In packing gear, I noticed that I have a good deal of random cordage cut to length for whatever and wherever the need fits for tarps and such. I hate to waste, but it seems like I should just buy a new bunch every year. What do you all do?

I'll usually keep it if it's over 6-7 feet long just to use around the yard. Too short, I toss it, otherwise I'd have 800 pieces laying around.

Why buy new when you already have perfectly good cord/rope, etc.? Like Johndku says, you don't want to be bringing a bunch of little pieces, but if what you have is fine, I see no need to buy more.

With that said, I think I bring one new roll of paracord every trip. (It might be new and unused from the previous year.) It's light to pack and one never knows when some paracord might be needed.

I'll buy new when long pieces are needed, 80 to 100 foot lengths. They get shorter as use demands till just long enough for prusik loops or tent stake loops. Then buy long sections again as needed.

butthead

I wish my husband would let me cut rope! Our car tie downs (front & back) are 20 feet long and all the extra annoys me ever time I tie down the canoe. He doesn't want to cut it because it is more useful that way around camp.

4keys: "I wish my husband would let me cut rope! Our car tie downs (front & back) are 20 feet long and all the extra annoys me ever time I tie down the canoe. He doesn't want to cut it because it is more useful that way around camp.
"

Make him tie down the canoe then all the sudden you will see shorter ropes.
My canoe tie-downs are for that only - they stay with the vehicle.

I'll admit that I carry very little extra rope, but there are several that stay attached to the tarp.

I used to cut my cords in various sizes and after the trip it would be a huge tangled mess. I would need a 20 foot piece and the one I grabbed would be 15’. I ended up tossing the cord after every trip. I got this idea from Jan aka Kanoes and I really like it. I cut my cords in 10 foot sections and tied a loop on each end. I put each loop on a carribener to keep from tangling. Then in camp when I need a 20 foot piece of cord I take two sections of cord off and loop them together. When breaking camp I just unloop the cord and put back on the carribiner for storage. I haven’t bought new cord in years.

4keys: "I wish my husband would let me cut rope! Our car tie downs (front & back) are 20 feet long and all the extra annoys me ever time I tie down the canoe. He doesn't want to cut it because it is more useful that way around camp.
"

I'm just like your husband. I'll hardly ever cut anything to size, because then I'll need to us it at it's original length. Back when I was a cut to size guy, I'd join pieces using bends to get the right length, but then presented it's own issues.

Canoe ropes are used only for securing canoes so they can be cut to whatever length is needed, they stay with the vehicle.

Otherwise I bring lots of cordage of varying lengths. I try to use the shortest length that I have that is suitable for the job to avoid cutting. If I do have to cut it I try to cut pieces that when cut leave 2 pieces that are still long enough to be useful for many functions. Over the years the ropes do end up being cut and decreasing in length and as they do I re purpose them as much as I can either for camping or other uses at home. Sooner or later they get too short and get pitch in the garbage but it takes years for that to happen.

I almost always have a new length of cord with me as I feel like you can never have too much. Ropes, tarps, and knives, you can never have too many.

I just counted and have 19 sections of various lengths, plus two unopened paracord packs. While I wont buy anymore at this point I will uses some of the my ranger school knot skills (rather rusty these days) to tie a few together. Yet on another note, someone (who hasn't been to the BWCA but camps a good deal) asked why I don't take a soup can sized spool of 50 or more pound test line for some of my needs.... while I guess in an emergency that might work for a few things, the diameter, visibility, and possible damage to tarps, ect in winds rules that one out.

I purchased a 500' roll of poly cord from Cooke Custom Sewing a few years ago. I ran a 50 ft. length through the center of my tarp and attached 20 ft. lengths on each corner. I have 20 ft. lengths at several spots on my Lean+#2 and I carry a bag with several pre cut 20 and 50 foot lengths. If I need longer, I tie them together. In my rope bag I have a few short pieces for tying prussics and making tent stake loops.

My painters for the canoes are 25 ft. floating cord and my tie down ropes were always dedicated for that purpose and stayed with the vehicle.

Because I bought a 500 ft. roll, I've never run out, but I like Dan's better than paracord because it doesn't stretch. Only sold now in 80 ft. lengths.

PortageKeeper: "

4keys: "I wish my husband would let me cut rope! Our car tie downs (front & back) are 20 feet long and all the extra annoys me ever time I tie down the canoe. He doesn't want to cut it because it is more useful that way around camp.
"

Make him tie down the canoe then all the sudden you will see shorter ropes.
."

That's what you'd think, right? During our 30+ years of canoeing together he has tied it down a time or two. The long length doesn't bother him at all. And my asking/complaining about it hasn't had any effect at all.

I suggest cutting the ropes anyway!

For canoe tie down ropes, you just need one set for a particular vehicle and they stay in the vehicle. Why not have custom size ropes to fit the situation? It is a false economy to have "extra."

For camping, the quick release sheet bend is a very useful knot for adjusting the length of a rope. Around camp, I use the CCS cordage both reflective and regular. It works well and is inexpensive. For a ridgeline for my CCS tarp and Lean I use Amsteel but that does not knot as easily.

I bought a bunch of 100' colored packs and cut them into lengths sorted by color. ie All orange pieces are 33' all brown pieces are 20' all blue pieces are 8' etc in all the sizes I normally use. My ridge lines for tarps are in more noticable colors like orange and white mottle and each one has its own dedicated piece. All pieces are coiled tightly. Long pieces are coiled elbow to hand and rolled over short pieces I coil across my palm. They all get a loose knot over them to stay coiled. I put them in a ditty bag with the sizes, colors and number of pieces written in sharpie on the outside. I have a small walmart dry bag inside the ditty with 5-6 carabiners and already tied lines for prusiks. I dont normally tie together or cut at all and the side of the bag says to leave the long colors alone so they dont get shorter over time... As long as the pieces are coiled and packed every time I dont have any trouble with tangles or finding what I want in the ditty bag.

For tie downs I use dedicated ropes that are close to the right size and live in the truck door pockets all the time. I put them in ziplocks with the end they go to sharpied on the bag.

4keys: "

PortageKeeper: "

4keys: "I wish my husband would let me cut rope! Our car tie downs (front & back) are 20 feet long and all the extra annoys me ever time I tie down the canoe. He doesn't want to cut it because it is more useful that way around camp.
"

Make him tie down the canoe then all the sudden you will see shorter ropes.
."

That's what you'd think, right? During our 30+ years of canoeing together he has tied it down a time or two. The long length doesn't bother him at all. And my asking/complaining about it hasn't had any effect at all. "

Next Birthday, Anniversary or Christmas ask for your own, proper length canoe tie downs. Alternately, buy your own. Either way, you could give him permission to use them as well, after all, a real man always chooses the right tool for the job. :)

9 strand paracord has everything you need. Cut it open and use the inner stands for basic tasks. Lots of options.