Best Ropes for Camping: A Comprehensive Guide

Hey campers, we know how overwhelming it can be when picking out the best gear for your next camping trip. There are so many options for everything and most of the online guides are confusing. It’s hard to find a simple answer to simple questions. One question we see a lot is about what about the best rope for camping. To help you out we’re going to tell you exactly which two types of rope we recommend for camping.

Note: Always get reflective rope if it’s available. It’s safer in all situations and works just as well as non-reflective rope. If you can’t, consider getting reflective tape and sticking that to the rope instead. Once it gets dark you will wish you had. Take it from someone who has walked into too many clotheslines, and tripped over too many tent flap tie-outs.

TLDR; The Two Ropes You Need For Camping

We get it, you have better stuff to do than read a few thousand words when this is what you came for. So here are our suggestions for the two best ropes to bring camping. Bring reflective 550lb paracord for the light jobs like tying down tarps, hanging lanterns, and clotheslines. Then bring about 100 feet of high-quality braided polyester rope for the big jobs like hanging bear canisters and tying things down.

FUNSUEI 3/8 Inch x 100 Feet Braid Polyester Rope Heavy Duty Braided Polyester Rigging Rope for Camping, Climbing, Hanging Swings and Tents, Tree Work, Adventure, 2200 Lbs Loading Capacity

Onewind Ultralight Tent Guyline Cordage HMWPE Tarp Rope 100ft, Lightweight and Durable Great for Hammock Camping, Backpacking and Camping.

Key Takeaways:

• Bringing the right type of ropes is crucial for a safe and fun camping experience.
• Consider the specific tasks you will likely be doing, such as tent guylines, hanging bear bags, or boating.
• Our recommended best ropes for camping are paracord and braided polyester.
• As an honorable mention consider bringing a spool of tent guyline cordage.
• Choose UV-resistant materials to withstand prolonged exposure to sunlight.
• Static ropes, which have minimal stretch, are ideal for camping purposes.
• Always consult the manufacturer to get the working load for the rope used.
• We recommend learning these 5 knots for camping at a minimum.

Braided Polyester Rope

A lot of people recommend nylon but we prefer polyester because it stretches less. This is the workhorse rope that you will pull out for the big jobs. If you need to hang a bear canister, tie down a load, or do any of the other heavy-duty jobs around camp. We find the 3/8 size to be the perfect strength and thickness to handle the big jobs, but still be easy to work with. It’s affordable, durable, easy to work with, and very strong.

As a rule of thumb polyester rope stretches about 12-15% before breaking (half as much as nylon). This means that when something is tied down, it will stay put. You don’t want your bear bag slowly lowering to the ground overnight. The downside to polyester is that it doesn’t absorb shock well, so keep that in mind. Our recommendation is below. If you want to geek out you should see this reference on polyester rope strength.

FUNSUEI 3/8 Inch x 100 Feet Braid Polyester Rope, Heavy Duty Braided Polyester Rigging Rope for Camping, Climbing, Hanging Swings and Tents, Tree Work, Adventure, 2200 lbs. Loading Capacity

Tent Guyline Cordage

In our experience, we’ve found that tent guyline cord, sometimes called guyline rope, is a must-have for camping and backpacking. This is our go-to choice for securing tarps and tent flaps. Some people recommend paracord for these tasks, but we lean towards guyline cord. Here’s why: it hardly stretches, which means it stays tight and secure, even on windy days. What really sets it apart is how strong it is compared to how much it weighs. The guyline cord we like best weighs just 2.6 ounces for 100 feet and can hold up to 250 pounds! For the cost and benefits we can’t imagine not bringing some along every time we go camping.

Onewind Ultralight Tent Guyline Cordage HMWPE Tarp Rope 100ft, Lightweight and Durable Great for Hammock Camping, Backpacking and Camping. Lightweight and flexible hollow braid cord is stronger than paracord and perfect for a wide range of indoor and outdoor uses, including lifting slings, stabilizing slings, towing lines, mooring lines, water applications, winches, stage and theater rigging, and halyards.

Honorable Mention: 550 Pound Paracord

We almost always bring a roll of reflective 550lb paracord when we go camping. It’s affordable, tough, lightweight, and easy to tie and untie. Some people swear by paracord and use it for everything, we don’t use it as often but it’s versatile and affordable so we recommend bringing some along. When using it keep in mind that all paracord will stretch by at least 30%. Sometimes that doesn’t matter so use your best judgement.

For general use, we recommend the 550lb rated paracord. It’s strong enough for general campground chores and if you need stronger it’s probably better to use the braided polyester. Of course, heavier paracord is available, at an increased price. Remember that the recommended sustained load of rope is 20% to 30% of its weight rating. This means you shouldn’t be putting more than 110-165 lbs. on the paracord. That may not sound like much, but it’s more than enough for most uses around camp. If you shop on Amazon we have linked our recommendation below.

WEREWOLVES Reflective 550&176 lb Paracord - Nylon, Rope Roller,7&3 Strand Utility Parachute Cord for Camping Tent, Outdoor Packaging

The Importance of Having the Right Ropes for Camping

When you go camping, it’s important to have the right ropes. This is not a luxury, but an essential piece of equipment that every camper should have. The quality and selection of your camping ropes will affect your camping experience. It doesn’t matter if you’re an experienced outdoors enthusiast or a beginner camper, if you go camping without necessary equipment you are going to eventually regret it.

First, camping ropes are crucial for safety reasons. You will need them to set up clotheslines, hang your hammock, , secure tents, and many other little uses to keep your campsite neat and safe. Choosing the correct rope is important. It can prevent accidents, secure your gear, and keep your campsite stable in bad weather.

Furthermore, camping ropes are multifunctional tools that you can use for various tasks. From hanging food to keep it safe from bears, creating clotheslines for drying wet clothes, or tying down tarps and tent flaps there is almost an unlimited number of reasons to carry it. Having the right kinds of rope gives you confidence to handle any camping challenge.

When choosing ropes for camping, it’s important to think about strength, durability, UV resistance, and stretch. By choosing ropes that meet these criteria, you can ensure that your camping experience is not only safe but also enjoyable. Investing in good camping ropes is a smart choice. They will improve your outdoor experiences and make you feel more secure on your trips.

Synthetic vs. Natural Ropes for Camping

When it comes to selecting the best ropes for camping, it’s important to consider between synthetic or natural material. We prefer synthetic materials like nylon and polyester over natural for several reasons.

For us the biggest benefits of synthetics is their resistance to the elements. Ropes made from synthetic material withstand UV rays, moisture, and extreme temperatures better than natural ones. We find the convenience and durability of synthetic materials more suitable for campers like us who have enough to do without stressing out about their ropes rotting in the garage when it gets humid.

We prefer to have as little equipment maintenance as possible after camping and synthetic ropes are easier to maintain than natural. All you need is some dish soap and water when they need to be cleaned. They don’t need special treatments or conditioning in the way that natural ropes do. After cleaning they can be hung up to dry and they wont mildew or rot.

Overall, when considering everything above, synthetic ropes are our top choice for camping. We think they are perfect because they can resist the elements, are durable, and require low maintenance. Whether you’re setting up tents, securing tarps, or tying up a boat, synthetic ropes will work great.

Synthetic Rope Options: Nylon Vs Polyester Vs Polypropylene Rope

There are a lot of synthetic materials that are used to make rope. Nylon, polyester, and polypropylene are three of the most common materials and all three are appropriate for camping. Each has it’s own strengths and weaknesses so let’s go over each one briefly.

• Nylon rope is strong and durable. It can stretch and absorb shock, making it useful for certain applications. It’s also resistant to abrasion and UV light. Its downside is that it can stretch about 20% of its length. This makes it a poor choice for situations where tension needs to stay constant.
• Polyester is a solid all-around rope material and is very similar to nylon in performance. The main difference is that polyester resists stretching. This makes it ideal for situations where you need the rope to maintain its tension. We find that polyester rope is slightly better for camping than nylon because of this.
• Polypropylene is a lightweight material, doesn’t stretch much, and it’s resistant to water, chemicals, mold, and decomposition. It floats, making it a great option for activities on the water, like boating and mooring. The downside is that polypropylene is not as UV-resistant as nylon. Some polypropylene rope is treated to be more UV resistant, but they still don’t hold up in the sun as well as nylon or polyester.

Do You Recommend Any Natural Ropes For The Campsite?

In our experience there aren’t any natural ropes that we would recommend for casual or beginner campers. This is mostly because of the tendency of natural fibers to mildew, or even rot if they aren’t maintained. They are also more difficult to clean and maintain than synthetic fibers. If you are set on using a natural fiber and don’t mind the maintenance there are a few we recommend that you research.

Sisal fiber and manila are two of the best-known and most available materials for natural rope. Cotton and Jute are another two that work well for camping. Of those four we think manila and cotton could be a good choice. We recommend doing more research before picking a natural fiber rope because all of the natural materials have their own particular quarks. For example manila can shrink as much as 25% when it gets wet. Something you will want to keep in mind when it starts raining.

As we said, do more research before making a choice. Covering all the different natural options would double the size of this article and we believe that synthetics materials make the best ropes for camping. If there is enough interest we will be happy to try out more options and then write about the natural options.

Braided vs. Twisted

When shopping you will see several different manufacturing processes mentioned. The most common are twisted or several different styles of braiding. Each construction method offers its own set of advantages and considerations. Understanding the tradeoffs is important but if you want our advice get braided unless price is an issue.

The Advantages of Braided Ropes

Braided ropes are about 10% stronger than twisted and are one of the best ropes for camping because of their strength, flexibility, and durability. The braiding process involves intertwining multiple strands together, creating a structure that can handle heavy loads and withstand harsh outdoor conditions. There are several different braiding patterns but for general use we don’t have any preference. They all produce ropes that are strong and smooth which is what we want. The smooth texture from being braided also allows for easier handling and knot tying, making them a popular choice for campers.

There is also enhanced performance and longevity compared to twisted. They are less prone to abrasion and fraying, ensuring a longer lifespan for your camping gear. Whether you need it for securing tents, hanging bear bags, or setting up tarps, braided will provide more reliability and strength over twisted.

That is why we recommend getting braided. The construction method is more complicated and as a result the rope is a bit more expensive. If price is a concern then go ahead and save the money on twisted. For most things you will be doing around camp you probably won’t notice the difference.

The Considerations of Getting Twisted

The most important distinction for most of us is that twisted rope tends to be less expensive. They are constructed by twisting individual strands together, resulting in a stiffer rope with more stretch and a coarser texture. They aren’t as strong and wear out faster than braided but they are still suitable for most camping tasks. If all you are doing is hanging clotheslines and tying down tarps it’s perfectly fine to save some money on a twisted rope.

The choice between braided and twisted really depends on your individual needs, budget, and preferences. Both types have their advantages, so assess your camping needs before making a decision. Choosing the best ropes for camping is important for safety and enjoyment. You can pick a strong braided rope or a slightly weaker but more affordable twisted one. As long as you understand their strengths and weaknesses both will do fine.

Determining the Amount of Rope Needed for Camping

When preparing for a camping trip, it’s important to determine the amount of rope you’ll need to ensure you have enough for various tasks. The amount will depend on the activities you plan to undertake as well as what unexpected uses you encounter while camping. In general it is always better to have extra rather than not enough. We bring 100’ of nylon rope, a bunch of random paracord that we already used, and a roll of new paracord. We don’t really track how much paracord to bring because we have more than enough.

• Tarp setups: For securing tarps, you’ll typically need around 10 feet of paracord for each tie-off point. This allows for adjustments and ensures a secure and tight setup.
• Hanging bear bags or food barrels: To keep your food safe from bears and other wildlife, it’s recommended to bring approximately 100 feet of braided polyester. This length will be long enough to hang the bag or barrel high off the ground almost anywhere.
• Drying clothes: If you plan to hang clothes to dry, 15-25 feet of paracord should be sufficient. This will give you enough length to create a clothesline between trees or other sturdy supports.
• Tent guy lines: Tent guy lines are used to secure the corners of your tent and provide stability. It’s advisable to bring 10-15 feet of paracord for all the corners, allowing for easy setup and adjustment.

Do You Know The Best Knots for Tarps, Guylines, Etc?

My father was an Eagle Scout who served in the U.S. Navy so my whole childhood was a crash course in knots and ropework. If you didn’t have that opportunity you will want to learn at least a few basic knots. We have a guide on the 5 knots that we have found most useful on our camping trips.We also recommend picking up a book to learn the necessary knots. I haven’t read it but the book The Little Book of Incredibly Useful Knots is considered a great guide by many people we trust. I would recommend grabbing a copy before you go camping.

The Useful Knots Book: How to Tie the 25+ Most Practical Rope Knots (Escape, Evasion, and Survival) The Useful Knots Book is a no-nonsense knot guide on how to tie the 25+ most practical rope knots. It comes with easy to follow instructions, pictures, and tips on when to best use each knot.

Before You Go …

Now that you know everything there is to know about picking the best ropes for camping I would like to suggest checking out our beginners camping guide. This very thorough guide will fill you in everything you might want to know about going camping for the first time with your family.

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Summer and Bill are the dynamic duo behind Adventureite.com, a blog dedicated to inspiring others to explore the great outdoors. With a combined lifetime of experience traveling and adventuring across America, they have a wealth of knowledge to share. From hiking to camping, kayaking to travel, Summer and Bill are passionate about helping others discover the beauty of the natural world.