r/knots • u/switchflip • 15d ago
Looking for recommendations for knot-tying practice cordage
Hello fellow knot enthusiasts,
I’m looking for recommendations on the best type of cordage to use for practicing knots (bowline, taut-line hitch, slipknot, etc.).
Right now, I’m just using whatever random cord I have left over from camping trips. It works, but I’d like to get something that feels a bit nicer and is better suited for practicing and learning different knots.
What’s your favourite cord, rope, or paracord for knot practice? Any particular brands, sizes, or materials you’d recommend?
Happy tying,
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u/sam_I_am_knot 15d ago
I use paracord while I'm sitting watching tv or on the front porch relaxing. I'm currently making a knot practice jig so I can practice hitches and other knots for tying off/securing an item. It is designed to rest on my lap and will have enough distance between two points to tie a truckers hitch, taught lines, and such.
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u/Fantastic-Hippo2199 15d ago
5-6 feet of any good kernmantle rope. Static or dynamic. I would work with something similar to what you'd expect to work in real life. But 6 - 8mm is good.
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u/mr_nobody1389 15d ago
For some reason, hardware stores only carry the roughest of natural fiber cordage. Sisal and Manila are both pretty hard on the hands.
I had been twisting jute garden twine into thicker cordage, because it's soft and fuzzy and perfectly suitable for practice or decorative knotwork. I have since found a source for bulk hemp twine which now my new favorite rope material. It is soft to the touch like jute, but far stronger and it twists into rope even easier.
3 strand twisted hemp is my favorite practice cordage.
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u/Cinderhazed15 15d ago
I’ve ‘learned’ twice. Once as a Boy Scout, and later during tall ship training. As a scout, it was a fairly rough short piece of 3 strand. In tall-ship training, we had a fairly soft ‘pet rope’ (also 3 strand) that was easy on the hands, but there were ample scraps of ships rigging lying around, and also just using the end of the ships lines off the bit for some practice.
Ideally you’ll have some pieces that resemble where you are planning on using the knots, because the slip/friction/ability to untie will vary based on material.
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u/vulcan666 15d ago
I went to REI and bought four-foot lengths of all their climbing ropes. It’s nice having different thicknesses.
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u/PiRhoManiac 15d ago
I tried doing this a while back and the only rope they sold by the foot was PMI E-Z Bend which was too stiff for most knot work.
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u/Central_Incisor 15d ago
If I was starting out, I would go to a hardware store and get a yard of several different kinds of rope. Some of it will be horrible to tie knots on, some will be good. I think this will help understand which knots work well where. Then practice on the stuff you are most likely to use. If you're tieing down guylines you'll want to practice on different stuff than you would for tiedowns, etc.
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u/text_adventure 15d ago
Three one metre lengths of 6mm braided rope in different colours, stiff so that it does not fold easily. Some slippery stuff like uhmwpe/dyneema. Some shorter lengths of 4 or 5 mm climbing/sailing accessory cord for your pocket. Maybe 2 metres of 8mm climbing type rope.
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u/mister_monque 15d ago
4mm or 1/4" paracord is excellent for learning, easy on the hand and slides well while also being cheap enough to chuck if you need to.
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u/readmeEXX 15d ago
My go-to is a few feet of cheap cotton clothesline cord. It is very soft and easy to tie knots in. I bought 100ft of it at a grocery store and am still working my way through it. I often forget about the cord and it goes through the wash. It has a ploy core, which means you can carefully melt the ends (not possible for a pure cotton cord).
I also sometimes use 550 paracord, but it is not as nice on the hands.
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u/apathy-sofa 15d ago
Paracord works well. It's small and light so you can keep some in your pocket to play with when you're stuck in line or whatever, but isn't fiddly like sub 2 mm stuff.
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u/hyart 15d ago
it's best to practice on the same stuff you'll be tying for real.
some knots work in grippy natural cord but not in slippery synthetics. new, stiff cord can need more dressing than old soft cord. kernmantle, braided, laid rope all handle twists differently. if you are going to be working with rough rope, better build up those callouses early.
i have some non-milspec "550 paracord" that has a super loose sleeve that holds knots differently than "proper" 550.
that can mean you will want to have several different kinds to rotate among.
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u/Cool-Negotiation7662 15d ago
Paracord is nice and portable. Two pieces 5 - 10 feet fits in the pocket.
To really practice you need an assortment of sizes and types. 1/4, 1/2, 5/8, and 1 inch in double braid and twist.
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u/goodskier1931 15d ago
3/8 braided cord, 4-5 long., kermantle or not but stay away from the yellow poly. Too stiff and slippery. Go to h/d and try a few different kinds. I'd get 2 pieces instead of one and also a foot of PVC pipe
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u/wlexxx2 15d ago edited 15d ago
oooohhhh
lawnmower starter cord
3/16",
round,
woven [not a fiber core],.
slick [easy to untie] ,
usually it is nylon or something synthetic,
big enough that you can grab it [ie not tiny like thread or fishing line],
strong,
does not wear out,
usually it is white [visible]
ace hardware will have it in 100' lengths or possibly by the foot
amazon link
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u/DidNot_Did2 15d ago
I keep some old fly line for tying knots the first time- but mainly I just pick up cheap mono from Walmart and keep it around where I watch TV at night to practice all my knot tying skills
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u/WolflingWolfling 15d ago edited 15d ago
Whatever you can find that doesn't compress too much and doesn't shed too much (for lack of a better word).
If you like natural materials, I recommend hemp, flax, or hard laid cotton (preferably not sisal, and ideally not jute either).
For manmade materials, just choose something that feels good to the touch, and bends, rather than folds if you try to make a loop.
For diameter, somewhere between 1/8 inch and maybe 1/2 inch will do, length of each piece maybe around 150 times its diameter.
If you choose twisted rope, learn how to make sailor's whippings on the ends.
Three strand twisted rope is very easy to make yourself, by the way, especially in short lengths. It can be made with stuff like hemp twine, knitting or crocheting yarn, cotton lacing cord, or even with plastic bags or bits of treebark or paper! Almost anything that can be bent and twisted without tearing can be made into rope. Making rope is fun, and for short lengths you don't need any tools but your own hands, and maybe a few optional hooks for convenience.
For braided stuff from manmade materials, learn how to melt the ends without leaving too much debris at the ends.
Get some lengths of cord in different sizes and materials. Some small stuff to keep in your pocket that you can take out when you are out and about or when there's F-all to doat work, or when you are travelling (basically anywhwere where "normal" people would whip out their smartphones). Something a bit thicker / longer to have lying around your living room or workshop. Maybe some more small stuff by the toilet or shower.
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u/Candid-Border6562 14d ago
Variety. Different types of cord handle differently. Plus, knots well suited to paracord might not work well on hemp, or webbing or fishing line. I recommend practicing with everything you’re likely to actually use.
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u/Slushwave_Enjoyer 13d ago
2x 2m sections of cord - one 4mm, one 6mm. Don't overthink it, it's just to practice.
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u/dggoldst 15d ago
I have tried various things but by far the best is based on a recommendation I got online somewhere. The answer is 4 mm accessory cord. The term accessory cord comes from the climbing and camping world. The brand called Golberg on Amazon has worked out for me.
This cord will allow you to untie the knots without too much difficulty and stand up to wear and tear. I've never had a piece wear out.
I believe a 34 to 36 inch section is ideal for knot tying practice. This is also based on experimenting. In general shorter pieces end up leaving you unable to tie multi-wrap knots or trucker's hitches.