Camping ropes are one of the most important items on your accessory list, and they can be used for a variety of purposes. Camping ropes come in handy when setting up a campsite, whether it be constructing a tarp to use as a shelter or strengthening tent stakes, the possibilities are endless.
As such a versatile and essential piece of camping gear, you need to focus on making the right choice. We made a list of the best camping ropes, along with a thorough guide showing which aspects to consider when purchasing the best option for you.
Things To Consider in an Outdoor Rope
Before you set out to buy a camping rope, you must consider several key factors. First, it’s important to determine which rope to choose according to your needs. There are different types of outdoor and camping ropes, and each one has its purpose.
Also, these ropes are made of different materials and vary in size, as well as the capacity that they can hold. Take a look at a more detailed guide on the main factors to consider with camping and outdoor ropes:
Camping Rope Type
Of course, most camping ropes can suffice for setting up a tent, but if you need more durability or capacity from the rope, different types matter. You can find twisted ropes for the powerful support ensured by the knots, paracord ropes as some of the most reliable, and guyline cords for when you don’t need that much carrying power.
There are also other types of camping ropes, such as sisal rope or braided rope, that provide abrasion resistance. With these, you will be able to lift more weight for challenging outdoor tasks.
Material
There are several outdoor rope materials that you can use for camping. Among them, it’s best to go with polyester twisted ropes, nylon ropes, and abaca plant ropes. There are also synthetic ropes that can be used for camping — it all depends on which purpose you are looking to fulfill with this piece of equipment.
Bottom Line: The hemp rope is adequate for most outdoor activities, while twisted polyester ropes are best for camping purposes.
Rope Size
You can pick a camping and outdoor rope size depending on your preference or in regards to your needs. Rope sizes range from 50 feet to 100-, 150-, and 200-footers. Larger ropes might come in tubes, while others are packed in rope carrying bags for convenience while using.
Usually, the rolled camping rope measures about 12 inches long, which is a perfect fit for your backpack.
Weight
Most of the camping ropes come in compact packages that can be carried along in a backpack or camping bag. Still, 200-foot ropes are naturally heavier when rolled, and you should go for a more lightweight option if you don’t need such a long rope.
It’s possible to find camping ropes that weigh just around 5 ounces, but they can display some serious tensile strength.
Hot Tip: Check out our detailed guide to the best camping tarps for shelter and sleeping.
The 7 Best Camping and Outdoor Ropes
We’ve compiled a list of the best camping ropes you can find at a reasonable price with supreme quality.
1. Military-grade Paracord Camping Rope
TOUGH-GRID 750lb Paracord Genuine Military Rope
If you are looking for a compact rope that you can bring along on a camping trip in the smallest of storage space, this paracord might be the one. It’s an official rope used by the U.S. military, and that speaks for itself.
It only weighs 4 ounces and is no longer than 12 inches when rolled. This nylon rope has a high tensile strength of 750 pounds, which is impressive for such a small size.
When compared to other ropes that can be used for outdoor activities and camping, this rope has triple strands. Most of the other ropes are 2-strand ropes, and this is yet another advantage of this option.
It can easily help secure your tent stakes or set up a tarp over your head. Also, you can use this rope for tying down your camping bags and a variety of other purposes.
What We Like
- Used by the U.S. military
What We Don’t Like
2. 7-Strand Utility Cord
Gear AID 550 Paracord and Carabiner
Those in need of a tactical camping paracord should look no further than Gear AID’s survival rope. It’s a perfect addition to your camping equipment with 30-foot and 100-foot selectable lengths. It’s best used for hanging tarps or other camping items, as well as securing tent stakes firmly into the ground.
It’s a 100% nylon, 7-strand rope with various functions and can be a solution for every situation. It also includes a carabiner for easier attachment. In case any of your gear or clothes get wet, you can easily use this rope to hang them to dry.
Gear AID’s rope also comes with a 2-year warranty, and it is a perfect option even for beginners. Regardless of your experience, it’s easy to master and use for any outdoor and camping need.
What We Like
- Versatile 7-strand camping rope
What We Don’t Like
- Doesn’t come with a carrying bag
3. Heavy-duty Survival Rope for Outdoor Use
X XBEN Outdoor Rock Climbing Survival Rope
X XBEN’s rope for camping and outdoor activities is the ultimate survival solution. This rope is also suitable for rock climbing due to its tensile force. It comes with a heat shrink tube and is made of high tenacity polyester, suitable for any outdoor activity.
It’s also great for fixing a tent with a firm ground attachment as well as other camping needs. This rope comes with its own carrying bag and features all the static rope qualities you might need.
Although it’s a survival and climbing rope at its finest, you can use it for virtually any task you might encounter while on camping trips. This rope is 32 feet long and weighs only 28 ounces in the longest version.
What We Like
- High-tenacity rope with heat shrink tube
What We Don’t Like
- Primarily made for climbing purposes
4. Treestand Rope for Camping
Hunters Specialties Reflective Treestand Rope 30ft Heavy Duty
When looking for a heavy-duty camping rope, you shouldn’t underestimate Hunters Specialties’ reflective treestand rope. It’s perfect for organizing your campsite and placing your camping gear and items around the fire.
You can use this rope to wash your clothes and leave them hanging to dry, as well as for setting up a campsite. This survival rope only weighs approximately 5.2 ounces so it won’t weigh you down.
It easily fits into any pocket or backpack space you might have since it has a compact measurement of just 5 inches by 5 inches. When completely unfolded and stretched out, it reaches distances up to 30 feet, which is just enough for your camping needs.
What We Like
- Lightweight and compact camping rope
What We Don’t Like
5. Reflective Night Rope for Camping
Nite Ize RR-04-50 Rope Pack-50 FT Reflective Cord
While camping in nature at night, you might wish for a rope such as Nite Ize’s ShineLine night reflective rope. It comes with white dots that are visible even on the darkest of nights. This feature will help you to be able to see the tent cords in the dark and prevent tripping.
The reflective nylon cord is perfect for tents, tarps, and other camping necessities. It’s also a packable and lightweight solution with 7-inch by 6-inch measurements. As it only weighs 0.2 pounds, there’s no doubt that this rope comes in handy in everyone’s camping backpack.
With 50 feet to work with, you will be able to easily organize your campsite and provide the best ground support for your tent, even at night.
What We Like
- Perfect for nighttime tasks
What We Don’t Like
- Comes only in a single size
6. Multi-purpose Utility Rope
Rapid Rope Store’s Canister Multi-Purpose Braid
What better solution for a camping rope could you need than a canister-ready rope that comes with its own handy storage container? Rapid rope’s canister multi-purpose rope with a 120-feet reach zone will quickly become your new favorite camping item.
It has an impressive tensile force, is guaranteed never to tangle, and has a special focus on security and firm grip. This flat braided rope is perfect to use on any camping occasion. The best feature of this option is that it comes with its own canister, so you can easily bring it along.
Unlike other ropes for camping, this one features a unique, flat braided rope that provides a more comfortable feel when in use.
What We Like
What We Don’t Like
- It might be tough to adjust to the flat design
7. Ultimate 6-Pack Camping Rope Set
Hikeman 6 Pack 4mm Outdoor Guy Lines Tent Cords
If you need camping ropes specifically for guylines and setting up tent stakes, there’s no better solution than getting a multi-pack of ropes. This 6-pack camping rope set features a packable design and compact size of each rope which fits nicely into your camping backpack.
This set is also a great option due to the aluminum guylines adjuster and a carrying pouch that it comes with. Each rope comes with 2 interwoven cords and is 100% polyester, made for higher tensile force.
What We Like
- Complete set of 6 camping cords
What We Don’t Like
- A single cord is just 13 feet long
Final Thoughts
Now you know everything there is to know about choosing the best camping rope or rope set for your outdoor needs. With our list and guidelines, you can now select the best rope, depending on your adventure needs.
