I'm wondering what everyone uses around camp for putting up the tarp, clothesline, hanging the foodpack, etc. We have just a mix of old junk, I'm thinking I will replace it all this year. Any best or favorite type, design, material? Mostly I have just grabbed something in the hardware store in the past.

I've tried using paracord because it's so strong and light but it stretches too much for my taste to hang a food bag with. Went with a poly-blend 1/4" rope last time that was rated to 500# or so last time, still plenty light and very low stretch. Picked mine up at harborfreight for about $3 on sale for 100'. Still use paracord for tying misc. stuff around camp. This year is only my 3rd trip though and I am new to the info on this site so there may be better ideas from more experienced people on here.

14 days til I put in on burntside....

this is the best ive found for small cordage. my ccs tarp came with 80' and i bought an additional 80'. holds knots nicely, doesnt stretch much. cord

i also do this. cut the hank into 6-8' pieces, loop the ends, then "join" the pieces to get the length i need.
(that isnt the ccs cord)

550 paracord for all except hanging food, then 3/8 low stretch rope.

mixture of rope.

paracord is a great general purpose rope. very strong, compact, and lightweight, so it's good for most things.


I wouldn't try it for anything as demanding as a food pack though.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuYUlqoEehg

Looks like I use about the same line as Kanoes. 'Bluewater' NITELINE. 3mm (1/8") x 50' (3.7 oz). 500 lb. test. For backpacking I use the same except thinner, and they are both great; super strength for the weight/bulk. I get it at REI. It's very reflective, which is nice after dark when tripping over line is so easy. I trim mine to 6' and 10' lengths.

I use para cord for every thing. I use it in a small block and tackle to lift the food bag.

I have tried a variety of ropes but this year I am going with the CCS rope for everything from a tarp ridge line to hanging my hammock, to hanging the food pack. It seems thin for that but on paper it should work and it is very compact, quality rope.

Paracord, you can get bulk from Sportsmans Guide for cheap. Food bag gets 1/4 in. low stretch rope.

Paracord for clothesline, tarp, and rainfly for my hammock. I use 5mm accessory cord for the food pack pulley system.

cord

I use whatever rope I find on sale at Harbor Freight, Tractor Supply or Meijer. I use three kinds. Big Rope, Little Rope and Bear Rope.

Mostly I use 1/8" cord. I think it is nylon. I buy it at Walmart. I use it for tarp, clotheslines, etc. I don't hang my food pack.

For canoe painters I use 3/8" floating rope (poly?).

I think the hardware store route that you currently use is just fine.

Same as Bannock

Same as Bannock's ropes. I get a roll of the nylon at Fleet Farm.

However, reading the couple posts of reflective rope, I might give this a try in some applications having tripped or clotheslined myself on myself ties in camp.

Climbing cord, 450 to 1100 lbs, order from Karst Sports.

i have no idea of what kind it is but the bear rope that was a gift from a buddy is made from the line/rope they use on sailboats.really strong and runs thru a sailboat pulley with little friction.so look for odd bits of sail line at boat shops or on the web.it also has great "hand",that is it coils and can be handled without tangling.

Thanks to all who posted, I've got some good choices to consider now.

The floating 3/8" rope is polypropylene. That's what I use for my painters. I has a hollow core so you can make loops and finish the ends with a fid which is kind of neat.

I use mostly 1/8in cord around camp. I've started buying the polyester cord from CCS. It doesn't stretch like nylon when it gets wet. I still use a bunch of nylon too. Nylon has a little softer hand than the polyester but it looses to many points on stretch. Definitely out for tarp rigging.

I like to rig one of my tarps lean-to style on a ridge line. I like a stronger rope for that. I used to use 1/2 polypropylene for that but I found some 1/8 polyester with a spectra core last year. Very strong. Over kill I'm sure.

quote sloughman: "However, reading the couple posts of reflective rope, I might give this a try in some applications having tripped or clotheslined myself on myself ties in camp.


"

I buy neon pink. Not reflective, but very visible.

I prefer different ropes for different things. Tying up my packs, gravity water filter from pulleys in the trees, I use the rope from the first link. Pack rope Pack rope.$Ntt=rope&state=R#prod-tabs

Tying my tarps and hanging clothes and everyday tying I use parachute cord. Parachute cord.

Tying my tent and extra stakes etc. I use th Kelty reflective cord. You can see it at night with your flashlight. Kelty triptease.

You can get some nice all purpose cord at our HD store, braided poly core, think 1/8, in wild very vibrant colors, especially yellow and pink. Cheap and simple. Not bear bag, but anything else.

Pretty much the same here - paracord for most uses, and some 3mm & 5mm braided cord similar to the Kelty for a number of non-stretch uses. Mine isn't reflective, but very visible colors.

I was a nylon paracord user, but after working with the CCS stuff I've been moving to polyester cord more - since it stretches less.

I've purchased from here a few times with good success:


http://stores.ebay.com/The-Rope-Guys-Warehouse

Get a hank of polypro cordage, of similar weight to paracord. Cut it to 15 to 25 foot lengths. It will do just about everything, easy to tie and remove knots and wont stretch like paracord. And usually much stronger than paracord. Great for tarp ridgelines and tie outs.
Also check out a rescue/throw bag of lightweight floating proline. Lightweight and quick to deploy, It is invaluable for use around water and in camp, and for tossing over a relatively high tree branch to raise up a pack. Now that there are a ton of stand-up-paddle-boarder4s, there are lots of good product choices. Usually 35 to 50 foot lengths
Someone suggested spectra. Though I'd say that is way too expensive, and it doesn't hold a knot easily (a marlin spike hitch works though). If you do get a hard tied knot, you need a needle-nose pliers to get it out

Paracord works fine for most things. I like bright colors like fluorescent green for visibility. For lining canoes I like yacht braid at least 3/8 ". It is easy to handle and manage.

I use pcord for most things. For hanging bear bag I use this
Amsteel Blue

For tarp guylines I can wholeheartedly recommend 2mm Lawson "Glowire."
- Holds knots well
- Resists tangling
- Low stretch
- Doesn't absorb much water
- Very visible

Lawson Glowire

2mm is all you need for guylines on even larger tarps. It is not as minimalistic as amsteel, sure. But at 2mm it is pretty minimal! No need for the larger gauge!

If you want smoother line (the glowire is high friction because of the reflective material) there is also non-reflective version
Lawson Guywire


Made in the USA. :-)

Atwood ropes is another good source for affordable Made in USA cord and rope of many types.

I'm going to second the climbing rope if you use rope for hanging packs, a throw (rescue) bag, etc. It is strong and light weight. Get a diameter to suit your needs. For pack hanging, to small a diameter is hard on the hands. It's worth the price as it lasts a long time and is super strong. Throw in a couple of light weight pulleys and you are set.

chessie: "I'm going to second the climbing rope if you use rope for hanging packs, a throw (rescue) bag, etc. It is strong and light weight. Get a diameter to suit your needs. For pack hanging, to small a diameter is hard on the hands. It's worth the price as it lasts a long time and is super strong. Throw in a couple of light weight pulleys and you are set."

I have solved the "hard on the hands" issue by simply finding a small piece of birch about 1-2" in diameter and about 8" long. I do three or four wraps and then pull. This has worked well for me.