Jute Twine the Forgotten Cordage

Jute twine has always been a valuable asset to my bushcraft and survival kits. With the rise in popularity of other cordages like bankline, paracord and amsteel, jute has been forgotten about by so many.

The Many Uses of Jute Twine

I would like to share with you some of jute twines' many uses. This forgotten cordage is versatile, budget-friendly and can be purchased at almost any store. These factors make it an essential piece to any outdoorsman’s kit. 

Jute Twine as a Tinder Source

The first being it can serve as a light-weight tinder source for fire starting, weighing only 4.6 ounces for an entire 190-foot roll. Processing roughly 2 feet typically provides a sufficient amount to create your tinder bundle. The natural fibers can be unwound and roughed apart by hand to create ample surface area when using char cloth with flint and steel or a ferrocerium rod. If you are using UCO matches, a lighter, or an open flame, a single strand of jute dipped into any type of wax or vaseline will extend the burn time. Burn baby burn!

Jute Twine as a Candle

Another way to utilize jute is to reverse-wrap a 3-foot section, thus creating thicker cordage, which will give us the ability to use it as a candle or grease lamp wick. This handcrafted wick can provide essential lighting for an hour or more. 

Jute Twine Can Assist in Building Tools

It may not be the first thing you might think to use in lashing your camp projects, but jute can also assist in building tools such as a rope spinner to create stronger cordage.

The uses of jute can be endless, leaving little excuse not to bring it along . I challenge you, on your next journey, to utilize jute twine and see how many practical uses it can provide you. 

Written by: Mike Gasper