I have linked dipoles [60/40/30/20 and 20/10/6] and EFHWs [40/30/20 and 40/20/10]. For everyday [i.e. non big event] HF activations, if I’m not using my new Chameleon MPAS Lite vertical, I usually take an EFHW.
I do not favour the situation where the wire antenna itself is acting as 1 or 2 of the pole guying ‘cords’. Despite having more benign weather than many parts of the world, the regions I operate mostly from [in north-west England and SW Scotland] often have strong and blustery winds especially in winter. I found it stresses my thin-wire antennas at the connection to the balun and links.
So, nowadays I use 3 or 4 guying cords for the pole which means I can ensure the antenna wire has a bit of slack in it. I’ve had no problems after many activations since. The extra weight / volume is nothing and – in very strong wind – it can actually be quicker to erect the pole and tether the end(s) of the antenna separately.
I always use 10m of RG174 coax feeder. The pole or far end(s) of the antenna are rarely somewhere I want to sit. The feeder gives me some flexibility as to where to operate especially in winter. I want to sit in some leeward shelter from the icy wind even if that’s in the heather. The RG174 attenuation is small at HF and is small and lightweight.
73 Andy