Rope Best Sellers: The Manila, Dock Line, Sisal Coils and Sash Cord Kiwis Are Buying Now

Summer's on the way, which means garden projects, deck and fence jobs, and boats coming back out to the marina. We've gone back through our real orders from the last 90 days to see which ropes from our Rope | Cordage range people are actually buying. This round has a bit of everything: the classic natural ropes, a rot-free alternative, proper mooring line, and a couple of bulk coils for the bigger jobs.

Quick heads-up: a lot of our rope is cut to length and sold by the metre, so you only pay for what you need. Where something comes as a coil, we've said so.

1. Manila Rope by the Metre: still our number one

Nothing else in the range comes close. Manila Rope by the Metre was our top-selling rope over the last three months, well ahead of everything else. It's a 3-strand natural fibre rope in a nut-brown colour. It's tougher than sisal, has high abrasion resistance, sinks, and is biodegradable. People use it for traditional boat lines and hawsers, and for crafts and furniture too. One thing worth knowing: manila shrinks when it gets wet, most of all the first time, so allow for that when you cut. Sizes run from 4mm up to 48mm, cut anywhere from 1m to 250m, from $0.70 per metre. More in manila rope sizes and coils.

2. Donaghys 20mm Synthetic PPE Manila: the look without the rot

If you like the look of manila but don't want natural fibre breaking down outdoors, the Donaghys 20mm Synthetic PPE Manila is the one people are picking up. It's high-strength polypropylene in a weathered dark tan, so you get that classic nautical look without rot or the musty smell that natural fibres can get. It's flexible, holds a knot well and lets go easily when you need to adjust it, and it works indoors or out. It's 20mm thick and $3.99 per metre. See the wider Pro-Manila synthetic manila range.

3. Fineline Nylon Dock Line: mooring season sorted

With boats heading back into the water, Fineline Nylon Dock Line has been selling steadily. It's 100% UV-stabilised marine nylon with a black outer cover. It stretches a lot, which is what you want in a mooring line or sea anchor line because it soaks up the snatch loads. It's easy to splice, and nylon handles abrasion around concrete and metal better than polyester does. You can get 8mm to 24mm cut to length from $2.90 per metre. If you're kitting out a marina berth or a few boats, it also comes on a 100m reel. Browse braided nylon ropes and general marine ropes.

4. Sisal Rope Coils: bulk natural rope

Plenty of people who buy sisal by the metre eventually move up to a full coil, and our Sisal Rope Coils have been doing well. Sisal is a natural fibre with great grip and holds a knot well. It's a go-to for gardening, landscaping, farm jobs, bundling, DIY and rustic decorating. Coils run from 4mm x 300m up to 16mm x 250m, from $89.70 a coil. More in sisal ropes.

5. Fineline Sash Cord 150m: a niche cord that keeps selling

Our sleeper hit this round is the NZ-made Sash Cord. It's a hard-lay solid braid in high-tenacity UV polyester, made for sash windows and handy as a general-purpose braid around the house. It isn't made for heavy loads, so keep it away from lifting or towing. It comes in solid black or white, 3mm to 9mm, on 150m coils from $48.38. See Fineline sash cord and the wider braided polyester range.

Also popular right now

• Polyester 3-Strand Rope with Blue Tracer: low-stretch, UV-resistant rope that's popular for anchor warps and mooring lines. 110m and 220m coils from $91.58 (3-strand polyester anchor ropes).
• Braided Polyblend Twine: sinking twine on a 1kg spool, used for longline dropper lines and general tying, from $39.99.

Whether you're doing up the garden, tidying the mooring or stocking the shed, these are the ropes Kiwis are genuinely buying right now. Plenty of them suit boating and village use around the Pacific Islands too. Email sales@actionoutdoors.kiwi for export enquiries.

Browse our full range at actionoutdoors.kiwi.