Does Paracord (550 cord) stretch?

[Frost]

I've got 100' of paracord here, and I was considering using it for an inexpensive hammock suspension until I get some funds for my amsteel purchase in a couple weeks.

I've worked with this stuff in some fairly heavy lifting situations before, mostly with ham radio antennas, and it seemed to have a little stretch over time, but it was days between tensioning the first few times, and then it stopped stretching all together. Handling it now though, it seems to have some definitely spring.

Does it stretch enough to be unusable for suspending a bridge hammock?

[CatSplat]

It's stretchy and not usually considered strong enough for suspension use.

[dragon360]

It has stretched for my everytime I have used it.

[fallkniven]

Check this out http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/s...66&postcount=1

[gargoyle]

You can use it. Its just not the best choice. It will stretch, especially when wet.

It has broken on many hammockers.
Use what ya got and have fun.

[mrmike65]

30' of Amsteel at $0.25/foot comes to $7.50. I think I would rather spend $7.50 for a proper suspension, than $10 for 100' of "less than" cord.

[Frost]

The paracord is free, as I have a 500' spool of it. I'll need closer to 50' of amsteel for this, and can't get it locally, so $0.25/ft is $13 plus $6 shipping so call it $20.

Just investigating possibilities. I'll likely just stick with my webbing system and come up with something that isn't as bloody heavy as two huge steel D rings.

Anybody have thoughts on how strong 1/2" grosgrain is? I'd like to use it as the 'rails' of my bridge.

[bushcrafter]

Yep, stretches like a bawse! I used it when I forgot my whoopies (like an idiot!!) and used 550. Held me fine but my butt started at a foot from the ground when I got in and by 3 am, my butt was literally 1" from the ground. Had to tighten in the middle of the night. FYI, if you need to stretch paracord, that is the way to do it! LOL

[FLRider]

The paracord is free, as I have a 500' spool of it. I'll need closer to 50' of amsteel for this, and can't get it locally, so $0.25/ft is $13 plus $6 shipping so call it $20.

Just investigating possibilities. I'll likely just stick with my webbing system and come up with something that isn't as bloody heavy as two huge steel D rings.

Anybody have thoughts on how strong 1/2" grosgrain is? I'd like to use it as the 'rails' of my bridge.

Not sure how strong it is (never researched it, but my gut says "probably not strong enough"), but make sure you get polyester or polypropylene grosgrain if you go that route. Nylon grosgrain (like everything else nylon) will stretch quite a bit.