Results 1 to 9 of 9

Thread: 550 Para cord.

  1. #1
    New Member Turtle's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Newcastle, Australia
    Hammock
    WBBB 1.1dbl
    Tarp
    WBBMJ spinnUL
    Insulation
    self inflating pad
    Posts
    6
    Images
    3

    550 Para cord.

    Does anybody use or is it possible to use 550 parachute cord for tarps?

  2. #2
    Senior Member GrizzlyAdams's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    Illinois
    Hammock
    GrizzBridge Ariel
    Tarp
    HG Cuben Winter
    Insulation
    DIY UQ
    Posts
    4,777
    Images
    564
    Quote Originally Posted by Turtle View Post
    Does anybody use or is it possible to use 550 parachute cord for tarps?
    I've got a couple of tarp ridgelines made of 550 parachord. Yes it stretches some but that hasn't been a problem.

    I haven't used it on the stake-outs. Perhaps in conjunction with a bit of shock cord for tensioning….
    Grizz
    (alias ProfessorHammock on youtube)

  3. #3
    Senior Member Stone's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    The Free State of Ludington MI
    Hammock
    Darien 11'
    Tarp
    UGQ
    Insulation
    UnderGround Quilts
    Suspension
    Whoopies
    Posts
    1,110
    Images
    6
    I use it for a ridgeline, and I'm using "stripped" 550 cord for my tarp tie outs with a theraband type tensioning device.

  4. #4
    Senior Member turnerminator's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    Peterborough,UK
    Hammock
    DIY Pertex
    Tarp
    DIY with doors on
    Insulation
    Down and synthetic
    Suspension
    Whoopies & hooks
    Posts
    1,252
    Its possible and good hardwearing stuff-plenty strong enough. It knots well too.
    I dont like using it however, because its quite heavy relative to dyneema and soaks up lots of water, making it extra heavy when wet.
    Dyneema/dyneema core is well worth the extra-its in another league, IMO.
    Knots are a slightly more trouble, but its pretty much anti-tangle-A quick shake and a birds nest usually comes undone.

  5. #5
    Senior Member Hawk-eye's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Oak Ridge & Linville Gorge, North Carolina
    Hammock
    HHE, 2QZQ Mod4, Jerry 5 DIY
    Tarp
    HG Cuben/SFly Camo
    Insulation
    HammockGear Prod.
    Suspension
    Use them all!
    Posts
    9,989
    Images
    3
    I've used mil spec 550 for years ... tarps, utility cord ... it does have some stretch but for tarps ... haven't had an issue with it at all. Good stuff IMO

    WARNING: Will discuss Rhurbarb Strawberry Pie and Livermush at random.


    "A democracy is two wolves and a small lamb voting on what to have for dinner.
    Freedom under a constitutional republic is a well armed lamb contesting the vote." ... B.Franklin


    Home of the Gorge Rats: Linville Gorge
    My Videos YouTube Channel
    Photo collections Flickr Photostream


    Gorge Rat Productions On FaceBook

  6. #6
    Senior Member MondayHopscotch's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Denver
    Hammock
    10.5' DIY
    Tarp
    11x13 DIY Sil
    Insulation
    IX UQ, Down Bag TQ
    Suspension
    DIY Dutch/Whoopie
    Posts
    193
    Images
    27
    good to hear it works well -- being as i've got a few hundred feet coming in this week for various uses, haha. I've used it for other things, so I know it's pretty versatile stuff, but none of it has had a huge amount of weight on it.

  7. #7
    Senior Member Just Jeff's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Charlottesville, VA
    Hammock
    Blackbird
    Tarp
    MacCat Standard
    Insulation
    Winter Yeti, MWUQ4
    Suspension
    Whoopie Slings
    Posts
    7,924
    Images
    32
    The biggest reason I don't use it is b/c it soaks up water.

    Second biggest reason is that in very strong winds, I want the guylines to be the weakest point in my system. I'd rather the lines fail first b/c I can field repair them with a square knot. But if the lines are stronger than the tarp and the tarp rips in the field...well, now I have a problem.

    Systems approach. Works for me...YMMV.

    I'm glad I had it this way in the ~100mph winds at Winnemucca in Yosemite. The MacCat might have stood up to those winds, but why take the chance? As it was, some of my lines broke but the tarp was undamaged except for a small dent in the D-ring from where the tarp bent the mini-biner. This is still my go-to tarp today, though I often take the JRB 10x11 in winter.
    “Republics are created by the virtue, public spirit, and intelligence of the citizens. They fall when the wise are banished from the public councils because they dare to be honest, and the profligate are rewarded because they flatter the people, in order to betray them.” ~Judge Joseph Story

    - My site: http://www.tothewoods.net/
    - Designer, Jeff's Gear Hammock / Pack Cover by JRB

    IMPOSSIBLE JUST TAKES LONGER

  8. #8
    New Member Turtle's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Newcastle, Australia
    Hammock
    WBBB 1.1dbl
    Tarp
    WBBMJ spinnUL
    Insulation
    self inflating pad
    Posts
    6
    Images
    3
    Thanks all for the help might give it a go along side some "hoochie" cord which is an Australian army cord it's smaller, lighter and easy to tie.

  9. #9
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    Georgia
    Posts
    1,557
    Paracord works but, like all nylon cord, it stretches a lot when it gets wet. This means your tightly pitched tarp can loosen up and flap a lot when the rain and wind move in during the night. Enough so that you may have to crawl out of your cozy hammock to tighten things up...in the rain. I use 7/64's Amsteel with metal figure nines for the tree ties and 1.75mm Lash-it for the stake ties on my OES Deluxe. Kevlar/spectra doesn't stretch.

  • + New Posts
  • Similar Threads

    1. why not para cord?
      By CheeZe in forum Suspension Systems, Ridgelines, & Bug Nets
      Replies: 37
      Last Post: 03-01-2013, 23:34
    2. para cord ridge line?
      By saucybagles in forum Eagles Nest Hammocks
      Replies: 8
      Last Post: 06-10-2012, 13:41
    3. FS: Para-Cord
      By Mrprez in forum [SOLD/WITHDRAWN] Items no longer available
      Replies: 4
      Last Post: 04-11-2011, 17:51
    4. 550 Para cord
      By Greg Dunlap in forum [SOLD/WITHDRAWN] Items no longer available
      Replies: 8
      Last Post: 08-18-2010, 09:09
    5. Para\550 Cord
      By chrishould in forum Do-It-Yourself (DIY)
      Replies: 1
      Last Post: 04-26-2008, 23:02

    Tags for this Thread

    Bookmarks

    Posting Permissions

    • You may not post new threads
    • You may not post replies
    • You may not post attachments
    • You may not edit your posts
    •