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Boundary Waters Quetico Forum Gear Forum Best type of rope for tying down tarp? |
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04/23/2024 07:17PM
In the past, I have always used 550 paracord for tying down tarps for use as a shelter. I've noticed that many seem to be switching to alternative ropes. What would you recommend I use? I am looking for a lightweight and strong option that doesn't sag significantly when wet.
04/24/2024 05:51AM
If you want light weight and no stretch you can’t beat Zing it or lash it and it is strong enough for the ridge line. I find it hard on my hands for the ridge line so I use a larger amsteal for the ridge line.
The question of the day is Freedom or Socialism?? MagicPaddler
04/24/2024 06:34AM
+1 for Amsteel on the ridgeline. It's tough to tie a knot in and it's hell on trees but it doesn't stretch at all. I learned a water bowline for it and use 1" nylon straps for tree contact. I keep hearing it's really easy to braid the line yourself into loops and knots etc, need a specialty needle IIRC, haven't tried that out yet but I might order it up this morning now that I'm thinking about it. I use some off brand zing-it type skinnier line for the guys. The rope I have has a great texture to it, I will tie prussiks with it onto the Amsteel and they do OK if you re-tie every time. Dyneema is some slick stuff but it really is the future, replacing steel cable in many applications around the world.
04/24/2024 07:34AM
I’m also a zing-it/lash-it user for my tarp ridgeline and guylines. As others have said it’s very strong, lightweight, doesn’t sag and doesn’t absorb water. Since it’s not great at holding knots I spent some time this winter learning how to splice loops and incorporated some Dutchware fleaz, wasp, etc. in my tarp kit. Looking forward to trying them out this year.
04/24/2024 04:15PM
schweady: "I use the cordage that Dan sells with his CCS tarps, both the standard yellow and the reflective variety.
"
+1.
Zing-it/ Lash-it are fine if you have hardware similar to DutchwareGear's Tarp Flyz or Stingerz . If you'r prefer hand-tied knots, hitches and bends, the Cooke Custom Sewing cordage is a great choice.
04/25/2024 12:57PM
tumblehome: "I use whatever Menards has in the $2.99 bin. Rope and string is just that, anything else is marketing.
Tom"
Disagree. What about stretch, abrasion resistance, load capacity, reflective material, ability to hold knots, feel, etc etc. Just because any type of rope/string could work in a pinch doesn’t mean that there aren’t advantages of one over another.
04/26/2024 02:13PM
Wellllll...here's the skinny on tarps and cordage from a guy with more internet knowedge than actual experience. (me) :-) Jeff Meyers is your go-to if you want to start learning about Zing-It, and look up, "how not to highline" on youtube. That guy shows you how and why ropes and cord of material with the same composition of zing-it, break. It slips, heats up, melts a little, then breaks.
I use, Zing-It, Lawson Equipement low-stretch lines, that white cord used on window blinds, and spooled stretchy inexpensive Atwood Mfg.
My continuous ridgeline is a pre-configured Zing It. Zing-It has like 400lbs tensile strength and looses most of it with most knots. What's 80% of 400 and who needs that much break strength anyway. Others that have posted hear already have great solutions for that with Dutchware, toggles, as well as Jeff Meyers cool, no-hardware solutions.
Lawson Equipment has the bestest reflective and non-reflective stuff. It's my go-to cordage. I don't use the reflective out front of my tarp because it's too distracting, but I do hang a line to help me find my bear canister or bear hang after dark. The stuff holds knots like nobody's business and way stronger than needed, thin, and little stretch. Doesn't tangle at all hardly, and knots can be undone, even though they won't slip under load.
Atwood stuff like their ready-rope or thinner stuff works fine. Has some stretch, not sure that's an issue, especially if you use shock cord with it. Makes great Prusiks and stuff. Used several spools over a few years.
That white window blind cord works well, but tends to tangle and knots are hard to undo.
I use, Zing-It, Lawson Equipement low-stretch lines, that white cord used on window blinds, and spooled stretchy inexpensive Atwood Mfg.
My continuous ridgeline is a pre-configured Zing It. Zing-It has like 400lbs tensile strength and looses most of it with most knots. What's 80% of 400 and who needs that much break strength anyway. Others that have posted hear already have great solutions for that with Dutchware, toggles, as well as Jeff Meyers cool, no-hardware solutions.
Lawson Equipment has the bestest reflective and non-reflective stuff. It's my go-to cordage. I don't use the reflective out front of my tarp because it's too distracting, but I do hang a line to help me find my bear canister or bear hang after dark. The stuff holds knots like nobody's business and way stronger than needed, thin, and little stretch. Doesn't tangle at all hardly, and knots can be undone, even though they won't slip under load.
Atwood stuff like their ready-rope or thinner stuff works fine. Has some stretch, not sure that's an issue, especially if you use shock cord with it. Makes great Prusiks and stuff. Used several spools over a few years.
That white window blind cord works well, but tends to tangle and knots are hard to undo.
Time in the woods leaves no time for carving and drawing. Carving and drawing leaves no time for getting lost in the woods. I really need to retire.
04/28/2024 05:24PM
fadersup: "tumblehome: "I use whatever Menards has in the $2.99 bin. Rope and string is just that, anything else is marketing.
Tom"
Disagree. What about stretch, abrasion resistance, load capacity, reflective material, ability to hold knots, feel, etc etc. Just because any type of rope/string could work in a pinch doesn’t mean that there aren’t advantages of one over another."
I’m just not passionate about rope and twine. And I don’t hammock.
If I was a rock climber I would be passionate about my rope.
But rope to tie down a tarp or for lining rapids with my canoe, just plain ole’ rope like parachute cord works like a champ for me.
There is definitely a ton of marketing in the outdoor industry.
Tom
04/29/2024 07:45AM
I've been using Paracord on my tarps for a long time, and it works just fine for 90% of my camping situations, but it does slip and stretch, especially in wet weather. So I am looking at replacing my ridge line at the very least, if not my guylines as well. Sidenote, for my canoe my ropes are just some diamond braid polypropylene rope that I change out every decade or so. Polypropylene floats and doesn't suck up water.
Amsteel seems intresting for the ridgeline as I like the strength, but I tie knots and know that Amsteel slips a ton, so that is out. Might use it for food hanging though, as slippery against a tree branch is a good thing and tying off means multiple wraps around a trunk so the knot isn't critical.
Lash it, zing it, Lawson, are what I am probably going to get, but I really wish they came in sizes of 1/4" or 6mm. Having worked with ropes that are 1/8" or smaller, they can saw through my hands real quick and any knots that get tight under load can be very problematic when trying to unknot.
I see that Lawson sells some rope at 5mm, and that is what I'll probably end up getting, but does there exist other options other then the tiny milimeter ropes?
"It is more important to live for the possibilities that lie ahead than to die in despair over what has been lost." -Barry Lopez
04/30/2024 06:46AM
Last year I brought micro chord for my first trip in May and noticed after my next four trips that season that I was using it for almost everything in camp except the tarp line. Lightweight, packs small, and strong.
"Miller owns that field, Locke that, and the Mannings the woodland beyond. But none of them owns the landscape." - R.W.Emmerson.
05/02/2024 03:54PM
WCbackpacker: "Arborist throw line from Atwood rope. Zero stretch, abrasion resistant, holds and releases knots well, and it's very affordable.
https://atwoodrope.com/collections/arborist/products/arborist-throw-line-neon-orange-1"
Like the different sizes they offer. Thanks for the suggestion, this might be what I am looking for.
"It is more important to live for the possibilities that lie ahead than to die in despair over what has been lost." -Barry Lopez
05/02/2024 06:30PM
WCbackpacker: "Arborist throw line from Atwood rope. Zero stretch, abrasion resistant, holds and releases knots well, and it's very affordable.
https://atwoodrope.com/collections/arborist/products/arborist-throw-line-neon-orange-1"
Nice recommendation, I don’t think I’ve heard that sugesstion before.
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