Well done. I've used bank-line for a ridgeline before. But I used braided #72. Still lighter but far better. The #36 twisted is ok for other things so you can untwist it. But as for your go-to ridgeline, braided is more dependable. If you're swapping out paracord for a ridgeline, why not swap all paracord out. Use the bank-line for your prussics as well. Para slips too easy on it.
Both Paracord and Bankline are excellent products, and each can be used on a plethora of projects interchangeably. Maybe the reason folks chose paracord over Bankline is ego (must use cool military-spec stuff) and old habits. For many years there was an unused 100-foot roll of 750 (not 550) paracord on my shelf. After watching David Canterberry demonstrate his "Rapid Deploy Ridge Line", outstanding demonstration, I created the same with my 750 Paracord. Nice to have and use, yet for 99% of my cordage uses it is Bankline and Mason's line. 550 Paracord tensile strength is 550 pounds (2,446 Newtons). Possibly the most used Bankline is #36, its tensile strength is 340 pounds (1,512 Newtons). Reproduce same tensile strength as 550 Paracord use Bankline #60 having a tensile strength of 558. Its diameter is 0.116" 2.94mm, less than 550 paracord (0.085" or 3/16", 4mm). Consider the following comparisons: 1. 550 paracord thickness is 4mm, 3/16", #36 Bankline thickness is 2.1mm, 0.085". 2. 550 Paracord Length per 1/4lb is 56 feet (17 meters), #36 Bankline 1/4 pound is 138 feet (42 meters). Notice #36 Bankline requires much less space than 550 paracord. 3. In my car is a 100-foot hank of #36 Bankline, cost $0.05 a foot, whereas. Notice 100-feet of Paracord cost $0.15 a foot. 4. Paracord stretches up to 30%. Bankline stretch at best is minimal. 5. Paracord kernmantle is slick making knots are prone to slippage. Bankline being tarred tightly hold knots including when soaking in water. Bankline name fishing from bank to bank. 6. Paracord when wet loses strength, not so for Bankline. For a ridgeline Paracord is prone to sag requiring tightening, Bankline does not. 7. Paracord shows some level of UV light resistance. Bankline has excellent UV light resistance. 8. When it is cold Paracord can be easier to work with than Bankline; tar becomes stiff. Even with that during inclement weather Bankline is a better choice than Paracord. For my use I prefer twisted Bankline over braided. When I need smaller strands Twisted has three strands easy to unwind. Bankline is black, making it a better fishing line, for traps snares, and the like, than the white inner cords of paracord.
I'm surprised the 505 prusik gripped to the bank line ridge. I read a lot that the prusik line should preferably be the thinner than ridgeline material. Maybe stickiness of bank line is helping grip. 🤔
Yeh, the bank is thinner, but grips a bit too well, doesn't loosen off easily to slide. A bit too aggressive on the para. Fiddly too. Maybe good if you're more patient. For me, can't beat paracord.
Well done. I've used bank-line for a ridgeline before. But I used braided #72. Still lighter but far better. The #36 twisted is ok for other things so you can untwist it. But as for your go-to ridgeline, braided is more dependable. If you're swapping out paracord for a ridgeline, why not swap all paracord out. Use the bank-line for your prussics as well. Para slips too easy on it.
Both Paracord and Bankline are excellent products, and each can be used on a plethora of projects interchangeably. Maybe the reason folks chose paracord over Bankline is ego (must use cool military-spec stuff) and old habits. For many years there was an unused 100-foot roll of 750 (not 550) paracord on my shelf. After watching David Canterberry demonstrate his "Rapid Deploy Ridge Line", outstanding demonstration, I created the same with my 750 Paracord. Nice to have and use, yet for 99% of my cordage uses it is Bankline and Mason's line.
550 Paracord tensile strength is 550 pounds (2,446 Newtons). Possibly the most used Bankline is #36, its tensile strength is 340 pounds (1,512 Newtons). Reproduce same tensile strength as 550 Paracord use Bankline #60 having a tensile strength of 558. Its diameter is 0.116" 2.94mm, less than 550 paracord (0.085" or 3/16", 4mm).
Consider the following comparisons:
1. 550 paracord thickness is 4mm, 3/16", #36 Bankline thickness is 2.1mm, 0.085".
2. 550 Paracord Length per 1/4lb is 56 feet (17 meters), #36 Bankline 1/4 pound is 138 feet (42 meters). Notice #36 Bankline requires much less space than 550 paracord.
3. In my car is a 100-foot hank of #36 Bankline, cost $0.05 a foot, whereas. Notice 100-feet of Paracord cost $0.15 a foot.
4. Paracord stretches up to 30%. Bankline stretch at best is minimal.
5. Paracord kernmantle is slick making knots are prone to slippage. Bankline being tarred tightly hold knots including when soaking in water. Bankline name fishing from bank to bank.
6. Paracord when wet loses strength, not so for Bankline. For a ridgeline Paracord is prone to sag requiring tightening, Bankline does not.
7. Paracord shows some level of UV light resistance. Bankline has excellent UV light resistance.
8. When it is cold Paracord can be easier to work with than Bankline; tar becomes stiff. Even with that during inclement weather Bankline is a better choice than Paracord.
For my use I prefer twisted Bankline over braided. When I need smaller strands Twisted has three strands easy to unwind. Bankline is black, making it a better fishing line, for traps snares, and the like, than the white inner cords of paracord.
We all do it different...
Although I don't use prisic. You can also make the prusic with two/three jungle knots, then you don't need a toggle..
I'm surprised the 505 prusik gripped to the bank line ridge. I read a lot that the prusik line should preferably be the thinner than ridgeline material.
Maybe stickiness of bank line is helping grip. 🤔
Yeh, the bank is thinner, but grips a bit too well, doesn't loosen off easily to slide. A bit too aggressive on the para. Fiddly too. Maybe good if you're more patient. For me, can't beat paracord.
Too much rambling you need to focus