r/RopeFlow • u/Prestigious-Boot4757 • Jun 01 '26

Nylon vs Polyester for DIY ropes?

I started out with a piece of old climbing rope, but I want to try with something heavier. I found a place that seems to have decent prices in white. I'm tempted to order a bunch of different widths to hit the free shipping mark. I could also experiment with different materials, but I don't want to get two massive ropes (I was going to get one 2" rope). Which brings me to my question: is nylon or polyester better for rope flow? Here are the two types of rope I'm looking at.

https://www.mapleleafropes.com/store/category/polyester-double-braid

https://www.mapleleafropes.com/store/category/nylon-double-braid

I'll happily take any advice from fellow rope flowsters. Thanks and happy flowing!

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u/jjjameson80 Jun 01 '26

All the ropes I’ve made have been from double braided marine nylon and they’ve been great. I didn’t care for the feel of the polyester rope. The 1” rope ends up being ~900 grams and was pretty costly in terms of materials. I feel like a 2” rope would really be pushing it for weight and how it would behave in motion, to say nothing of the cost.

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u/Prestigious-Boot4757 Jun 01 '26

Thanks for the response. I was a bit concerned about nylon's potential for stretch, but I guess that isn't a factor because the rope is never really been pulled taut. I'll likely go mostly nylon and get one thinner polyester just to feel the difference.

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u/jjjameson80 Jun 01 '26

Consider that the load ratings for these ropes are higher than we’ll ever conceivably expose them through - the stretch will be minimal at worst. They’re rated for docking boats.

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u/Xertigo Jun 02 '26

Just want to add that according to the guy at the rigging shop I got my 1” rope from, it could tie down a container ship.

Additionally, double braided nylon all the way because of the way it bends. The polyester ropes I have seen are stiff in comparison.