Questions tagged [ropes]

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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Are there vines in nature that are naturally capable of being used as a whip (weapon), rope or as strings? [duplicate]

Natural meaning, no human alteration to them besides chopping them off from a tree or any type of plant. Ways I'm wondering if natural vines can be used. As a weapon, such as such as the bullwhip. As ...
Lecifer's user avatar
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2 votes
2 answers
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Are there vines in nature that are naturally capable of being a whip, rope or string?

Natural meaning, no human alteration to them besides chopping them off from a tree or any type of plant. Ways I'm wondering if natural vines can be used. As a weapon, such as such as the bullwhip. As ...
Lecifer's user avatar
  • 131
1 vote
1 answer
116 views

Rope material for EDC, relative strength, and knot compatible besides paracord

I am trying to find a roughly 7/64" to 1/8" (~3mm) DIA rope I can easily every day carry. The rope must be: Strong, working limit 200-300+lbf Light weight Knot compatible Resilient to ...
noobquestionsonly's user avatar
11 votes
4 answers
3k views

loop knot vs slip knot vs hitch knot around a tree when camping

When camping, I often need to tension a rope between two points, and it starts by tying the rope to the first point, which can be a tree. In this situation, I can use a bowline or a Siberian hitch or ...
hugogogo's user avatar
  • 213
2 votes
0 answers
72 views

Knot-less adjustment system for thin UHMWPE string

I successfully built for myself a set of gymnastics rings using a 40 mm high tenacity nylon strap and a niteize "dual camjam" which is simply a cam buckle that does away with the need to sew ...
geeheeb's user avatar
  • 21
3 votes
1 answer
104 views

Ratchet straps — Purpose of 15-inch loops

I have a set of Rhino 1-inch ratchet straps. The straps came with separate 15-inch loop straps: What is the purpose of the loop straps? And why do they have a twist in them? They aren't sewn with a ...
User1974's user avatar
  • 1,265
4 votes
1 answer
171 views

Can anyone ID this hitch?

This is something I use around the house, camping, tying down misc truck loads, etc. It’s a quick way to attach a carabiner to a bight, it can take load on the working, standing or both ends, it doesn’...
elkaboom's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
176 views

When did the manufacture date became mandatory written on labels in Europe?

Equipment like ropes, slings, harness, etc. have the manufacture date on their label. I still have some older equipment without any manufacture date written on their label. When did it become ...
Wernfried Domscheit's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
184 views

How do I make cordage from tree bark?

I'm trying to make rope from tree bark, but I couldn't succeed. Sometimes the cordage is too stiff, sometimes it is too fragile. I tried from a lot of trees available near me. I tried first with 2 ...
Bogdan Floareș's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
233 views

Is there a reasonable way to build a toprope anchor if the only available natural anchor points are greater than 90 degrees apart?

I generally use the Joshua Tree anchor system for toproping, as taught to me by a professional guide. Essentially, a static rope is tied to two anchor points to make a "V" shape of 90 ...
SamWeiss's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
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How strong is a hemp rope for a factor-1 drop?

Would a hemp rope with a 30mm diameter break if a 100 kg object is attached to one end and dropped from a bridge (free-fall). The other end of the rope is attached to a pole on the bridge. The object ...
a a's user avatar
  • 117
1 vote
1 answer
221 views

What knot should I use to tie the middle of a smaller rope to a large rope?

I have a spool of smaller 3mm rope that has its end attached to a ball. My intention is to use this smaller line as a throwline that gets thrown over a tree branch which is then used to drag a ...
Jimib's user avatar
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6 votes
3 answers
2k views

Can you use pre-owned climbing rope for hiking and/or emergency uses?

If I was to buy pre-owned climbing rope could I use it for hiking and/or keeping in my car for emergency uses? I couple of speculations I had in mind were: Pulling someone out of a swamp on moorland ...
willowen100's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
432 views

Lead climbing and descending with a rappel

After you finish a lead climb and are ready to descend by rappelling off the top anchors, do you pull the rope through all the quick draws or do you just clean the quick draws on the way down?
Nathan M's user avatar
9 votes
3 answers
3k views

Does it make sense to use fall arresters in rock climbing to reduce the forces involved?

I understand that the fall factor depends on the actual length of the rope that will absorb the energy during a fall. The longer the rope, the smaller the rigidity of the system, and thus, the smaller ...
Javier Ojeda's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
152 views

Climbing rope diversion, different scenarios

I'm just getting into climbing, and I have to say I still find it hard to trust the equipment, bolts etc sometimes (even though I know accidents with that are really rare.). Anyway, I try to ...
Anton Neundorfer's user avatar
-1 votes
1 answer
81 views

Ice climbing top rope with joined roped [duplicate]

Are there any safety concerns connecting two ropes (40 and 50 m) with 2 double fisherman knots and then installing an anchor with 2 carabiners connecting the anchor to the rope for top-roping? Let's ...
cerv21's user avatar
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5 votes
1 answer
617 views

Belaying/rappelling with a rope thicker than allowed by belay device

I've got an 11mm static rope. Can I use it safely for top-rope belay/rappel with a belay device that is designed for "9.5 - 10.5 mm rope"?.. I actually rappelled three times with no issues ...
Alexander's user avatar
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0 votes
1 answer
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Hemp rope - wash before first use?

So I got a new hemp rope, about 1.3 inch in diameter. The intended use is for "rope climbing" - hang the rope indoors from a ceiling and climb up along it using only the hands. I have read ...
ahron's user avatar
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7 votes
2 answers
370 views

Help troubleshooting bowline knots

I've followed every YouTube video and illustrated guide I can find but I can't seem to consistently tie bowline knots that don't turn themselves into a larks head causing the bight I'm trying to make ...
starscream_disco_party's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
560 views

What kind of Rope for a Bosun's Chair

I'm going to make a bosun's chair to lift me 40 ft in the air to a tree platform (with at least a 6' clearance, so closer to 50'). Of course I would like the right type of rope with the right tensile ...
Jesse Yishai's user avatar
5 votes
2 answers
137 views

Are kernmantle ropes more susceptible to damage than 3 ply twist or solid braid?

A comment on recent answer suggests that kernmantle ropes are more easily damaged than a conventional twisted rope. This is contrary to what I learned very long ago. So far I've been unable to find ...
Sherwood Botsford's user avatar
10 votes
3 answers
2k views

Alternative to midshipman's / taut-line hitch for modern ropes

A taut-line hitch is used to tying tent ropes to a stake. It can be manually slid up/down the standing part of the rope, so as to adjust the tightness in the line, but it holds well under tension. ...
ahron's user avatar
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4 votes
1 answer
233 views

What is this knot?

My 6 year old daughter was playing with ropes today and tied a knot of her own creation. I tried to demonstrate to her the importance of learning to tie good knots that don't slip, but when I went to ...
ShemSeger's user avatar
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7 votes
3 answers
12k views

How to tension rope between two trees? [duplicate]

I often need to tension a rope between two trees, usually 20-30 ft apart. I am not skilled with knots so it is often sloppy and the tension doesn't hold even very modest weight (such as clothes or ...
amphibient's user avatar
  • 4,063
2 votes
1 answer
160 views

What to look for when purchasing a ~70m rope for canyoneering?

I'm looking for a good longer rope (e.g. 70m or so) to use for rappeling during canyoneering trips. Most of the ropes on Amazon or REI are dynamic, and my understanding is that static ropes are ...
mfeingol's user avatar
15 votes
2 answers
5k views

Do sharpies or markers damage soft rock climbing gear?

I have been writing my initials onto the dogbones (webbing connecting biners) of my quickdraws with a sharpie (permanent marker) so I can tell them apart from everyone else's. Recently, one of my ...
Moormanly's user avatar
  • 367
11 votes
4 answers
5k views

Most practical knots for a bend (tying two ropes together) while pulling to create tension?

My personal favorite for tying two ends of a rope together is the Flemish Bend. It's simple, strong, does not slide, does not require stopper knots (unless used for life-critical applications), allows ...
Andrey Mikhaylov - lolmaus's user avatar
28 votes
6 answers
6k views

Most practical knots for hitching a line to an object while keeping the bitter end as tight as possible, without sag?

Say, I want to tie a rope between two trees, and I want it to have as little sag as possible. I have attached the rope to one tree and I'm trying to tie it to the other tree while pulling it to create ...
Andrey Mikhaylov - lolmaus's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
313 views

What types of ropes are there for multi-purpose camping that are strong?

I'm looking for a multi-purpose rope for camping with the following specs: Synthetic Preferably 7/16" dia or less 750-1000lb test break strength I don't plan on climbing with this rope but it would ...
mreff555's user avatar
  • 613
6 votes
1 answer
3k views

What are the strongest knot(s) for using on FLAT webbing slings? (joining and bight termination)

I'm trying to make myself a foot-loop that's connected by rope to one's handled-ascender (alongside an opposing-foot's ankle-ascender this allows rapid ascension up a single leg up of rope!) and have ...
user18219's user avatar
3 votes
3 answers
479 views

Can I make a safe climbing-anchor with a 2-ton working-load sling that was meant for lifting vehicles?

I'm new to rope-climbing, I have made some slings to use as false-crotches/cambium-savers/friction-savers that act as my "canopy anchor" when climbing. These were all made with lengths of my 11.7 mm ...
user18192's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
630 views

Climbing-line "rope-thimbles", unsure how to utilize these (got several 1/2" 'steel rope thimbles' with my climb-rope!)

I got some 1/2" steel-thimbles for my climbing-rope but sadly I'm not sure how to safely use them, I'd thought "I can just tie a knot at just the right spot so that the thimble is securely nested in ...
WantToClimb's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
187 views

Have a couple basic Q's on climbing-line (1 on safely descending/rappelling, another on using multiple lines and/or hardware to achieve "1+1=2"?)

Hoping to ask a couple basic Q's before my order arrives, I suspect I may've gotten insufficient gear.. 1 - Is doubling-up ropes, or hardware, ever acceptable in climbing? IE, my 8mm prusik cord is ...
WantToClimb's user avatar
10 votes
4 answers
6k views

How to cut a climbing rope?

Sometimes it is necessary to cut a climbing rope, either to shorten it or to trim worn ends. If were one to cut a climbing rope, how would one do so?
Charlie Brumbaugh's user avatar
36 votes
2 answers
7k views

Is there a way to find out the age of climbing ropes?

I have two half ropes from Camp that are basically unused, but are slowly getting old, and I would like to know their age. Is there a way to do that? I know the name of the model: Camp Plekton 8.2mm....
april rain's user avatar
  • 3,474
7 votes
1 answer
1k views

How to tie a bull hitch using end(s)?

I have found the bull hitch really great for tying my paracord to secure to an object, like a stick, branch or other long object. The reason I like it is that compared to other hitches like the girth ...
Arash Howaida's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
362 views

Knots when abseiling with single rope

I have a rope of 10 m which supports 3 kN (300 kg) strength. I will abseil with it as a single rope. I want to know what is the recommended knot to use when attaching the top with my anchor's ...
user1780468's user avatar
19 votes
1 answer
1k views

How fast does a climbing rope recover its dynamic properties after a fall?

The defining feature of a climbing rope (arguably) is its dynamic properties, i.e. it stops your fall gradually to decrease the peak force. Not exceeding a fixed peak force is a/the integral criterion ...
imsodin's user avatar
  • 21.7k
17 votes
1 answer
348 views

Can I use SteriGENE broad spectrum disinfectant on abseil rope?

I work in ecologically sensitive areas in NZ and my ropes routinely get soiled. I have been asked by the Dept of Conservation to clean and disinfect my ropes to minimise the chances of accidentally ...
user34581's user avatar
  • 171
20 votes
1 answer
475 views

Compromised Ropes in Retail Stores

Reposting this from a Facebook discussion. It's a picture taken from a retail store where they have attached a pin-tag through the rope to prevent theft; a common practice at this location. My gut ...
Raz Peel's user avatar
  • 2,712
2 votes
1 answer
1k views

Is amsteel blue appropriate for a use as a runner? [duplicate]

Would amsteel blue rope be appropriate for use in anchor building for climbing or mountaineering? I expect it's not very abrasion resistant so it wouldn't be good up against some rock or an edge. But ...
kag0's user avatar
  • 131
4 votes
3 answers
417 views

What's a good resource for learning to tie knots for climbing?

If I wanted to learn how to tie certain knots, or learn about new knots and what they're used for, what are some good resources to look up?
ShemSeger's user avatar
  • 53.5k
7 votes
3 answers
847 views

What kind of ropes are used for very long sport routes (like Chilam Balam)?

This is a question that has bugged me for some time. Some very hard sport routes are very, very long. Some examples: Chilam Balam: 80 m (260 ft) - Video (Adam Ondra) Jumbo Love: 75 m (250 ft) - Video ...
valerio's user avatar
  • 907
7 votes
1 answer
241 views

What's the hardest wearing multibraid rope type?

I'm looking to replace the line in a traveller on a catamaran and I need a very hard wearing sheath due to the nature of the setup. Is dyneema the way to go here?
barrymac's user avatar
  • 201
3 votes
2 answers
239 views

Can a rope&bucket used to gather water from a well be kept outside, tied to this well, or does it have to be kept inside?

Is it feasible to tie the rope and bucket to the well and therefore keep it outside or do the rope and bucket have to be kept inside to protect them from harmful weather? Or does the well, bucket and ...
gaazkam's user avatar
  • 525
12 votes
4 answers
661 views

Can a click-up belay tool cause rope wear?

I am regularly using the Click-Up belay device from Climbing Technologies together with a 40-meters rope from Edelrid I bought recently. Now, after using the two only about 10 times together (always ...
fuenfundachtzig's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
1k views

How to decore a retired climbing rope?

One of the things you can do with a retired climbing rope is to decore it (remove the main center section), and turn the sheath into rope bracelets. The last time I decored a rope I cut it into ...
Charlie Brumbaugh's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
316 views

Can you float-treat a rope?

In Canyoning/Canyoneering, floating ropes are used to make rope management a lot easier. Unfortunately for those of us interested in canyoning who don't live in Europe, specialized canyoning gear isn'...
ShemSeger's user avatar
  • 53.5k
6 votes
3 answers
1k views

What do you do when you're rappelling a halfed rope and you run out of rope on one side?

So this happened the other day; shouldn't have happened if I had been taking my time and paying attention to what I was doing, but it did: I was cleaning several ropes from the top of a short crag ...
ShemSeger's user avatar
  • 53.5k