Tarp ridge line

[toptec]

Hi all,
Can anyone recomend me a decent rope / cord for use on the ridge line of my tarp? Diameter and what is the best length to carry?
Steve

 

[Shewie]

3mm climbing accessory cord will do the job nicely, you can go thinner with a dyneema line or chunkier with some 550 but it's a bit overkill. I'm using 2mm Exped stuff at the moment which is nice and compact.

A useful length is 10m so you don't have to be too picky with the trees, if you're hammocking and restricted buy your suspension then as short as 7-8m is usually enough. Personally I like the extra length.

EDIT:

Meant to say, another option is just to tie a shorter length to each end of the tarp rather than having one long continuous piece, the only downsides with this is you don't have the added protection from falling branches in wind, or sometimes it can be hard to avoid sag with the bigger heavier tarps. For lightweight PU nylon or silnylon it's not too much of an issue.

 

[Chambers]

Ditto, I ordered mine off the internet but I think you can buy it by the metre at Go Outdoors if you have one close to you

 

[resnikov]

10 meters of paracord is what I use. Going to use dyneema when my order comes in for it but paracord is great.
Got my paracord from The Bushcraftstore no connection to the store just a happy customer.

 

[The Cumbrian]

I use paracord, but I find a bit stretchy.

I have to get the ridgeline as high as I can, and then pull it as tight as I can so that when the tarp is pegged down is does not drop in height too much.

Cheers, Michael.

 

[Bigfoot]

Paracord stretches but Dyneema doesn't

 

[sxmolloy]

I've said it before, I'll say it again: http://www.raymears.com/Bushcraft_Product/316-Hootchie-Guy-Lines/ Always my preference.

 

[johnboy]

For what it's worth I use some white nylon cord ( sort of off white now) on one of my fly's it works and does the job quite well. It's about 5mm in diameter was cheap and has lasted about 7 years now... I have a 10 m length or so I suppose. Being white folk dont tend to walk into it in the dark... Which is handy when bivvying in a group situation

I also have a Aussie Hootchie which I got some OG purlon climbing cord for again 10m and about 6mm in OD it's also really good.

I'm not sure any cord really offers much in the way of protection from a falling branch or Astelia.

 

[sandbender]

I use the purlon cordage from Lakeland Bushcraft...

http://www.lakelandbushcraft.co.uk/acatalog/Cordage.html

And I usually carry two seven meter lengths which I tie together if needed.

 

[SimonM]

3 or 4mm accessory cord from any climbing shop. I carry a 10m length these days...

Simon

 

[HHazeldean]

I have always just used a length of paracord.

 

[gregor-scott]

10m of 6mm dyneema for me mate, from the local chandlery, 3mm for my guy lines.

 

[toptec]

Many thanks for all the replies,guys.Much food for thought here
Steve