I have the basic suunto flags with punches but I need to build them up so that they are:
Durable in the elements for long periods
Hard to remove by random persons
Reflective at night
I have seen various set ups but was hoping that somebody might have ideas/improvements. I was going to use 1/16th steel cable. The cable would be attached to the punch and on the other end would be a loop that I could zip-tie to a tree or other object. I would include a length of pvc pipe the would have reflective tape on it. I would also tape on the following message; "This marker is a part of an athletic event. Please do not remove". I would attached the actual suunto flag to the cable somehow.
Does anybody have any better thoughts/ideas or pictures of how you have improved flags. These flags are for adventure races and will need to be out for a few days.
An ordinary control will easily stand up to being outdoors for several days. In the long run, the limiting factor is that the cloth will fade and fall apart, before anything else fails. PVC pipe with reflective tape is standard for making controls visible in the dark.
Why would you go to the trouble of having steel cable, then fasten it with a zip tie that I can break with my bare hands? Over here we have steel cable with loops on the ends, and join the loops with a small padlock. You can get sets of padlocks keyed identically to make it easier.
I don't think we ever lose a cable/padlock properly attached to something immobile, but the flags themselves will always be vulnerable to idiots.