Selecting a Rope of Appropriate Size and Length Based on Its Intended Use
By material, ropes can generally be divided into two types: those made from natural fibers and those made from synthetic fibers. However, almost all ropes used in the wilderness today are made of nylon, a type of synthetic fiber. This type of rope is stronger than natural fibers such as manila hemp; it is also lighter, softer, and more durable. Additionally, it has the characteristic of high elasticity and easy slippage when supporting heavy loads. On the downside, it is not heat-resistant, friction-resistant, or UV-resistant.
Nylon ropes sold in outdoor equipment stores are measured in meters and come in a variety of diameters ranging from three to nine millimeters. Therefore, you should choose an appropriate length and size based on the intended use. In addition to round ropes, there are also flat ropes, which are mainly used for rock climbing. Based on past experience, preparing about five to six ropes that are five millimeters in diameter and five meters long for camping can cover various outdoor activities. Their wide range of colors also allows you to distinguish them by use, such as for tents or drying clothes. For hiking, having one three-millimeter by five-meter rope is very useful (for packing backpacks, tying miscellaneous items, etc.). So, for safety’s sake, it’s recommended to always carry one.
Whether you’re rock climbing or undertaking long, continuous mountain hikes—activities that involve life-and-death situations—it’s best to use climbing-grade nylon ropes. Generally, ropes with a diameter of nine to eleven millimeters and a length of forty to fifty meters are commonly used. But if safety is your top priority, choose an eleven-millimeter diameter by fifty-meter length climbing rope, which is highly water-resistant and durable, hence our recommendation. Also, when using a life-dependent climbing rope, we sincerely hope you will handle it with the utmost care.
Using Knots Based on Purpose
When flipping through the many books on outdoor knot-tying, you’ll find numerous examples where knots are categorized by their uses. This is precisely to help identify the most suitable purpose for each knot. The main uses of knots fall into the following five categories:
Tying a Knot – Tying a knot in a rope can be used to hoist objects and makes it easier to apply force. These can be used when throwing a rope to someone who is drowning or lifting heavy items. It can also be used to stop a rope when passing it through a cave. The size of the knot varies depending on the type of knot.
Connecting Other Items – It can be used to secure items and untie them as needed. It is useful when setting up tents, drying clothes, rock climbing, or fastening safety harnesses. It is an extremely important and indispensable part of outdoor activities.
Making a Loop – A loop created at the end of a rope can be used to hoist or tie items. Depending on the type, it can be either fixed in size or adjustable. The adjustable kind can also be used as an animal trap. There are also knots that form two loops. Especially when hoisting small items or connecting climbing ropes, making a small loop in the middle of the rope can serve a specific purpose.
Connecting Ropes – This method is used when you need to tie both ends of a single rope together or when joining two ropes to make one longer rope.
Binding – This technique involves tying a rope around objects like logs to create new tools. It’s essential to remember these methods if you want to make chairs or tables during camping, or craft survival tools like rafts or ladders.
But please don’t misunderstand—just because a knot is suited for one purpose doesn’t mean it can’t be used for others. For example, the bowline knot is introduced in many books as a loop knot, but in practice, it’s often used to connect trees, poles, or other objects. There’s also a less common usage: tying a bowline loop at the end of a rope, then using another bowline to connect a second rope to that loop—in other words, using the bowline for rope-to-rope connections is also feasible.
Similarly, the double figure-eight knot is generally used for making loops, but in the world of rock climbing, it’s trusted by climbers for connecting the climbing rope to the harness.
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