How Much Paracord Should You Carry?

zman308

zman308

Joined
Sep 3, 2007
Messages
831
I carry about 25 feet in my BOB. Anyone else have an opinion on how much to carry? I figure that is more than enough to make an A frame shelter with a poncho and have half left over to use for other items.
 
I have a Spec Ops sheath that has a "Border" of Snake Braided paracord. The braid is double wide so I have a lot of paracord available. Normally 1 ft consumes 12 feet of cord so I figure about 50 ft of paracord.

OMT
 
Depends on how long you may be 'out', what you might need to do, and what other cordage resources may be around.

If you want to be more sure of snaring an animal for food, for instance, then it is better to set ten or more snares. For small animals you might want five feet of cord per snare to allow for the noose and a length to tether it. So that's fifty feet for a very small trap line.

I find that a hank of cord can get used up pretty quickly sometimes.

Having said that, I sometimes have only one or two short pieces in my pockets when I go out walking.

I've carried cord for years. I've never had to use it to harvest food or make a shelter...but I have used it a time or two for emergency repairs, for tethering an animal, or tying a gate shut. But I still like to carry it nevertheless.

I guess that doesn't give you a definite answer.
 
I usually carry 100ft. It doesn't take up any room and having too much is always a good thing since odds are if you need to use it its gonna get cut, and the cut sections might be unuseable once you're done.
 
In a pack, 50 or even 100 feet seems like a good idea. EDC, I have usually 4-6 six foot lengths in my pocket. I use them for everything - at work, carrying 2 litre pop bottles, bow drill bowstring, etc., etc., .................... Just recently I've started practising tying knots with one hand. The Buntline Hitch and the one handed Bowline are fairly easy, but I'm still looking for an easy one-handed bend. Any suggestions?

Doc
 
I have a 100 ft hank of 550 cord and a 100ft hank of 100 lb cord sold by LifeViewOutdoors.com. The 100 lb cord could be used for smaller jobs and is built using same technique; strands inside sheath.
 
My hatband has 27' braided up and my knife has another 6' in the lanyard. I also have Spiderwire fishing line, braided nylon seine twine, and another 50' of line for hanging my food sack from critters.
 
I usually carry at least 50 ft of para cord and also a spool of jute twine (for minor lashing and tethering duties..) this ensures a longer life on my supply of paracord.
 
I carry anywhere between 75' to 150' in my daypack. I carry assorted lengts for versatility. I won't always need a 50' section and I may need more than a 12' section. I do a lot of tarp camping and it is necessary to have longer lenghts for ridgelines and shorter lengths for corner tie downs. I generally have a long hank of 50' uncut, shorter 25' lengths then a few 12' or 6' lines coiled up. There are times when I don't need the full strength of 550 cord and I keep a small spool of decoy line with me for lighter duty tasks. I always recycle the 550 cord but when I'm done with the decoy line, I don't mind if it is mangled and ends up in the fire or trash.
 
k_estela said:
I do a lot of tarp camping and it is necessary to have longer lenghts for ridgelines and shorter lengths for corner tie downs. I generally have a long hank of 50' uncut, shorter 25' lengths then a few 12' or 6' lines coiled up. .
Click to expand...

I do as well. I rigged up small diameter bungee cords for the corners and center with tiny carabiners at both ends and a slide adjuster at the bungee center. That way I can remove and add to any grommet or tie point with little effort. They stay permanently attached to the silnylon tarp. Never have to cut cord for the tarp.

Skam
 
My pack has a 100' hank, plus my walking stick strap is another 90' king cobra braided in case of emergency.
 
I keep at least 50ft of the stuff with me. I figure that's enough for a shelter and a few repairs. I do a lot of winter hiking too and can make repair my snowshoes with that amount too. If I am overnighting it I will usually pack a little more just in case :)
 
In keeping with the general W&S feeling on paracord I say you should never have less than 1km of the stuff on you. On you does not mean in your pack or even in your pockets, it means wraped around your body below all layers of clothing.
 
Grob - 1km!!! Thats quite a lot, for you Americans thats just about 3200ft. I would really like to see how you pull that off.
Thats about ten rugby/soccer fields end to end.
 
skammer said:
I do as well. I rigged up small diameter bungee cords for the corners and center with tiny carabiners at both ends and a slide adjuster at the bungee center. That way I can remove and add to any grommet or tie point with little effort. They stay permanently attached to the silnylon tarp. Never have to cut cord for the tarp.

Skam
Click to expand...

that sounds like a great system. What's the slide adjuster?

I've just got paracord tied on my corner grommets that are about 5 foot lengths, and tighten down with taut-line hitches. Usually don't need that much length, but it's helpful if the ground isn't ideal.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top