Poll - What Cordage do you prefer

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What cordage do you use

  • Dyneema Only

    Votes: 3 6.8%
  • Paracord Only

    Votes: 10 22.7%
  • Thicker rope

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Bungees

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • A mix including Paracord and Dyneema

    Votes: 19 43.2%
  • Something else

    Votes: 12 27.3%

  • Total voters
    44
  • Poll closed .

Clouston98

Woodsman & Beekeeper
Aug 19, 2013
4,364
2
26
Cumbria
I voted something else, but I usually use paracord for tarp ridge line, bank line for tie outs and most other things and jute twine for general stuff as well :).

Never tried dyneema but it looks good! :)
 

ex-member BareThrills

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Dec 5, 2011
4,461
3
United Kingdom
Im now 100% Dyneema. Its not without its issues though. Primarily i changed to save bulk in my pack rather than weight but the very low weight is a good bonus. When i first swapped over i went with 2mm plain dyneema for ridge lines and tarp tie outs. On the plus side this is very strong, light, doesnt stretch and doesnt absorb water. On the down side it can slip. Its PU coated so when new its as slippy as hell. Im now converting over to polyester sheathed dyneema like the 2mm english braids stuff. This gives all the benefits of dyneema with the fantastic bite of paracord.

I still use plain dyneema with no sheath too as i like the ability to splice loops and make soft shackles, whoopies etc. I still have 100s of feet of paracord though which mostly gets used by our scouts for knot practice and woggle making.
 

ozzy1977

Full Member
Jan 10, 2006
8,558
3
46
Henley
Dyneema is good, but as its polypropylene has a low melting point so be careful when hauling on it.
I mainly use cheap paracord it does what I want, I have had no failuers so cant fault it really but must admit to putting dyneema lines on my basha.
 

ex-member BareThrills

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Dec 5, 2011
4,461
3
United Kingdom
Dyneema is good, but as its polypropylene has a low melting point so be careful when hauling on it.
I mainly use cheap paracord it does what I want, I have had no failuers so cant fault it really but must admit to putting dyneema lines on my basha.

Its polyethylene mate and has a melting point of 136c. Its far more durable to wear than paracord
 

Toddy

Mod
Mod
Jan 21, 2005
38,972
4,621
S. Lanarkshire
Paracord is a kernmantle construction.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kernmantle_rope
" constructed with its interior core (the kern) protected by a woven exterior sheath (mantle) designed to optimize strength, durability, and flexibility. The core fibers provide the tensile strength of the rope, while the sheath protects the core from abrasion during use."
"The braided sheath has a high number of interwoven strands for its size, giving it a relatively smooth texture. The all-nylon construction makes paracord fairly elastic; depending on the application this can be either an asset or a liability."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parachute_cord

Dyneema is an Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethelene
In climbing, cord and webbing made of combinations of UHMWPE and nylon yarn have gained popularity for their low weight and bulk, though, unlike their nylon counterparts, they exhibit very low elasticity, making them unsuitable for limiting forces in a fall. Also, low elasticity translates to low toughness. The fiber's very high lubricity leads to poor knot-holding ability, and has led to the recommendation to use the triple fisherman's knot rather than the traditional double fisherman's knot in 6mm UHMWPE core cord to avoid a particular failure mechanism of the double fisherman's, where first the sheath fails at the knot, then the core slips through.[14][15]
and
"In climbing, cord and webbing made of combinations of UHMWPE and nylon yarn have gained popularity for their low weight and bulk, though, unlike their nylon counterparts, they exhibit very low elasticity, making them unsuitable for limiting forces in a fall. Also, low elasticity translates to low toughness. The fiber's very high lubricity leads to poor knot-holding ability, and has led to the recommendation to use the triple fisherman's knot rather than the traditional double fisherman's knot in 6mm UHMWPE core cord to avoid a particular failure mechanism of the double fisherman's, where first the sheath fails at the knot, then the core slips through."

Climber's Accessory Cord is a strong dynamic rope.
" It is capable of use as a link in a safety chain designed to hold a fall. The rope must be protected against sharp edges or anything which could cut the internal or external fibres of the rope."
Basically it's another kernmantle rope, but comes in thicknesses from 2mm to 8mm, and in a wide range of colours.

Masses of information out there on the net, but most of it's on company websites and I haven't bought from them so I've just posted wiki links.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rope

M
 

Toddy

Mod
Mod
Jan 21, 2005
38,972
4,621
S. Lanarkshire
Ehm, mine says it's dynamic. I think I bought it as a prusik cord.
That means that it will stretch a little to absorb some 'fall'. Yes ? No?
I know it makes a pretty sure gripping knot though :) unlike dyneema which slips :rolleyes:

Kernmantle ropes/cords can be either static or dynamic. Depends on the core afaik.

cheers,
Toddy
 

VanDeRooster

Full Member
Jan 14, 2014
282
1
Norwich, UK.
If it's dynamic it must been very rare. I've never seen any in 20 years of selling climbing equipment or instructing.

Rope, as opposed to cord "normally" comes in static, semi-static and dynamic. Dynamic is used for climbing to connect you to your protection via a QuickDraw and is there to slow your acceleration and try to prevent damage. Static & semi static are either abseil, haul or safety lines and not used directly to fall on.

I've only ever seen cord used for hauling (inc. prussiks), ascending ropes or for use on protection (hexes etc.). Along with what is classified as "absail tat", carried specifically to be used in the situations where something will be left behind.


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VanDeRooster

Full Member
Jan 14, 2014
282
1
Norwich, UK.
Found the relevant section

According to the UIAA ...."

The maximum amount of dynamic stretch allowed is 40%, and static is 12%."



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VanDeRooster

Full Member
Jan 14, 2014
282
1
Norwich, UK.
Last post, I promise ...

Knew I had this somewhere.

According the EN1891 if it's static / semi static is has a minimum diameter of 8.5mm under a 10kg load. Below that's it's regarded as cord and covered by different EN tests / regulations.


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Toddy

Mod
Mod
Jan 21, 2005
38,972
4,621
S. Lanarkshire
You've lost me :eek:
I just use it for tieing things together. It's good for putting up my tarp, makes guylines that don't pull out on my windbreak, it's handy for tieing things onto a headline, like my krill light or the like, and it's pretty good in a firebow too :D
It's also finer and makes really neat braided wristbands and pace beads cords.

cheers,
M
 

Toddy

Mod
Mod
Jan 21, 2005
38,972
4,621
S. Lanarkshire
No need to apologise :) just I don't do any climbing, and the accessory cord is just a handy cordage to me. Interesting to hear the details though :cool: I didn't know that they didn't all stretch a wee bit.

We learn something every day :)

cheers,
M
 

demographic

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Apr 15, 2005
4,694
711
-------------
Climbers accessory cord for me given the choice. Its of known quality and strength and although not cheap I've been using it on climbing equipment for years and trust it.
I also used the thin stuff as bootlaces that outlasted five pairs of boots.

The colours are a bit lurid sometimes though.
 

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