Rope materials: a beginner’s guide to different types of rope

Not sure which rope to buy? Many of our customers have the same dilemma. After all, there are so many different types of rope available.

Choosing the best one for your needs can feel like a bit of a puzzle. The key to success is to select the right rope material for the job.

Classified as either ‘natural' or ‘synthetic', each material has different properties – making it more or less suited to a particular application. Some are better for indoor use. Others are better for the outdoors. Some are stronger and more durable. Others are softer to touch, etc.

To help with your decision, here we've created a quick guide – with a summary of the most popular rope materials and the jobs and projects they're best suited for.

So, before you add anything to your basket, why not take a look? And make doubly sure you're on the right track.

The most popular rope materials

Cotton Ropes

Derived from the seed of the cotton plant, cotton is a natural rope material. It absorbs liquids very easily and therefore tends to sink in water. 

It’s a safe, eco-friendly option that's incredibly soft to touch. And although it's sold unbleached and colour-free, it can be hand-dyed to suit your preferences or requirements. Cotton rope is more susceptible to abrasion than many other ropes.

Manila Ropes

Manila is a natural rope fibre, produced from the abacá plant. Although it's not actually made from hemp, it is often referred to as ‘manila hemp' due to its hemp-like properties. For example, it demonstrates excellent levels of strength, flexibility, durability, and resistance to UV. However, it absorbs water – shrinking (and sinking) when wet. And if left outdoors for long periods, it is susceptible to the elements and will rot and break down over time.

Jute, Sisal Ropes, and Twines

Jute and sisal are both derived from plants, Corchorus Capsularis and Agave Sisalana, respectively. Not only are they inherently strong, but they're also resilient to wear and tear and resistant to sunlight. They demonstrate little to no stretching. Thanks to their rough texture, they have excellent knot-ability. And the best bit? They're 100% sustainable, biodegradable, and compostable. Please note that much of the jute rope we sell has a synthetic rope core for added strength.

Polypropylene rope

Polypropylene is a great all-rounder. As a synthetic rope material, it has a number of useful properties. For example, it doesn't absorb liquid and floats on water. It demonstrates good resistance to UV and abrasion and is rot-proof. It's strong and hard-wearing (despite being lightweight) and has a high melting point of 165˚C. Available in a variety of sizes and colours, it's suitable for a range of domestic and business purposes.

Synthetic hemp

Synthetic hemp is made from spun polypropylene and looks like a natural hemp rope. Offering the best of both worlds – synthetic hemp boasts the rustic appearance of a rope that's made from plant fibres, yet has all the benefits of being manufactured from a synthetic material. It doesn't shrink or swell when wet. It's soft-to-touch yet easy to grip. And most importantly, it's strong, durable, and weather-resistant – allowing it to be kept outside for long periods.

Nylon rope

Nylon is a popular rope material. Made from polyamide fibres, it boasts a range of useful properties – including exceptional industrial-grade strength, very good UV and abrasion resistance, and a 215˚C melting point. It's also highly flexible and shock-absorbent, capable of stretching by up to 20% and returning to its original length. However, it does soak up water quite quickly and takes a while to dry.

Polyester rope

Polyester shares many of the same properties as nylon, and it is often used in place of nylon. For example, it's strong, low-stretch, and durable. It demonstrates excellent resistance to UV rays, abrasion, rot, and chemicals, and has a high melting point of 260˚C. But it has one major difference – although it will sink, it exhibits low water absorption, remaining soft and flexible when wet and is much better suited to marine-based applications.

As a result of its qualities, polyester is often used as the cover for other rope fibres.

HMPE rope

HMPE (High Modulus Polyethylene) ropes are high-performance ropes, with a diverse range of useful properties. First and foremost, they have an incredible strength-to-weight ratio (at least eight times stronger than hardened steel). They also demonstrate good UV resistance and excellent abrasion resistance.

They have a high melting point of 135-145˚C, and they don't absorb water – making them ideal for marine use. They are low-stretch, which is why they are often chosen for winching and towing. They are often used in place of steel wire.

Find the right rope type at RopesDirect

If you still need help choosing the right rope for your project, think about what the rope will be used for and remember to always read the product description very carefully. We’re also home to a Rope Finder tool that contains a vast amount of information and use cases for all of our rope products, and should also help to point you in the right direction.

But if you're still struggling to decide, or have any questions about rope fibres, please don't hesitate to get in touch. We're friendly, knowledgeable, and always at the other end of the phone!