Aside from perhaps a good pair of boots, if you ask any seasoned outdoorsman what the most important thing to bring with you on an outdoor excursion is, the chances are they'll tell you to bring a good ol' length of rope. Sometimes it's the simplest things that can prove the most useful, and there's as many uses for rope as there are tired remarks about how long a length of it is. Whether potentially saving your life or just making a few simple tasks a bit easier, here's some handy uses for rope you can utilize on your next outdoor excursion. As always, you can find an extensive selection of ropes at our main site, Ropes Direct.
Rescue Line
Aside from a life preserver and an inflatable jacket, if you happen to be traversing over a body of water (either on foot or in a boat) then you should absolutely keep a length of sturdy rope handy to use as a rescue line should somebody fall in the water. Should you pass through a body of water with a heavy current (either river rapids or the sea), your rope can also be used be anchor yourself or your craft so you don't get swept away.
Clothesline
If you do happen to take a tumble into the water as mentioned above, then surely you're going to want to dry off your wet clothes at some point (hope you've brought some spares!). All you need to do is tie your rope between two appropriately spaced tree trunks and branches and there you have it- your own rudimentary clothesline.
Keeping Things Together
A roll of sticky tape may not get you too far in the open wilderness, but a length of sturdy bungee cord might. Short lengths of rope, particularly elasticated ones, are perfect for bundling together things that need to be rolled up (such as sleeping mats), and are an excellent way to keep hold circular or tubular goods such as paddles, rod tubes or stary tent pegs.
Navigation Aid
Setting aside for a moment its uses in abseiling and rappelling, a solid, sturdy length of rope can be a lifesaver when traversing dangerous or unstable terrain. If your party is having particular difficulty crossing a patch of land or water it may be a good idea to send the most capable member of your group out first with a length of rope, so that they can secure the rope to something sturdy when they reach their destination. This will give the rest of the party something to hold onto and act as a crutch as they cross through the difficult area.
Towing Device
Got something large or heavy that needs to be moved? You'll cover much more ground attaching some rope to it and dragging it along with you than you would by simply carrying it. Brush up on your knots though if you plan on dragging anything long distance, you don't want to be stopping constantly to re-tie a weak knot.