Ropes Direct – Play Outdoors Equipment

Posted in Garden & Outdoors, Sports and Leisure | No Comments » | August 29th, 2018

As we enter into the Summer, you most probably want to get your children off of their game consoles and out into the fresh air to enjoy the sunlight for the coming months. This Summer make sure your kids are outside in the sunshine having fun! Ropes Direct have a whole host of rope-based play […]

The definitive guide to paracord

Posted in Rope Knowledge | No Comments » | August 21st, 2018

Want the lowdown on paracord? You couldn’t have landed on a better blog. RopesDirect is a leading online supplier for braids, cords and paracords in the UK – and our knowledge in this area is pretty excellent (even if we do say so ourselves). To get to grips with this popular type of rope – […]

The Guide to Tying knots for the Sea and Outdoors (Infographic)

Posted in Rope Knowledge | No Comments » | August 16th, 2018

Scouts and Guides are taught how to tie varying knots. In fact, there are some pretty cool badges to be won for any kids who are able to respond to different challenges with the use of the right ropes and knots. Plus, any outdoorsman or boatsman can describe to you the importance of knowing which […]

A Comprehensive Guide to Yacht Ropes

Posted in Boating, Marine and Yachting, Rope Knowledge | No Comments » | July 30th, 2018

Whether you’re jetting off abroad or simply heading for a UK holiday hotspot, summer is the perfect time to explore the coastline on a boat or yacht. It’s a chance to take in the scenery, enjoy the sunshine, and have a little fun; however, if it’s your first time actually sailing the yacht by yourself, […]

Choosing the Right Chain for the Job: Brass Chains vs. Steel Chains

Posted in Rope Knowledge | No Comments » | July 23rd, 2018

At some point in your life, the chances are, you’re going to need a metal link chain of some sort. From securing a personal possession in your back garden or public space to pulling or lifting something heavy at work, they have a wide range of day-to-day domestic, commercial and industrial applications, and it’s important […]

Ratchet Straps – What Are They? And How to Use Them

Posted in Fittings, Tools and Accessories, Rope Knowledge | No Comments » | June 27th, 2018

When it comes time to move a fragile, heavy or awkward item, we can often find ourselves looking around for something to secure it with – a rope, a belt, or a strap – but often even our most ingenious ad-hoc lashings aren’t enough to guarantee a safe, stress-free journey. Thankfully, whether you are in […]

10 Awesome Sports and Activities That Use Ropes

Posted in Sports and Leisure | No Comments » | June 25th, 2018

Not only do ropes come in all shapes and sizes, but they can also be used in a variety of ways. While some creative minds choose to decorate household items with sisal ropes, sailors, on the other hand, appreciate the safety value of strong lines as they anchor boats to harbour. And if we inspected […]

The Comprehensive Guide to Choosing Fender Ropes

Posted in Boating, Marine and Yachting | No Comments » | May 17th, 2018

Along any marina, or on any yacht or sailing boat, coils of rope can be seen around the edge of the boat’s hull and lining the edges of the moorings and docks. These are boat fenders, made with fender ropes, and they serve a vital function in protecting boats and marinas from damage. What are […]

Rope Ladders & Swings: The Perfect Adventure Toys!

Posted in * Customer Case Studies, Garden & Outdoors | No Comments » | April 19th, 2018

At Ropes Direct, we know the importance of having fun – especially for children who want nothing more than to adventure outside for a while! That’s why we have put together the Play is Fun! range, which includes rope ladders, climbing ropes, rope swings and much, much more. Whatever you are setting up for your […]

Bungee Cords / Jumping: The Beginners Introduction

Tags: bungee, bunjie, shock, shock cord
Posted in Rope Knowledge | No Comments » | March 29th, 2018

WHAT IS A BUNGEE CORD (SHOCK CORD) You may often hear the bungee cord referred to as a shock cord. Or you may see it spelled as ‘bungie.’ Either way you come across it, the object is an elastic cord made up of one or more elastic strands forming a resistant and stretchable core. They […]

What are Snap Hooks?

Posted in Fittings, Tools and Accessories | No Comments » | March 27th, 2018

In some applications, connecting ropes to a rig or to one another requires a versatile, reversible connection, which can be quickly applied and removed to adapt to changing conditions. Usually seen in barrier ropes, lanyards, keychains, pet leads and other applications requiring flexibility and adaptability, the Snap Hooks from Ropes Direct are the ideal solution […]

Why Choose RopesDirect for Your Bannister Ropes?

Posted in Home and Interiors | No Comments » | March 20th, 2018

Bannister ropes – sometimes spelled banister ropes – are sometimes used in place of a rigid bannister railing, providing an attractive handrail on staircases which fits with many interior design themes, actively contributing to the aesthetic of the area while providing a strong, sturdy and comfortable railing for staircase users. Lots of different ropes can […]

What Do I Need to Install a Barrier Rope?

Tags: barrier rope
Posted in Fittings, Tools and Accessories, Home and Interiors | No Comments » | March 1st, 2018

Barrier ropes are a common sight in a huge variety of applications, from docks and cliff faces to galas and high-class cultural events. To have such a range, from the purely practical to the aesthetic, speaks of their versatility and quality – quality that Ropes Direct is happy to provide to our customers! Practical, long-lasting, […]

What is Manila Rope? And Uses

Tags: mailla, manilla rope, rope
Posted in Boating, Marine and Yachting, Events and Marquees, Garden & Outdoors, Natural Products | No Comments » | February 23rd, 2018

Manila Rope is a natural fibre rope which has been in use for centuries in a huge range of applications, owing to its durability, flexibility, strength and resistance to water damage. Manila rope is made from naturally-occurring Manila hemp, derived from the leaves of the abacá plant – a particularly strong, tough natural fibre which […]

Battle Rope: Everything You Need To Know

Tags: battle ropes
Posted in Sports and Leisure | No Comments » | February 1st, 2018

Which ropes have brought about a revolution to fitness? Battle ropes! It turns out you can do much more than tie knots with ropes. Nowadays ropes are being creatively utilised as decorating accessories for homes and fashion. They are maintaining their functional benefit as tools for sailing and climbing. And if you have walked into […]

Polypropylene ropes available at RopesDirect

The advantages of polypropylene rope

Posted in Construction and Groundworks, Fishing, Farming, Forestry, Garden & Outdoors, Utilities and Industry | No Comments » | January 29th, 2018

Need a rope that’s suitable for outdoors? Perhaps one that can handle water? Our polypropylene ropes could be an excellent choice. At RopesDirect, we currently stock the traditional bestseller – blue polypropylene – as well as polypropylene ropes and cords in a range of other colours. These are classed as ‘general purpose’ ropes, suitable for […]

The Difference Between Synthetic and Flax Hemp Rope

Tags: flax hemp rope, natural rope, synthetic hemp rope
Posted in Natural Products, Rope Knowledge | No Comments » | January 18th, 2018

At Ropes Direct, we stock a huge variety of ropes to suit any requirements which you may have. Part of our selection includes a choice of synthetic hemp rope and natural flax hemp rope – but what’s the difference? The Differences Flax hemp rope is woven from naturally occurring hemp fibres – exactly as it […]

Rope Wall Installation

Posted in * Customer Case Studies | No Comments » | November 16th, 2017

With many thanks to Eileen at Nemus Bespoke Commercial Interiors for sending through this image. They are creating 9 of these walls for a client and have used our 10mm white braid on braid polyester for the rope. Springs have been set inside the frame to keep the ropes taught with the help of some […]

The Rope-way to Rock Climbing

Posted in Sports and Leisure | No Comments » | November 15th, 2017

Rock climbing is quickly becoming one of Britain’s popular pastimes and hobbies. In the last five years alone, the number of people participating in the British Mountaineering Council has increased by around 50% – a clear indication of the rapid rise in popularity for the sport. Here, Ropes Direct have explored all things rock climbing, […]

Jute Cord Coasters

Posted in Crafts and Hobbies | No Comments » | October 4th, 2017

We recently supplied Bridget (Artist, Illustrator & Designer) with some of our 6mm braided jute cord using which she made these two coasters. I think they look fantastic and you can see more of her creative work and designs at www.vibrante.co.uk

Wheatfen Forest School

Posted in * Customer Case Studies | No Comments » | September 29th, 2017

Many thanks to Rose at Wheatfen Forest School in Norfolk for access to this image of some of our Synthetic Hemp Rope in use. Taken from their new website which can be seen at http://www.wheatfenforestschool.co.uk/ We have also supplied them with bungee cord and coloured polypropylene cords although I couldn’t see them so easily in […]

NCI Coastwatch Wells-next-the-Sea

Tags: blue rope
Posted in * Customer Case Studies | No Comments » | August 14th, 2017

With many thanks to Alwyn for sending through this image of some 28mm blue polypropylene rope we supplied them with for their walkway. We put a soft eye splice in to one end of both ropes with a metal ring inserted. See more about their work at http://www.coastwatchwells.org.uk/

Bespoke Reels of Blue Polypropylene Rope

Posted in News from RopesDirect | No Comments » | May 7th, 2017

We have just completed an order for bulk reels of blue polypropylene rope in 4mm, 10mm & 14mm. Each reel needed to be a continuous length of 2,500m without any knots, splices or joins. The order was for 20,000m and as such was sufficient for us to approach one of our manufacturers. Production took around […]

Climbing Knots – The Beginners’ Guide

Tags: climbing, climbing knots, climbing rope, knots, rope
Posted in Rope Knowledge | No Comments » | April 1st, 2017

If you’re looking to get into climbing or mountaineering, you’ll need some good rope and will need to know how to tie a range of knots depending upon the specific activities you will be taking part in. It really isn’t an exaggeration to say that the ability to tie a safe, secure and reliable knot […]

The Beginners’ Guide To Sailing Knots

Tags: sailing, sailing knots, sailing rope
Posted in Rope Knowledge | No Comments » | March 24th, 2017

If you’re looking to take up sailing, two of the things you will need is some good rope for mooring and rigging, among other things, and the ability to tie a variety of knots for different purposes while sailing. Below we outline the types of knots you’ll need while sailing, the purpose of each knot, […]