What to use instead of paracord?

[Frosty11]

I've been seeing different pictures of tarp setups with guy and Ridgelines that doesn't appear to be paracord. So what else can I use?

Obviously something that's going to last and has some play in it.

"Lt. Dan..... you got new legs!"

 

[sgtoutback]

good quality bungees can be a winner. but its hard getting ones that are long and good enough

 

[rik_uk3]

Tent guyline, been using it for over forty years. Type tent guy line into ebay search. Get some little guy line runners too.

 

[Toddy]

Climber's accessory cord or tapes

cheers,
M

 

[John Fenna]

Cheap "utility cord" from your local hardwear shop

 

[maddave]

Tarred bankline is strong, cheap and rotproof

http://www.gaelforcemarine.co.uk/36215/Gael-Force-Nylon-Braided-Twine.html

 

[copper_head]

Well if you want to go high tech (and expensive) there's Dyneema. I got the wrong type when I made up a ridgeline for my hammock tarp. This is the 'right' stuff iirc.

 

[Frosty11]

Climber's accessory cord or tapes

cheers,
M

I think you won this round. Accessory cord comes out on top.

Well if you want to go high tech (and expensive) there's Dyneema. I got the wrong type when I made up a ridgeline for my hammock tarp. This is the 'right' stuff iirc.

Some serious hammock heads would use this for sure, but before I become one of the 'old and bolds' I'll put this in the idea cupboard for another day.

Thanks all for your recommendations :thumbup:

"Lt. Dan..... you got new legs!"

 

[shaggystu]

I've been using builders' "brick line" for a little while now, it works well for me.
I blogged about it here http://stuartsgettingthereslowly.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/cordage.html

HTH

Stuart.

 

[fellwanderer]

I've been using cheap, approx 5mm green utility rope from the pound shop as a ridge line for my army basha, they also sell thinner, approx 3mm which looks a bit like paracord but is slightly thicker and doesn't have any usable inner strands like the genuine 550 has, I love paracord and do have some for guying out the corners of my basha. In a survival situation 550 paracord is the business but do we really need it for general purpose camping?.. I'm going more lightweight when I get my new tarp so looking for cheap lightweight options, from time to time Lidl gets spools of cheap cordage in, the last time I bought a spool of 50m 1.7mm polypropylene lime green for about £2.99 which is strong enough for guy lines

 

[Big Stu 12]

Hate bungeee's... dangerous... heavey and a pain.. just learn to tie knots...

 

[9InchNinja]

Hate bungeee's... dangerous... heavey and a pain.. just learn to tie knots...

Yes, my dad had a habit of just letting go of the end. We stopped at petrol stations, dad unhooked one end, and let go. Bungee shot off the jetski, across the forecourt and wrapped itself round some rather surprised man. Lucky it didn't cause injury.

I just use 9mm rope now. Seems to do the job, then I can use paracord to attach tarp in place with prusik knot.

 

[Big Stu 12]

Yes, my dad had a habit of just letting go of the end. We stopped at petrol stations, dad unhooked one end, and let go. Bungee shot off the jetski, across the forecourt and wrapped itself round some rather surprised man. Lucky it didn't cause injury.

I just use 9mm rope now. Seems to do the job, then I can use paracord to attach tarp in place with prusik knot.

Seen it happen so many times, also how many times have you seen them pulled so tight, and the ends fly off creating a nasty projectile...

 

[sandbender]

"...Climber's accessory cord ..."

Another vote for accessory cord, mostly all I ever use. I have found that some of the cheap cord from B&Q or similar will stretch a little in use which can be a pain.

 

[Teepee]

The ultimate for a tarp ridgeline IMO is a lightweight cord with no stretch, high UV resistance, doesn't soak up water, anti-tangle, stands up to abrasion and has a little guts to potentially stop falling branches.

Arborists dyneema throwline or marine Polyester sheathed dynnema fits the bill perfectly IME. For a cheaper option, Polyester blind cord.

 

[Uilleachan]

Para chord accessory chord etc are all expensive options IMO. I like using it for many things, and despite having access to lots of it buckshee through work I still couldn't bring myself to cut it as and when I normally would a piece of string or twine.

So I guess it's a case what one is doing with it that would determine what would be best. For me and my usage rope string cord etc is a consumable item and therefore I like to keep the cost reasonable.

I bought 300m of 3mm green braided polyprop last week in the stornoway fishermans coop, cost £8.50 which I got discounted to £5 as I'd also bought a helly oil skin jacket. @ around 2.8p per meter it's not too pricey, there are cheaper options too. I like the idea of brick string and the various other bulk strings and chords but I'm in the way of fisherman's mending twine, for most stuff, it's just hardier. Knots are trickier with braided polyprop but it unties easily enough and I'm quite used to it.

My favorite for tight knots an lashings is tarred polyester flat braided cord, but thats getting pricier.

For heavier jobs I can't see past three ply polyprop laid rope of various diameters, splice eyes in it, join it, a round turn twist and tucking the end through the lay on the bight (for a quick strong and easily releasable end knot) etc, wonderful stuff to work with.

 

[ozzy1977]

Sod all that fancy stuff, this is what you want, it held the world together before gaffer tape http://www.molevalleyfarmers.com/mvf/info/farming/Baler_Twines

 

[Uilleachan]

I was wondering how long it would take for a farmer to show up, farmers and their bailer twine, a bit like bushcrafters and their para chord. I've a roll of it under the sink myself, but it's her along the road that's the farmer

 

[Big Stu 12]

Sod all that fancy stuff, this is what you want, it held the world together before gaffer tape http://www.molevalleyfarmers.com/mvf/info/farming/Baler_Twines

LOL... you'll give the Suffolk Group a Bad name....


I got some of that holding my Strides Up, in case my belt fails... and in the winter if you put your donkey jacket on and use a bit for a belt to hold it closed... you stay warmer then if you just used a donkey jacket...

 

[tallywhacker]

I use dyneema for everything it can be used for, think it's samson zing-it that comes in yellow @1.7mm but is tricky to work with. I have (4 mm i think) para shock cord on all the tarp hoops with 1.7mm dyneema line fitted onto them. The shock cord loops do help if you are getting battered by the wind, prevents the pegs from shifting and keeps a fairly taught tarp.

Dyneema is a bit overkill, and i know you shelved the idea above, but if needed for an emergency situation it is handy to have around.. Even that 1.7 mm is more than capable of suspending my weight and should the zombie apocalypse ever come i will likely be greatfull. Meanwhile in the real world mason line is fairly decent for low load applications. Not sure how it would hold up to a windy night though for a ridge. I don't think i would trust it and would opt for the >15mm poly webbing instead for a ridge and mason line for the guy's.