Which is the best type of rope for crowd control?

Organising a busy event? It’s important to do your research and invest in the right crowd control ropes.

From implementing successful health and safety to ensuring the day goes as smoothly as possible, their benefits cannot be underestimated – especially if you’re expecting a large number of attendees. And it’s certainly not a case of buying the first rope you see.

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In terms of priority, picking the best crowd control rope is up there with choosing a venue or deciding on a caterer. It’s crucial that you get the right balance between aesthetics and practicality, and select a product that works for your specific event and budget.

Here we list the top three most popular barrier ropes for crowd control. So why not set aside 10 minutes to consider each and make your purchase with confidence?

3 barrier ropes that are perfect for crowd control

All available to purchase at the leading online store, RopesDirect.

PolySilk

A premium option that will look the part at an exclusive or high-end event.

PolySilk is a traditional three-strand barrier rope.

Made from robust multifilament polypropylene fibres, they’re luxurious yet hard-wearing, making them suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. And as they’re primarily designed for access control, they’re typically sold in ready-made lengths with the relevant brassware.

Just clip them onto your chosen barrier posts and organise the crowds in style.

Key features:

Luxurious, elegant appearance
Soft and smooth feel
Choice of colours to match the event theme and décor
Lightweight and easy to move
UV stabilised
Fully weather-resistant
Excellent durability
Very little stretch, even whilst wet
Easy to splice

Synthetic hemp

Perfect if you’d like a ‘traditional’ rope look, without compromising on hardiness.

Synthetic hemp offers the best of both worlds.

Not only is it aesthetically pleasing, with a beautiful natural hemp appearance. As it’s made entirely from spun polyester, it’s also one of the strongest and most durable options available. This makes it a great choice for long-term or recurring events both indoors and outdoors.

It comes in a range of diameters to suit your specific needs or preferences, and can be easily paired with brass rope fittings for the purpose of crowd control and queue organisation.

Key features:

Soft to the touch
Smooth and doesn’t splinter
Flexible and easy to handle
A natural look and feel
Highly durable
Fully weatherproof
UV resistant
Doesn’t shrink or swell when wet
Easy to splice

Natural ropes

Crafted from plant fibres, natural ropes certainly can’t compete with synthetic options in terms of their strength and durability – and they wouldn’t be our no.1 choice for a long-standing alfresco event. But they’re still tough enough for short-term outdoor use or indoor venues.

Jute rope is a particularly popular option, especially if it has a synthetic core for extra strength.

Prefer to keep things au naturale? Manila is the best 100% natural option. It has that all-important rustic rope look, but is also inherently strong. And, as it contains natural oils, it can withstand the elements and is better suited to outdoor conditions than other natural ropes.

Top tip: if you do choose a natural crowd control rope, just remember to add a little extra (around 10-15%) to the total length required. This accounts for shrinkage when it gets wet.

Key features:

Environmentally friendly
Biodegradable
Authentic natural appearance
Soft to the touch
Lightweight and flexible
Resistant to UV and abrasion
Inherent tensile strength
Easy to splice

Made your decision?

All three of these crowd control barrier ropes can be used in indoor and outdoor venues, and provide the perfect combination of style, practicality and hardiness. They’re also all available to buy for a fantastic price at RopesDirect – a leading online supplier with thousands of happy customers.

So why not head over to their website and browse the full range of crowd control ropes? If you’re still unsure of the best product for your specific event or occasion, they even have a ‘Help Choosing Rope’ page with lots of additional information that could help.

David Prior

David Prior is the editor of Today News, responsible for the overall editorial strategy. He is an NCTJ-qualified journalist with over 20 years’ experience, and is also editor of the award-winning hyperlocal news title Altrincham Today. His LinkedIn profile is here.