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SamanthaLauryl
member (15)member
  
04/16/2020 10:21PM  
I've heard from many different sources that tarred bank line is a preferred option for cordage while camping - survival or otherwise. What are your thoughts and preferences?

I've been told #36 bank line is "the best" - which sizes are most useful for different applications?

Lastly, I've found both twisted and braided bank line for sale on Amazon. Which is better and why?
 
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Jackfish
Moderator
  
04/17/2020 06:46AM  
I had never heard of bank line. Had to Google it to see what it was. Might be the greatest stuff ever, but the ropes and parachute cord that I've used in the past have always been just fine for their purpose. I'll check it out, though. There is always the chance of a better mousetrap.
 
alpinebrule
distinguished member (319)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
04/17/2020 07:42AM  
Likewise on the had to look it up. Looks a lot like Mason's Twine which is much cheaper.
If it is would not be my choice for cordage. Maybe throw a small spool in for emergencies.
 
04/17/2020 07:45AM  
Just a localized term for what is commonly called braided cordage. Does not stretch as much as common para-cord. Variety of materials used and probably coated and un-coated. Most members here have some in their gear, just do not know it by that term.

I'll take a guess at #36 and call it a braided/twisted combination of nylon or poly 2+mm cord with a breaking load around 400 pounds.

butthead
 
04/17/2020 03:30PM  
Personally, my camping cordage is Zing-It/Lash-It for non-weight bearing situations and amsteel for weight bearing situations, although my CCS Tundra tarp is rigged with Dan's yellow 1/8" poly cord.
Unless you are tying up a bundle of newspapers, what would you use this twine for?
 
TipsyPaddler
distinguished member (315)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
04/17/2020 03:43PM  
unshavenman: "Dan's yellow 1/8" poly cord.


+1
For my hammock tarp rigging I started using Lash It/Zing It too. But otherwise this product from CCS is all I need for common BWCA tasks like clothes lines and tarp rigging.
 
campnfish
distinguished member (487)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
04/18/2020 07:38AM  
Same, Zing-it for my lean3 ridgeline and tieouts, also dosnt tangle, just alittle pricey.

Will that bank line leach, is that real tar coating?
 
andym
distinguished member(5340)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberpower member
  
04/18/2020 04:50PM  
Interesting. I had never heard this term before but see some good aspects to the line that I see used with this name. For camping, I tend toward parachute cord bought at the local hardware store. But one of these days, I should try some Zing-it or Dan's line. Overall, I think I like a braided line more than a twisted one.
 
SamanthaLauryl
member (15)member
  
04/27/2020 05:39PM  
Thank you all for your responses! I have never heard of the options you guys listed. I guess bankline might be more of a bushcraft community thing. Seems like basically a very similar kind of line, but the tar coating keeps it lasting longer.

I've since bought and used (twice in very limited capacities) a roll of #36 twisted bankline and I like it for its purpose. I'm mostly wanting something smaller and more packable than paracord for small in camp tasks like hanging my hammock and lashing tripods together and such.
 
04/29/2020 08:41AM  
I use bankline all the time on my trips but mostly for temporary ties and quick jobs. Also a good backup.
My paracord and other cordage for tarps, tents, etc is in pre-cut lengths and I pretty much only bring enough for the specific purposes I need it. Bankline fills in all other uses.

It expedites tear down efficiency too, I cut it and toss it in the garbage bag after use in most cases. Not that paracord is super expensive but bank line is extremely cheap and WAY more compact. Over 1000 feet in the palm of your hand and in a nice roll.

I use #18 most commonly. #36 is over kill for my applications. #18 gives me 160lbs of tensile strength and like I said, 1000 feet in the palm of my hand, so if I needed to double it up or more I can.
 
04/29/2020 10:16AM  
SamanthaLauryl: "Seems like basically a very similar kind of line, but the tar coating keeps it lasting longer.
I've since bought and used (twice in very limited capacities) a roll of #36 twisted bankline and I like it for its purpose. I'm mostly wanting something smaller and more packable than paracord for small in camp tasks like hanging my hammock and lashing tripods together and such."



I think the tar coating has all to do with binding rigging and protecting a natural base fiber. A #36 cord is 2.16mm .085 inches diameter. 550 cord is around 3 mm. 1.5 mm braided nylon is easy to find has a bit of stretch and load of 100+ pounds. Not real good for hammock suspension but a good choice for camp projects. I feel hammock suspension is best left to more expensive low stretch cordage, dyneema, amsteel, and zing-it/lash-it which is inexpensive enough to do double duty.
Personally I do not care for handling the low stretch small line, instead using a lot of 1.5 and 3 mm poly or nylon braided, and prefer a tent.

butthead
 
04/30/2020 02:22AM  
pamonster: "I use bankline all the time on my trips but mostly for temporary ties and quick jobs. Also a good backup.

I use #18 most commonly. #36 is over kill for my applications. #18 gives me 160lbs of tensile strength and like I said, 1000 feet in the palm of my hand, so if I needed to double it up or more I can. "


My experience exactly. Bought it because I saw it in a bushcraft book, (#18) and have used it only for backup and quick projects. I like that it's pretty weather resistent, low visability, and can be devided into a couple strands. Paracord is cheap enough for higher tensil/safety applications. That being said, I've used it to support my ATV ramps when the bolts loosened and I was out and about and multiple loops did the job. The twisted line will probably be just fine over the braided.
 
04/30/2020 12:33PM  
SamanthaLauryl: "I've since bought and used (twice in very limited capacities) a roll of #36 twisted bankline and I like it for its purpose. I'm mostly wanting something smaller and more packable than paracord for small in camp tasks like hanging my hammock and lashing tripods together and such."

Not to go down a rabbit hole, but DO NOT use bankline to hang a hammock! Hammocks should only be hung with hammock straps or a similar weight bearing cord like Amsteel.
Anything else and you risk serious injury. Let's stay safe out there people!
 
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