Rope is a useful and versatile material in the outdoors that can be used for all manner of tasks, from tying up a bag to constructing live saving structures.
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6answers
3k views
What are good knots to know for camping and backpacking?
I once tied a bear bag with a haphazard bundle of knots, and despite being seemingly impossible to untie, it came loose when lowering the bear bag and nearly smoked my friend standing under it. What ...
14
votes
2answers
2k views
Climbing rope is rated to X UIAA falls. What is a UIAA fall?
When looking at buying climbing ropes, they are rated to a number of "UIAA falls".
What does that mean?
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votes
2answers
250 views
Things to keep away from climbing ropes
There are some no brainers like don't throw your climbing rope next to car batteries in the back of your car. The effect of bug sprays containing Deet seem to be controversial. I have also heard a ...
9
votes
2answers
182 views
How can I make/improvise a rope on a trip?
If I'm out in the wilderness and find myself in need of a rope I don't have with me (forgotten, not enough, another snapped), how can I make one? Are there any natural ropes I could use with minimal ...
9
votes
2answers
482 views
Pros and Cons of paracord
So from a comment on this question I was curious, what is the benefit of paracord over hardware store yellow twisted poly stuff?
The yellow stuff is cheap, readily available, floats, strong enough ...
9
votes
1answer
304 views
Mountaineering / glacial traverse: rope-up or go it alone?
When crossing a glacier (or other mountaineering activity for that matter) I've heard that roping everyone together without having a fixed anchor is falling out of fashion since more often than not if ...
8
votes
4answers
212 views
How can rope/cordage be packed to minimize tangles?
I generally pack my cordage in little bundles like
Unfortunately for any significant length (100' for instance) it just turns into a wadded mess when I try and use it.
How can I pack this stuff ...
7
votes
3answers
268 views
How can I tie a bowline knot with one hand?
A bowline knot is an excellent rescue knot as it tightens when under load. However, its very use as a rescue knot may make it hard to tie - for example, if a person fell and damaged one arm to the ...
7
votes
2answers
164 views
How do I check paracord to determine if it's genuine?
Given some paracord, is there a simple check that I can make to check that it's genuine and not the cheaper knock off stuff? Number of strands seems like the most obvious point, but is there anything ...
7
votes
2answers
153 views
How big a fall is a “major” fall?
I answered a question about rope safety with some advice about retiring the rope after a "major" fall. Another user asked me what would constitute a major fall - and I have to admit that I can only ...
6
votes
3answers
713 views
Ideal and Minimal Rope Diameter for Lead Climbing
I'm thinking of a single rope that it's safe to take long lead falls, but also light to carry around. I weight 75 kgs and I might climb with heavier partners (80-90 Kgs)
6
votes
4answers
201 views
What should I replace guylines with?
I need to replace some guylines on one of my tents. I normally use some paracord lying around but they have been getting tripped over more and more. I found some glow in the dark paracord, but before ...
6
votes
2answers
391 views
What is the best rope to have in a survival situation?
What rope would be most helpful/versatile in a survival situation?
4
votes
3answers
88 views
What should I look for in a rope for climbing?
I just started rock climbing recently. I don't have any gear of my own and the first thing I wanted to get was a rope. There are various ropes of different prices. What should I look for when buying a ...
4
votes
1answer
109 views
How do I tie a bowline knot?
Bowline knots are among the most commonly used knots across many different outdoor activities. It is used to create a fixed loop at the end of a line, while still being easy to tie and untie.
How ...
3
votes
2answers
180 views
How do I tie a double fisherman's knot?
In climbing, a double fisherman's knot is used to tie together two separate pieces of rope.
How would I tie such a knot?
