Paracord

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Every now and then I surprise myself when it turns out I am lacking in having something on hand that could rightly be considered a ‘must have’. As it turns out, I don’t have near enough paracord.

Military guys can attest that paracord (or 550 cord) is some pretty handy stuff. Unfortunately, like many bits of cool gear, there are always inferior knockoffs out there that will try to catch the poor fool whose only consideration is price.

Real paracord is, usually, seven strands, each strand comprised of three smaller, within a sheath of olive material. Knockoffs are often a couple strands or even just some thin poly twine. Amazon has no shortage of suppliers of paracord in various colors, so read carefully. I went with this.

I usually just wind my paracord up like a ball of yarn, throw a ‘ranger rubber band”* around it to keep it together, and leave it in my Bag O’ Tricks ™. You never know when a hank of the stuff is going to come in handy. For knocking around in the boonies, you definitely want a bunch of this stuff with you for making shelters, repairing gear, replacing shoelaces, etc. The craftier among us will use their grunts-n-crafts skills to make slings, belts, bracelets, handle covers, and anything else that gives them a convenient way to keep a good bit of paracord handy. Go Google ‘paracord project’ and see the amazing things people can do with an unlimited amount of paracord and time.

It’s a little silly to list all the suggested use for paracord because they are pretty much infinite and situation-dependent. Its accurate to say that your imagination and creativity is about the only limit to the use of the stuff. BUT….you gotta have it to begin with. So, if you’re not already roaming the realm with some of this stuff in your gear, its definitely a worthy addition.

* = Ranger rubber bands are cross sections cut from innertubes to make incredibly tough and cheap rubber bands.

21 thoughts on “Paracord”

  1. In addition to the 550 paracord, it’s nice to also have the stronger 750 and 1100 lb strengths on hand. Never know when you’ll have to string something up and or hang a large mass of weight… like a deer.

    • Yeah, I didnt even know there was such a thing as 750 cord but apparently there is. Might have to get some to try out.

  2. Accept no substitutes.

    And BTW, look down as well as up.
    The lighter-strength cords (95#, etc.), now available in the same rainbow of colors, are the exact cordage found pre-sewn into USGI survival vests, to dummy-cord things like compasses, flashlights, and other important gear, so that even when you take critical items out of vest pockets, you’re not going to drop them out of a liferaft, off a cliff, etc. For but a couple of examples, Hobby Lobby and Michael’s Crafts stores peg the 95# stuff right alongside the 550# sizes. Like chocolate and vanilla, steak and lobster, or blondes and brunettes, the correct answer is “Both, please.”

    I also have older survival vests and equipment where the dotmil contractors used braided big game 150# fishing line for the exact same purpose.

    550 Paracord is just one color in the rainbow of useful cordage.

  3. Forgive me, in your post that link that you have to Amazon, are you saying that what is found there is NOT good quality, or that it is on the up and up? As a former 43E, I’m rather particular about this type of equipment.

  4. if you want to save a few bucks for uses around the house, they have the tough brand at wally world…don’t buy it in the camping section, it’s cheaper in the tool section…use this cheaper stuff around the house and save the good stuff for actual survival situations…atwood is supposed to make good paracord also…

    https://atwoodrope.com/collections/paracord

    • I buy and use Atwood rope products. I scored 2 rolls of 550 cord from a local lady that does sales on Facebook market place of items she gets from Amazon returns etc. my wife watches he site and asked me if I wanted a spool- I asked how many they had – “2” – I told her to get both- so one was purple and the other Hi-Vis fluorescent yellow but I don’t care

  5. If you work construction try and get some of the used pull rope electricians use. That stuff is strong . It has feet measured on it so you can easily identify lengths. I’ve used it for rough measuring. It’s very supple and hundred feet of it can fit I a small space. And like I said you can often enough get for free used on job sites.

    This stuff. https://www.amazon.com/mule-tape/s?k=mule+tape

    • So that is what that spool is that came with the house. Must be 1000′. Learn something new everyday.

  6. Make friends with your local electrical underground contractor and get some “mule tape “.

    It’s what they use to pull wire into underground conduit .

    It’s very lightweight and very strong and can usually be had for free once they cut it from the spool.

    This stuff is good enough to climb down a cliff in a pinch . Keep in the backpack for when the para cord is not quite enough .

    • I use mule tape loops to extend the reach on the factory tie down eyes in my truck bed. Be sure to tie closed loops with a ” water knot”. Very strong stuff.

  8. Another good choice is ordinary G.I. trip wire / floral wire / craft wire. This comes in galvanized and stainless steel for longer outdoor life. 20 feet can be wrapped on a sewing bobbin. I made several of those units, and on one inserted a spark rod in center of bobbin for a handle that contains the wire. For another, insert and permanently glue a Chicago Screw female onto that bobbin and drill a hole in your multi-tool sheath for the male counterpart through the leather to secure it to the sheath. The front of sheath is easier to access, but the side keeps the bobbin from impacting objects. Compact enough to insert two on the sheath if you like. You DO have to do occasional checks and make sure it is still screwed tight or risk loss of spool.

    Thanks for the links and cordage information above.

    • Trip wire/floral wire/craft wire should be obtained in by the mittfull, as you can make snares all day long with it.

      Looped twice around a stick or pencil, you can make a locking snare closure that won’t let your catch loose once it tightens.

      And a 50′ spool gets you 10+ snares for a functional trap line.

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