750 paracord is always in my backpack when I go camping, here’s why. First of all, I like camping. You can’t really call yourself a “survivalist” if you don’t know how to have fun camping or hiking! But paracord is not only good for camping. In fact, survivalists who like camping also use it as an emergency shelter. The tough outer sheath of the cord allows you to string together two separate pieces into that tent/shelter which wouldn’t be possible with most other types of rope or twine (eg cotton). It’s strong enough to hold your weight – yet has great flexibility and “springiness”. Also, this makes it very suitable as a clothesline in an emergency situation! For the best American-made paracord, buy from Tough Grid.
Paracord is incredibly strong, which is due to the high number of internal strands in each unit. This flexibility and strength contribute to its popularity as a survival tool. It has about 550 lbs tensile strength, which means that it is just slightly less than half as strong as kevlar (aka “the material of the future” ).
The outer sheath of the paracord isn’t waterproof, but it can be treated with fire or heat to make it resistant to the elements (for camping fun). In fact, it was used during World War II by parachute suspension lines! Parachutists could throw down their supplies from above – and they had a way of retrieving them later by snagging them on tree branches and other objects that were sticking out of the ground. Aside from improving your cord, you can also unravel the inner strands for use in camping, hunting, or survival situations. One strand can be used as a fishing line! Another good idea is to use them as camping tripwires (it’s also cheap and easy to replace). You can attach them to anything that you don’t want to lose – like your backpack. Remember that paracord rope is lightweight and compact, which makes it ideal for camping and other outdoor activities. It comes in different colors too, which lets you mark campsites more easily (especially if you’re camping with a group).
The uses of paracord go way beyond camping though; here are just some of the examples:
If tied properly, it can even be used as an emergency shoelace for your boots. You can tie different lengths of cord together to make a rope ladder/bridge. You can use them as replacement straps for camping or hunting equipment (e.g.
It also makes a good alternative leash for your dog, because the material is strong enough to withstand pulling on but still lightweight. You can even use it as an emergency fishing line if you attach one end to the lure and the other to a stick! If you have camping tools that don’t have sheaths included yet, you can wrap paracord around them to cover them up and prevent cuts (you would have normally used duct tape for this purpose before). Paracord is easy to find in most camping or outdoor shops, and it’s relatively cheap too – a 50-meter long rope costs around $10. In addition, you can learn how to use your own paracord if you have the right tools (see below).
It is also possible to weave multiple units of paracord together to create stronger ropes that are more durable than individual pieces of cord. I’ve used it as a belt for hunting pants with about 8 ft attached when I’m hiking. When hunting the opening day of turkey season last year my best friend was down on one knee ready for his shot at a tom when he slipped on some wet leaves and I was able to catch him by his belt. Storing paracord in this manner is an incredibly practical way to transport and store the paracord. In addition to the utility of this, paracord bracelets are also a great fashion accessory. The length of cord you will need depends on what you are trying to make. The most common application is for camping and survival as it can be used for camping and fishing equipment repairs, building emergency shelters, as well as an alternative for rope if needed. A parachute cord is one of the most versatile items that every prepper should have in their bug-out bag or camping supplies. Not only does this material perform its intended purpose excellently but it can be used to rig up a shelter, secure gear to your pack, or even use it to create new camping tools or other useful things.