What kind of Cordage or rope???

[TadTheTinker]

I figure this would be the best place to ask since the crafty folks hangout here.

When it comes to general bushcraft, good ole paracord is a great thing. It is quick, easy, durable, cheap, and has a billion uses.

I have noticed something rather quickly though, it doesn't seem to be a product of choice for a DIY hammock, tarp, or much of anything else in that arena.

So I would like to know what cordage you would recommend for tying a gathered hammock, a tarp and its tie out lines, and the main hanging cords for a hammock.

I know that there is a lot of personal preference involved in these decisions. I am sure I will try several different kinds of cordage, even paracord, until I find what works best for me. (PS, I am 5'11 and around 250 lbs.)

Thanks for any help you can give.

[dragon360]

No problem. Paracord tends to stretch and retain water. Neither element much liked. Everyone has their favourites but for hanging (in your hammock) 7/64" Amsteel tends to be a top choice. You can even go crazy with 1/8" Amsteel but its really not needed. Under 200 pounds and you can use dynaglide.

As for tarp tie-outs there is all kinds - mason's line, fling-it, zing-it, lash-it, triptease, speer's no tangle and on and on. You'll find differences in each but they'll do the job.

As for ridgelines - the same items above can be used for your tarp and your hammock (mostly).

Hope this helps some!

[ChrisH]

Most of us use amsteel blue in one way or another for our hammock suspensions. I use whoopie slings, which is an adjustable loop on one end and tied to your hammock on the other. You could also use cinch buckles and webbing. For tarps, mose use mason line, dyneema or zing-it.

Links...

Amsteel (enter promo code "hammockforums")
http://www.reddenmarine.com/marine-s...oot-black.html

Webbing and other misc suspension parts
http://arrowheadequipment.webs.com/a...ategory/270327

All in one hammock suspension
http://www.jacksrbetter.com/HammockSuspensionSystem.htm

Zing-it
http://www.reddenmarine.com/marine-s...-x-180-ft.html

Speer No Tangle Guy Line
http://stores.tttrailgear.com/-strse...ine/Detail.bok

Whoopie Slings (If you don't wanna make your own)
http://stores.tttrailgear.com/-strse...%27/Detail.bok

Other suspension items..
http://shop.whoopieslings.com/

[jred]

Tarps: Not as big a deal. I read somewhere that you want your tarp lines to break before your tarp rips. I can verify that

Whipping: Just some light line. Some people like gutted 550.

Hammock Suspension: Amsteel and straps seem to be king. I use some of both, but I motorcycle camp so weight isn't a big deal. 550 is generally considered to break too easily (there is much more than 550 lbs of force being generated). I think I've seen ONE person say they used 550 & DIDN'T end up on the ground.

The suspension is where you'll probably go through several versions before you find the one you like. I started out with whoopie slings made with amsteel, but I found it to be a pain to set up. I switched to using a cheap tow strap (suspension & tree hugger-in-one) and rings. My tow strap is waaaaay overkill, but it was cheap at Harbor Freight and it's working load was way high.

[JohnSawyer]

+1 on the amsteel. Whoopies are cool things.

Paracord still has it's uses: it's OK as a ridgeline (zing-it, lash-it are better), and is good for whipping the hammock ends.

Cheaper alternatives are: polyester strap (Harbor Freight has yellow straps for as little as $5 a pair at 15-feet) or Mule tape (used for pulling cable in conduit, then typically thrown away.)

Both have no stretch, but amsteel is lighter..

[Bubba]

Nothing wrong with paracord for tarp tie outs. As others have mentioned there are better choices for the other hammock applications.

[Hangin' Burrito]

What they said!

[ishmael]

I used amsteel for my suspension (7/64) but would like to try dynaglide just for fun. I just switched my tarp tieouts to some line i found at a Cabelas here. it looks like it might be close to 'triptease' line. it's pretty light, looks less than 2mm, has a reflective thread running thru it and best of all is cheaper than triptease (50' for $9.95). so far it works just fine.

[Bigbogg]

What do you all use for your Hammock ridgeline? I am trying to figure out what to use for my ENO Double that I am using Whoopies on?

[jred]

I'm using 7/64 amsteel for my ridgeline. It's currently an adjustable ridgeline, using a whoopie sling type setup. I don't like that as much, it tends to magically adjust when not loaded Eventually I'll stop being lazy & figure out what length I want and make a fixed one.