What to String You Up By: Choosing What Cordage to Get for Bushcraft

When I usually start off the first blog of a new series, I try to go back and show you how it was done in primitive ways all the way up to modern ways. With cordage, it’s pretty much two simple ways; there’s natural cordage and there’s synthetic cordage. Natural cordage can still be made in nature today and many bushcrafters still practice the skill. However, it is listed in David Canterbury’s five C’s, which contains items that are the hardest to produce in nature. The reason cordage is there is not because it cannot be made in the wilderness, but because large quantities of it cannot be made in the wilderness easily.

When I first began Bushcraft, I always kind of put cordage in the back of my mind. I would just buy paracord or bank line without a second thought. However, you should put as much time into knowing your different types of cordage as you should into knowing the different knives, axes, and different fire starting methods. Perhaps an unconventional quote, but one I really think that sums up the thought of cordage to most people:

“Bah! Fire! Fire gets all the credit ‘cause it’s bright and scary. ‘Oh, Prometheus, please help me, I can’t barbeque my wings.’ But you would never last a day in the wild, Sir, without a hank to hold.”

– String Monger Scene 5, Episode 17, Season 11, “The Alton Crown Affair” of Good Eats

Let’s see if he’s right. Without cordage, say goodbye to your ridge line. Say goodbye to toggles. Say goodbye to lashings, which is used in making furniture. Definitely say goodbye to the bow, and if you say goodbye to the bow, you’re also saying goodbye to most primitive ways of making fire. I guess the String Monger was right.

So now that we’ve shown you the importance of cordage you’re probably thinking, “Well, what cordage do I need to buy?” Let’s start with the most popular cordage on the survival market, and that is 550 paracord, found in the camping section at your local Walmart. It became popular due to its presence in most U.S. Army survival manuals. The cordage is very good and strong; it would have to be to safely land a man from 13,000 feet to the ground. A lot of people find paracord to be gimmicky, while others have become near righteous zealots of it. Paracord is made up of 7 fibers, with a woven outer mantle that can be heated up and melted to keep from fraying. This is synthetic cordage at its finest.  Another advantage of paracord is that it comes in a variety of colors from camo and black, to bright orange and bright red. Disadvantages, It melts instead of burning which isn’t helpful during fire making and I have found is that it starts to slacken quicker than its competitor. A 50’ bundle at your local Walmart from UST will cost you around $5.

Anyone who has ever watched, read, or seen anything associated with David Canterbury knows that

he prefers to go with bank line over paracord in a lot of ways. Bank line is used in catfishing and can be found a few aisles down where all of your catfishing needs can be met. It is made of three strands of braided nylon twine, then tarred to protect from the UV rays’ deteriorating effects. Being synthetic it will only melt and never burn like paracord. One of the biggest advantages bank line has over paracord is that the three strands can be separated without destroying the rest of the line. Anyone who has ever worked with paracord while opened knows that unburned ends will unfurl faster than you can find a lighter. However with the bank line, you can separate these three strands out making smaller sections that can be used for sewing, setting traps, and even flossing. A minor disadvantage to bank line is that paracord is standardized. Almost all that we use is 550, whereas with bank line you can have anywhere from tensile strengths of 80-500. It’s great if you’re a veteran looking for variety, a bit overwhelming if you’re just starting out on the survival scene. The two numbers David Canterbury would suggest carrying is #12 and #36. The tensile strength for these respectively are 72lbs. and 235lbs. The biggest disadvantage bank line has in my opinion is its color variety. Only found in the shades of black, dark green, dark red, and white, they can become a tripping hazard when setting up a shelter. However, in the picture above you can see some in either a bright yellow or green and I have seen some in a bright orange too. This is all new to me so, maybe bank line is making moves into the survival scene.* Unfortunately the cord was not in #36 which would be better for the survival stuff. A roll of #12 will cost you about $2, and, the bigger roll of #36 will cost you about $9.

One of the other things David Canterbury recommends is bringing some type of rope to go with your cordage. When he differentiates between cordage and rope, cordage is anything less than a quarter of an inch in diameter, and rope is anything greater than a quarter of an inch in diameter. I typically choose to get a 3/8” rope found in the hardware section. It is diamond braided polypropylene, a synthetic material with a tensile strength of 250lbs. Being synthetic it won’t burn, and also when cut it unravels just like paracord. . The advantage this rope gives over the cordage is its ability to be used as straps. I have used this many times as such on my backpacks, haversack, and bedroll. Cordage can’t do this because of its small nature which causes it to cut into the body, causing discomfort.

This rope isn’t perfect, I would prefer to upgrade to natural sisal rope, however, my local Walmart doesn’t have it. This will set you back about $4.50.

One of the things David Canterbury does not talk about taking with you that I believe should be included is fishing line, found where fishing poles and lures are aplenty for about $2. I like to take an 8lb tensile strength with me just in case I am ever in a situation where my line breaks or it allows me to use natural objects as rod and reel so you don’t have to bring your pole and tackle with you, but that’s another blog.

These are cordages that I advise you to not use or purchase. In my experiences these have been the least useful and sometimes hindering, so I implore you to learn from my mistakes. Stay away from the utility cord, found in the camping section next to the paracord. Made like the 3/8" rope mentioned earlier being synthetic and all, except it is less in diameter and half in length, but still will cost you .50 cent more. I do not see much use in this cordage. The next would be any type of boating, yellow, plastic rope. It does not hold a knot well, it is very bulky, does not have close to the same tensile strength as other ropes, and you can’t break it down into anything useful. Also given the fact that it melts and not burns makes this a useless cordage in a survival situation.

In conclusion, I recommend taking a little bit of all of the cordages highlighted above. Paracord and bank line can be interchangeable in many circumstances, and the best way to learn what you should take is by practicing with what you already have. Next week we’ll be looking at basic knots that are perfect for the beginner bushcrafter, so make sure to knot miss out. (sorry). As always feel free to comment, share this blog, and check back next week for a new one. Follow me on Facebook: @BPackBushcraft and on Twitter @BPackBushCraft. Until next time, keep those fires burning and put another log on for me. 

*I tried some of this cordage out the other day. I found it to fray easily because it is not coated with tar. the strength is still the same, however I wouldn't recommend this as a replacement for bank line.*