A person on one hand holding a shock cord and about to thread it through the tip of section of a tentpole that they are holding on the other hand

How to Replace Shock Cord in a Tent Pole

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Got a tent pole with a shock cord that's seen better days? No worries! Replacing it is easier than you think. Just follow these simple steps, and your tent pole will be back in action in no time.

Step 1 - Lay Out the Tent Pole and Find the End Caps

First things first: lay your tent pole out straight. Then, look for the end caps. These are usually little plastic or metal caps at the ends of each pole section. You might need to unscrew or gently pull them off to access the shock cord.

On a white table, a person's hands holding the two ends of a collapsed black fiberglass tent pole. The end tabs are made of plastic.
A fiberglass tent pole with plastic end tabs
On a white table, a person's hands holding an Orange aluminum tent pole. One hand is pulling out the metal tabs and exposing the tip of the shock cord on one end of the pole.
An aluminum tent pole with metal end tabs

Step 2 - Mark Each Tent Pole Section

Before you remove the old shock cord, grab a marker and some tape. Number each pole section in order. Trust us, this will make re-threading the new cord way easier later on.

Step 3 - Remove the Old Shock Cord

Pick one end of the pole and remove the end cap. Untie or cut the knot in the shock cord, and start pulling the cord out of each tent pole section.

On a white table, a person's hands showing the end section of a tent pole. The end caps have been removed to show a white and red colored shock cord with a knot

Step 4 - Measure and Cut Your New Shock Cord

Grab your new shock cord and measure it against the old one. If the old cord is all stretched out, go ahead and cut the new cord about 8 inches shorter so you get the right amount of tension when you put all the poles back together.

On a white table, a person's hands measuring an old shock cord (red and white color) to cut and match the length with a new shock cord (white color). To the right side are 4 black tent poles numbered with tape from no. 1 to 4

Step 5 - Tie a Knot in the New Shock Cord

Before you thread the new cord, tie a knot at one end. To keep it from fraying, carefully melt
the end of the cord with a lighter. This little step makes sure it holds up for a long time.

 

On a white table, a person's hands holding the new white shock cord that's about to be tied into a knot

Step 6 -Thread the New Shock Cord Through the Poles

Start feeding the new cord back through the pole sections, following the numbers you marked earlier. This keeps everything in the right order and prevents any mix-ups.

Step 7 -Tighten the New Shock Cord and Clamp It

When you reach the last section, pull the cord tight. You can use a clamp or vice grip pliers to
hold it in place. This step keeps the tension just right for a sturdy tent pole.

On a white table, a person's hands using a clamp to pinch a shock cord on the tip of the second to last section of a tent pole.

Step 8 -Secure the New Shock Cord and Replace the End Caps

Feed the cord through that last section, tie a knot, and remove the clamp from step 7. After that, attach the end caps back on, and you’re done! Your tent pole is as good as new and ready for your next adventure.

Hands assembling the last section of the black tent pole. The end cap is about to place at the tip of the pole. The blue clamp from step 7 is still attached
Disassembled black tent poles poles with two black caps. The newly installed shock cords tied into a knot is visble on both tent pole ends. A coil of red and white shock cord on a white background.

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