Cordage Type`s

Not sure what to buy? there are so many different types of rope available choosing the correct one can be definitely puzzling.

 "The Key to success is to select the correct rope material for the Job. "

Classified as either " natural ' or " synthetic. " Each material has different properties-making it more or less suited to a particular application. Some are better for indoor use. Others are better for the outdoors. Some are stronger and more durable. Others are softer to touch etc.

1. Cotton Ropes: Derived from the cotton plant, cotton is a natural rope material it absorbs liquids very easily, and therefore, tends to sink in water. What's more, it demonstrates poor Uv resistance -quickly fading in the sunlight. 2. Manila rope: Is a natural rope fiber, produced from the abaca plant.

Although its not actually from hemp, its often referred to as "manila hemp" due to its hemp-like properties. Example, it demonstrates excellent levels of strength, flexibility, durability and resistance to UV. However, it absorbs water-shrinking & sinking when wet. If left outdoors for long periods, it is susceptible to the elements & will rot & break down over time Jute & Sisal Ropes & Twines

Jute & Sisal are both derived from plants. (Corchorus & Agave Sisalana respectively). Not only are they inherently strong, but they also `re resilient to wear & tear & resistant to sunlight. They demonstrate little to no stretching. Thanks to their rough texture, they have excellent knot-ability they`re 100% sustainable biodegradable! & compostable. Polypropylene Rope As a synthetic rope material, it has a number of useful properties. For example, it does not absorb liquid & floats on water. It demonstrates good resistance to Uv & abrasion & is also rot proof. Its strong & hard-wearing (despite being lightweight) & also has a high melting point 165*C. Double Braided Nylon 

Consists of two single braided ropes married together for the ultimate strength & durability. These ropes have a single braid rope as a core and a second single braid rope as a jacket over top of the core, offering twice the strength without sacrificing hand - held friendliness & flexibility. Double braid ropes are typically used in marine settings they also tend to float & are highly water resistant. And the list goes on with I'm many other types available today on the market.

The most commonly recommended modern cord type by far is 550 Paracord Type 3

 So exactly what is 550 Paracord Type 3? 

Paracord was originally created for the military. It was called parachute cord & was designed for military parachutes. It had to be consistent & hold up to all active duties of military applications.

Private companys began to produce it but all paracord is not created equally.

Some products are inferior. Some are better suited for crafts & very light applications. For survival purposes I recommend using what the military uses: 550 Paracord type 3. It is designed to sustain 550pounds of static weight per strand I found there are typically 2 paracord materials: Nylon & Polyester. Nylon preforms best in most applications and is preferred by the military. Here are the specs defining Milspec paracord:  7/3 construction -7 individual strands of 3 twisted yarn cords (21 yarns total) Nylon sheath - 7 strands wrapped in a woven nylon sheath. 550 pound - Must be able to sustain a 550 lb. static, vertical weight per cord strand. Colored marker - each manufacture is government certified and must include their color as a part of their cord. Recommendations: 

Carry regular 550 cord type 3 as your go-to cord with 20 feet or so! of the Survivor cord for the extra features!

Bank Line

When it comes to twine & cord​age, there are so much out there it hard to keep track of them all. The biggest problem is choosing the best twine for the job at hand, as some of them were just designed to perform better in certain situations. Thats certainly the case with bank line - a relatively inexpensive twine that can replace more popular offerings such as paracord without too many issues. Is bank line better, than paracord, though? probably, in certain scenarios, but I would only use it for lighter weight tasks for bushcraft. Lets start with the structural composition of bank line and its overall strength, 

What is Bank line made of

Bank line is usually tarred it has a tar coating that improves the knot holding performance, However, this tar layer gives a slightly sticky feel, as well as an instantly recognizable odor. 

What are the main uses & advantages?

Since it has a smaller diameter when compared to other offerings (paracord comes to mind) it takes up less space in your bag while offering the same amount of tensile strength. Thats efficacy, I am a big fan of that. Bank line is quite popular with survivalists or bushcraft enthusiast's mostly due to its versatility & strength. You can use it to lash tents, food bags, & gear racks. As long as you do not exceed its tensile strength, bank line can be used for plethora of applications. You can tie knots with it, anchor heavy objects in place, or use it for fishing. Actually, bank line was originally created for fishing. That`s the practice for setting up a long span of cord from the bank of the river to another, hence the name. This particular type of fishing works well for catfish, and people still practice it to this day. 

What are the main types?

There are many different size's available, but I'm going to tell you about two of the most popular ones. First off, # 36 bank line is very popular for its strength, while # 12 bank line is thinner and is generally better for lighter applications. The # 36 variant has a breaking strength around 320 lbs. while # 12 bank line can withstand 100 lbs.  When it comes to type, you can have you pick between twisted or braided bank line. The differences between the two are noticeable at a glance, but I wouldn't say that any is significantly better than the other. As a personal preference, I like to go with braided, as it seems a bit stronger to me overall. It all has something to do with the fiber weaves & how they wrap on each other. Furthermore, braided bank line is less likely to fray at the ends, which means you won't have to burn it to prevent this fraying. Twisted bank line has its advantages as well.

   You can always unravel the individual strands to obtain smaller strands of it. The ends will fray, keep that in mind and prepare accordingly.

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