Favorite Shock Cord...

[thinwater]

... or rather bungees that don't suck.


I guess I've never expected much of bungees or kept track of which were better. I'm sure we'd all love to hear of what is good.


But I'm really thinking bulk cord. I've been disappointed many times by chandlery cord used to either pull sliders back, control slack, or close bags. The UV eats them in no time. So what lasts better?

• WM (who knows)
• Defender (RO Knitting)
• Sailrite (NE Ropes)
• APS (Novabraid)
• APS Solid Cord (don't know)
• Amazon. I got a spool of some pretty good stuff from there a few years ago.
• Put webbing over it as a cover?
• Something else?

[txg]

After being disappointed at least as many times as you we decided to stop using shock cord. We use webbing straps with a loop on one end for everything, they last much longer.

[dfelsent]

10 years ago on a previous boat I bought APS solid core. Got 5 years in New England before I sold the boat. It was still good.

[Stu Jackson]

I was looking for basic white shock cord that I was used to in California. Here they claim it disintegrates in the sun and sell mostly black. We'll see.

[Benz]

Robline (or Ronstan), makes dyneema-covered shock cord that I use quite a lot. It's supposed to have better UV and wear resistance than other shock cords. Comes in black and white in a variety of sizes. WM sells SS hogrings and pliers for them, which come in handy for attaching it.

[thinwater]

Originally Posted by dfelsent

10 years ago on a previous boat I bought APS solid core. Got 5 years in New England before I sold the boat. It was still good.

How did you terminate the ends?

[wrwakefield]

TW,

Will solid polyeurathane shock cord suit some of your needs?

I have experienced very good longevity from bulk solid polyeurathane shock cord [in different diameters] using the hooks that attach anywhere along the length of cord, including the ends...

I have some that is over 20 years old and still like new. Good UV resistance.

As an example, when ATV camping in the boondocks, we use a 40 foot length of 3/8 inch diameter polyeurathane cord to support the apex of a para tarp. [i.e., Noah's Tarp]

They are still effective and flexible in very cold conditions as well. [Tested at -40°F in Fairbanks Alaska, but retraction is s l o w — hours— unless warmed up a bit...]

Covering with Dyneema chafe sleeve improves resiliency.

I have also used the manufactured versions with nylon hooks. They also last quite a while. [Here is an example, but I have no experience with this vendor's products...]

I discovered with the older stock I have that if left elongated [in tension] for an extended periods of time [many months] they are slow to retract to original length, and if overstretched [e.g., ~>40%?] they may never fully recover [shrink to original length...]

In case this is worth persuing...

Cheers! Bill

[Sailmonkey]

The covered solid core shock cord has given me good service.

Covered Solid Elastomer Stretch Cord | APS

Although I soon learned that hog rings were not this cords favorite thing. I ended up typing a figure 8 loop and seizing the knot with adhesive lined heat shrink tubing.

[dfelsent]

Originally Posted by thinwater

How did you terminate the ends?

I melted the cover a bit and whipped the ends. I used stainless hog rings (but not very tight) to make the eyes.

[thinwater]

Originally Posted by dfelsent

I melted the cover a bit and whipped the ends. I used stainless hog rings (but not very tight) to make the eyes.

Of course.


What I actually wondered about was the solid cord sold without the cover. I call APS and they said hog rings (not too tight) was the preferred method. They also said the riggers prefer the covered version.