Alternative cordage to paracord?

Liam Ryan

Liam Ryan

Joined
Sep 26, 2005
Messages
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Maybe this will be considered blasphemy but despite all it's benefits, does anyone prefer something that maybe isn't as strong but packs up a lot smaller? I would rather carry more and not worry about cutting it up than need it to support my weight for emergency cliff climbing.
 
Dacron is stronger than nylon (static strength), less stretchy, and holds knots better. Parachute cord is good at taking a sudden shock because it stretches, but for most purposes that is a disadvantage.

There are some high-tech fibers that are much stronger than Dacron, too.
 
I find regular cord sold at hardware stores more appealing than paracord generally due to price and I am more apt to use it more frequently.... do I really need to do this kind of thought? But I'm cheap.
 
Ethan Becker gave me a spool of black tarred line. It is a braided cord that is super tough and pretty cheap too.
 
Twine and Tarred Bank Line cover a lot of bases.

Search for twine in the general search and you will where I have used it for many Para-Cord general chores.

Bio-degradable, cheap, cool looking, and strong enough for most tasks.
 
Liam Ryan said:
Maybe this will be considered blasphemy but despite all it's benefits, does anyone prefer something that maybe isn't as strong but packs up a lot smaller? I would rather carry more and not worry about cutting it up than need it to support my weight for emergency cliff climbing.
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Nettle, dogbane, tulip poplar bark for natural

Dyneema for not so natural
 
Dyneema / Spectra fishing line is super strong for its size & weight. 300 pound test line is only 1 millimeter thick. I have some 250# stuff that I got for sewing up leather, and it's only 0.8mm. Hard to believe string that small could hold my weight. I got it to replace the cotton string I'd been using- it was the same thickness, but I could break it with my hands. I threw about 20 yards of it in my pack, since it takes up almost no room, and I figure it aughtta be strong enough to string up a tarp or poncho type shelter if needed.
 
Zing-it or Lash-it (throw cord for arbourists) is stupid strong and can be spliced. its coated to hold knots better, but is also more resistant to tangles. you can even make adjustable slices (whoopie-slings) for tensioning tarps and such

My hands down fave right now is 3mm static climbers accessory cord. its got a break load of around 180kg (395 lb), depending on maker. Its thin, light, holds knots really well. they will lock down, so bowlines are best if you want to ever undo them, but a fishermans will be set for good. Its also thick enough to handle with cold hands, 2mm is just a little too thin for that, but I do like it as well. 4mm gets you up to 400Kg and is really good stuff. I don't bother with paracord anymore unless its totally unimportant and sacrificial. Yes you will spend a bit per yard on it, but it still cheaper than kevlar or dyneema, and it gets the job done. I won't hang my life on anything less than 6mm, but I'm a cautious guy.
 
I keep a bundle of 750 paracord (11 strand) on me for emergencies, but for normal camping tie-off duties I use tarred bank line. I can keep 500 ft of it in less space than 50 feet of paracord, and since it's quite inexpensive I do not care if I chop off 2 or 3 feet here and there for various securing duties. It holds knots very well, and doesn't get all stringy like twine does. One downside is it is not very flammable, at least compared to twine.
 
Another die hard fan of jute twine. You get a whole ball of the stuff for a buck something at Home
depot and it's useful for tying all kinds of stuff around a campsite. It's cheap enough that you can wrap several times around something to hold a surprising amount of pounds. It also makes great tinder when you unravel the strands to catch sparks from a fire steel.

We were using jute twine around campsites back in the 1950's and it worked just fine. The paracord craze has way over hyped the stuff.
 
After I posted this I remembered I bought a knife years ago that came with a lanyard of mysterious strong cord, long story short my tuna fisherman buddy told me what it was and where to buy it. I had recently purchased some paracord so I put it off. But I grabbed some tarred bank line yesterday after remembering about it, nearly 1000 feet of it actually. I'm glad to see so many people recommending it.
They also had more reasonable sized rolls of dacron, but dyneema sounds intetesting. I have some 50# test spider wire or whatever from walmart but never saw the 250+ stuff.
 
I've been considering the small reflective cord sold at rei. I forget what it's called. I agree, paracord is great but its bulky and I've never used the inner strands.
 
jackknife said:
Another die hard fan of jute twine. You get a whole ball of the stuff for a buck something at Home
depot and it's useful for tying all kinds of stuff around a campsite. It's cheap enough that you can wrap several times around something to hold a surprising amount of pounds. It also makes great tinder when you unravel the strands to catch sparks from a fire steel.

We were using jute twine around campsites back in the 1950's and it worked just fine. The paracord craze has way over hyped the stuff.
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Yes as said
Don't forget sizel
Add the nylon stuff in a ball for a buck works great

Heresy:eek:
Para cord is hype for camp use
 
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