Joel Hooks

Joel Hooks is always up on the latest materials, techniques and trends in parachute cord, due to his day job as project manager for Pepperell Braiding Company—the world's leading parachute cord manufacturer and supplier. At Pepperell, Joel gets immersed in all aspects of parachute cord—from operating the machines that make it, to giving demonstrations on knot tying, and everything in between.

Joel learned the basics of knot craft as a teenager, camping with the Boy Scouts in his native Texas. Joel says that his scouting days helped to lay the foundation for his current career. "We loved to build rope bridges using Monkey's Fist knots, and our patrol was really big on the knot relays," he recalls. "A lot of my foundation was with the BSA.”

Joel Hooks is also known for his expertise as a classic banjo enthusiast! He specializes in styles that were popular during the mid-late 19th century. Carefully researched and recreated, the music he plays comes directly from the source, paying particular attention to documented techniques of the greats.