In the past, I have always used 550 paracord for tying down tarps for use as a shelter. I've noticed that many seem to be switching to alternative ropes. What would you recommend I use? I am looking for a lightweight and strong option that doesn't sag significantly when wet.

I take a variety of thicknesses and lengths...paracord, 1/4" and 1/8" polyester. The 1/8" is almost like twine but it still knots well for tying corners. Save the paracord and thicker rope for the longer spans.

Zing it, or lash it brand, more than strong enough and won't stretch, doesn't tangle much at all. I use 1.75mm for hammock tarp and CCS lean.

If you want light weight and no stretch you can’t beat Zing it or lash it and it is strong enough for the ridge line. I find it hard on my hands for the ridge line so I use a larger amsteal for the ridge line.

+1 for Amsteel on the ridgeline. It's tough to tie a knot in and it's hell on trees but it doesn't stretch at all. I learned a water bowline for it and use 1" nylon straps for tree contact. I keep hearing it's really easy to braid the line yourself into loops and knots etc, need a specialty needle IIRC, haven't tried that out yet but I might order it up this morning now that I'm thinking about it. I use some off brand zing-it type skinnier line for the guys. The rope I have has a great texture to it, I will tie prussiks with it onto the Amsteel and they do OK if you re-tie every time. Dyneema is some slick stuff but it really is the future, replacing steel cable in many applications around the world.

I also use zing it/ lash it for my tarp. I'm a hammocker so my tarp is crucial.

I’m also a zing-it/lash-it user for my tarp ridgeline and guylines. As others have said it’s very strong, lightweight, doesn’t sag and doesn’t absorb water. Since it’s not great at holding knots I spent some time this winter learning how to splice loops and incorporated some Dutchware fleaz, wasp, etc. in my tarp kit. Looking forward to trying them out this year.

I use some Lawson Equipment cordage.

I use the cordage that Dan sells with his CCS tarps, both the standard yellow and the reflective variety.

schweady: "I use the cordage that Dan sells with his CCS tarps, both the standard yellow and the reflective variety.
"

+1.

Zing-it/ Lash-it are fine if you have hardware similar to DutchwareGear's Tarp Flyz or Stingerz . If you'r prefer hand-tied knots, hitches and bends, the Cooke Custom Sewing cordage is a great choice.

Zing-it or lash it work great with these, light, and cheap, no knots needed. Jeff sells them on ebay.

Jeff Myers Toggle

campnfish: "Zing it, or lash it brand, more than strong enough and won't stretch, doesn't tangle much at all. I use 1.75mm for hammock tarp and CCS lean."

+1

I use whatever Menards has in the $2.99 bin. Rope and string is just that, anything else is marketing.
Tom

I grab two spools of paracord and have never thought twice about it.

tumblehome: "I use whatever Menards has in the $2.99 bin. Rope and string is just that, anything else is marketing.
Tom"

Disagree. What about stretch, abrasion resistance, load capacity, reflective material, ability to hold knots, feel, etc etc. Just because any type of rope/string could work in a pinch doesn’t mean that there aren’t advantages of one over another.

Wellllll...here's the skinny on tarps and cordage from a guy with more internet knowedge than actual experience. (me) :-) Jeff Meyers is your go-to if you want to start learning about Zing-It, and look up, "how not to highline" on youtube. That guy shows you how and why ropes and cord of material with the same composition of zing-it, break. It slips, heats up, melts a little, then breaks.

I use, Zing-It, Lawson Equipement low-stretch lines, that white cord used on window blinds, and spooled stretchy inexpensive Atwood Mfg.

My continuous ridgeline is a pre-configured Zing It. Zing-It has like 400lbs tensile strength and looses most of it with most knots. What's 80% of 400 and who needs that much break strength anyway. Others that have posted hear already have great solutions for that with Dutchware, toggles, as well as Jeff Meyers cool, no-hardware solutions.

Lawson Equipment has the bestest reflective and non-reflective stuff. It's my go-to cordage. I don't use the reflective out front of my tarp because it's too distracting, but I do hang a line to help me find my bear canister or bear hang after dark. The stuff holds knots like nobody's business and way stronger than needed, thin, and little stretch. Doesn't tangle at all hardly, and knots can be undone, even though they won't slip under load.

Atwood stuff like their ready-rope or thinner stuff works fine. Has some stretch, not sure that's an issue, especially if you use shock cord with it. Makes great Prusiks and stuff. Used several spools over a few years.

That white window blind cord works well, but tends to tangle and knots are hard to undo.

Use Cooke Custom Sewing Poly Cord for your community tarp. Use Zing-It!/Lash-It! for your hammock fly.

fadersup: "

tumblehome: "I use whatever Menards has in the $2.99 bin. Rope and string is just that, anything else is marketing.
Tom"

Disagree. What about stretch, abrasion resistance, load capacity, reflective material, ability to hold knots, feel, etc etc. Just because any type of rope/string could work in a pinch doesn’t mean that there aren’t advantages of one over another."

I’m just not passionate about rope and twine. And I don’t hammock.
If I was a rock climber I would be passionate about my rope.
But rope to tie down a tarp or for lining rapids with my canoe, just plain ole’ rope like parachute cord works like a champ for me.

There is definitely a ton of marketing in the outdoor industry.
Tom

I've been using Paracord on my tarps for a long time, and it works just fine for 90% of my camping situations, but it does slip and stretch, especially in wet weather. So I am looking at replacing my ridge line at the very least, if not my guylines as well. Sidenote, for my canoe my ropes are just some diamond braid polypropylene rope that I change out every decade or so. Polypropylene floats and doesn't suck up water.

Amsteel seems intresting for the ridgeline as I like the strength, but I tie knots and know that Amsteel slips a ton, so that is out. Might use it for food hanging though, as slippery against a tree branch is a good thing and tying off means multiple wraps around a trunk so the knot isn't critical.

Lash it, zing it, Lawson, are what I am probably going to get, but I really wish they came in sizes of 1/4" or 6mm. Having worked with ropes that are 1/8" or smaller, they can saw through my hands real quick and any knots that get tight under load can be very problematic when trying to unknot.

I see that Lawson sells some rope at 5mm, and that is what I'll probably end up getting, but does there exist other options other then the tiny milimeter ropes?

zing it, you'll never go back to paracord

Last year I brought micro chord for my first trip in May and noticed after my next four trips that season that I was using it for almost everything in camp except the tarp line. Lightweight, packs small, and strong.

I'm a paracord kind of guy; usually. I added 2 cam-buckle straps a couple years ago; instead of all 4 corners having cordage. Tensions very easily!

Arborist throw line from Atwood rope. Zero stretch, abrasion resistant, holds and releases knots well, and it's very affordable.

https://atwoodrope.com/collections/arborist/products/arborist-throw-line-neon-orange-1

WCbackpacker: "Arborist throw line from Atwood rope. Zero stretch, abrasion resistant, holds and releases knots well, and it's very affordable.


https://atwoodrope.com/collections/arborist/products/arborist-throw-line-neon-orange-1"

Like the different sizes they offer. Thanks for the suggestion, this might be what I am looking for.

WCbackpacker: "Arborist throw line from Atwood rope. Zero stretch, abrasion resistant, holds and releases knots well, and it's very affordable.


https://atwoodrope.com/collections/arborist/products/arborist-throw-line-neon-orange-1"

Nice recommendation, I don’t think I’ve heard that sugesstion before.

When I was choosing a rope for my tarp guylines I emailed Atwood and received excellent advice from them, so i encourage you to do the same if you're on the fence.