Outdoor
Hollow UHMWPE Braided Cord — 1.3mm / 1.6mm / 2mm Spliceable Outdoor Cord
Reviews
4.5/ 5
Brand emma kites
- 5 stars 8
- 4 stars 1
- 3 stars 1
- 2 stars 1
- 1 star 0
Product description
Product contents and sizes: Each purchase supplies hollow braided UHMWPE cord in your chosen diameter — 1.3mm, 1.6mm or 2mm — provided on a spool for easy handling. The hollow construction makes the line spliceable for creating whoopie slings, continuous loops and soft shackles.
Material and strength: Woven from 100% UHMWPE fibers (the same high-performance fiber sold under various trade names), the cord achieves very high tensile ratings in a lightweight package. Depending on diameter, working ratings range roughly from the mid-hundreds to around 1000 lb equivalent performance when properly used.
Low stretch and handling: UHMWPE fibers exhibit minimal elongation under load, so this cord keeps ridgelines and tarps stable and reduces the need for constant retensioning. The braid is smooth and relatively stiff, which helps it slide cleanly over hardware and through larks-heads without snagging.
Practical outdoor use: Common applications include guy lines, tarp ridgelines and rain-fly setups, hammock ridgelines, whoopie slings, bear hangs, light hauling, emergency kits, and soft shackle construction. The hollow braid supports standard splicing techniques and small marlinspike work to create custom loops and terminations.
Durability and care: UHMWPE has low water absorption, strong resistance to many chemicals and good UV and abrasion resistance, which extends service life in rugged conditions. Note that the very slick surface can make some knots less secure, and some users report color transfer or an initial odor on certain color batches — trimming, whipping or splicing ends and burning or sealing tips as appropriate will tidy the finish.
Pros
- Extremely high strength-to-weight ratio
- Very low stretch under load
- Good abrasion and moisture resistance
Cons
- Very slippery surface can make knots unreliable
- Thin diameters may not work well with some friction hitches
- Occasional reports of color transfer or odor on some spools
VerdictThis hollow UHMWPE braided cord offers very high strength for very low weight and almost no stretch under working load, making it a smart choice for ultralight campers and anyone needing reliable cordage for ridgelines, tethers and soft shackles. Its slick, smooth braid reduces tangles and slides easily through hardware, though that same slickness means knot choice matters. Overall it delivers lon
Reviews
-
Jake B. 5/5
Good for custom slings and lanyards
Made shepherd’s slings by threading a wire and using fids to splice the ends. The finished sling doubles as a solid phone lanyard and holds up well in daily use.
-
HPDinAK 5/5
Lighter and stronger alternative to paracord
Picked up two spools of the 2mm — rated near 1000 lb — and it’s almost twice the strength of standard paracord while being smaller and lighter. I keep it in my emergency kit; just be aware it’s slick, so choose knots accordingly.
-
Rick Holgate 5/5
Ideal for tarp ridgelines and guylines
Used these lengths for a tarp ridgeline and guylines on several outings. They held tension well with almost no stretch, are tough and water-resistant, and knots held reliably. I made multiple line kits for my gear and always pack one.
-
Anna H. 5/5
Perfect for bear hangs and long treks
Replaced my bear hang line with this and it performed flawlessly. Lighter than my old cord, it slides easily and didn’t catch on branches. It held food and full packs without showing fray, and after a 95-mile trip I had no complaints.
-
FRANCISCO F. SOUZA 5/5
Worth the purchase
Good product overall — reliable and well-made.
-
sak 2/5
Wrong diameter shipped
Item did not match the listing: I ordered a 2.5mm but received 1.3mm instead.
-
Joan B. 5/5
Solved a kayak control cable replacement
Needed a replacement for rudder control cable in older kayaks; 1.3mm fit where the 1.5mm wire ran. The new line eliminated friction inside the nylon sleeve and restored smooth rudder action. Tip: cut off a fitting, flush the tube with soapy water, work the old wire to free rust, then blow it dry before feeding the new line.
-
Jeremiah Blatz 4/5
Functional but some quality inconsistencies
Bought the black 1.3mm for small soft shackles and it works, but the braid had stray yarns in spots like a mid-run splice and the color rubbed a little when handled. It splices and forms tidy soft shackles and lanyards, though I’d hesitate to trust the published SWL for heavy loads without further testing.
-
Cedric 59 5/5
High-quality UHMWPE
Clear UHMWPE/Dyneema quality — well made and performs like premium dyneema.
-
Seul 5/5
Strong, light, spliceable but thin for prusiks
This cord felt very strong and is noticeably light. I saw almost no stretch when used as a tarp ridgeline, but because it’s slim my prusik knots don’t grip as well so I reverted to paracord for that task. I was able to splice it into continuous loops by untwisting about an inch and tapering the strands; it didn’t fray during my splicing attempts.
-
Nicolò 3/5
Fades faster than other lines
Solid strength and works well for splices, but the color fades noticeably faster than other ropes I’ve used.
Comments
No comments yet.
Sign in or sign up to comment.