I used 7/64 as that is all I had at the moment I decided to do it. I will probably step one up to 1/8" As for finishing the tag end; after fighting the tag end via the truckers hitch I took the tag end back across the top of the versa button, down and behind the loop that is used to hook the daisy chain to the versa button initially. That right there gets so tight once you load the weight on its crazy. It was so solid on the tree, I could barely believe it. It was more solid than a versa strap, cam buckle, daisy chain, or regular ol rope mod.