Paracord - what for and why?

There are times during a survival expedition that you have to do something out of nothing. There are situations when you need to repair equipment, backpack and even clothes. A paracord will definitely come in handy for this. Its multi-tasking capability works well during crises on the trail. It is light, so you can easily put it in your backpack. There are different types of paracord with different uses. There are a few things you should have with you on your trip. One of them is paracord. We will answer the questions why and what for a moment. We invite you to read!

In this article you will learn:

• what is paracord,
• what are the types of paracord,
• what to use it for and why?

An ally on the route – paracord

Paracord is basically a parachute cord also known under the term 550 cord. At the beginning it was used in parachutes. It was used in many ways during World War II by American soldiers from airborne units. It was used for all kinds of repairs of their equipment during combat, but also outside of it.

Paracord is most often made of synthetic fibers, especially nylon. Its weave consists of 7 thin lines. Due to the fact that they are tightly connected to each other, the paracord is durable. Its lifting capacity reaches up to 250 kg. However, it should not be used for climbing. Dynamic stresses of the cord can cause it to break under a much lower weight.

Most often we meet paracord in the form of a bracelet. It is a very practical solution. You can have it at hand all the time because ... it's on your wrist. You can also find such bracelets in our store.

Types of paracord

They are more sophisticated, but also classic ones. Most of them differ in their endurance. The classic 550 paracord was discussed above. One of the most durable is the Kevlar paracord with a load capacity of up to 476 kg. It's a solid rope. It is extremely resistant to fire, cold and moisture. You can use it to temporarily secure a load of a specific weight.

Less durable than traditional paracord it is a tactical one. Its weave consists of only 4 lines, which makes it smaller in diameter. It is typically used to dry laundry in the field. It can be used wherever there is no need for a large lifting capacity. You can easily secure lighter things with it.

A torn backpack on the route can be easily sewn with nano cord, the diameter of which is 0.75 cm. If you need to improvise quickly with damaged equipment, the nano line will do the job perfectly. Its undoubted advantage is resistance to moisture. Thanks to this, even in difficult weather conditions it will not rot.

A more sophisticated type is paracord with fluorescent properties. It comes in handy at night when visibility is very limited. Wrapping it around the tent string will prevent you from stumbling over it so easily.

What for and why?

Exactly. Hurrying to answer our title question, it is worth noting that everyone completes their EDC slightly differently. However, there are certainly elements that should still be in the inventory. In our opinion, this is exactly the paracord. When it comes to a survival expedition, it is even a necessary element. It will come in handy when you are going to build wooden structures, attach a sheet or a tent. You can use it to attach a canteen, repair a backpack or clothing. It is also a decent gadget to wear every day. Broken shoelaces occur not only in the field. In addition, it can also be a great gift for any occasion.

If you want to see survival links in our store, click HERE. An interesting alternative to a rope and a bracelet can be a paracord strap.

In the meantime, check how Kajetan dealt with the paracord!.

Author: Jakub Dobrzyński