that part!
I tried looking for the part. Maybe get creative, could a craft bead of a certain diameter work?
I have this exact tent. Is the cord 1/8 inch?
very helpful, thank you!
Good luck buddy!
Super useful.
thank you!!
Thanks!
So what diameter shock cord are you using? 3/32?
Yes.
What diameter cord should you use for a half dome plus
Hey! Thanks for asking. I believe 3/32" is standard for tent polls.
REI defect. I feel like REI started to cut corners now that they don’t offer a lifetime satisfaction guarantee