Why Paracord?

when ever i was deployed i found a million uses for it from setting up my bunk, to tieing crap down in my rigs .. i always found myself asking the wife to go to clothing and sales and send more my way ...

i never seem to have enough of . good, strong ,lite stuff ..and in a survival mode almost as important as a good sharp blade !
 
Alright, a lot of persuasive reasons here. I was guessing it was more along the lines of it being tacticlol, but you guys have a point. My one problem with it is the small amount of stretchiness, which is good for some uses (like a rescue line) but not so great for others, like rigging a tarp. Not a huge deal though.

Btw, for those having problems with tangling, the daisy chain method works great. You can just pull out as much as you need, cut and reinsert the end through the last loop. No need to carry extra weight in sticks then either.
 
k-spar said:
Btw, for those having problems with tangling, the daisy chain method works great. You can just pull out as much as you need, cut and reinsert the end through the last loop. No need to carry extra weight in sticks then either.
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That of course would depend on how much cordage you're carrying. In the picture with the sticks is about 100' of 550. How long does it take to daisy-chain that much cordage and how much do you think a couple of small sticks weigh?

Doc
 
its what parachutes are made of. i trusted it when jumping with my life ("AIRBORNE!") operaters adapted it to the field (light weight, good tensile strength, compact) for hiking and camping, why wouldn't it be great..
 
DOC-CANADA said:
That of course would depend on how much cordage you're carrying. In the picture with the sticks is about 100' of 550. How long does it take to daisy-chain that much cordage and how much do you think a couple of small sticks weigh?

Doc
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I guess for larger quantities it's efficient. I enjoy tying daisy-chains though, can do it while I watch the Twins lose to work off frustration.
 
KILLAFORNIA said:
Dyneema!http://http://www.dsm.com/en_US/html/hpf/dozens_of_reasons.htm

although 500 test pound paracord beats it in price and maybe knot strength, I have a couple climbing slings made from dyneema and its said that some knots slip, like a double fishermans may need to be a triple with a backup/stopper to prevent slipping, but that's if your hanging for your life on it, not securing a shelter...cool stuff tho
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I carry several lengths of Berkley Fireline in my knife kit, Wave sheath, and other places, and while it isn't a dyneema product, it is in the same vein. Super light, super strong for its diameter, almost zero stretch, etc. However, it will slip most good knots, and its small diameter does inhibit handling in cold weather with stiff fingers, and in low light where just seeing it is a task. Also, the ability to subdivide 550 is to me, a key element of its appeal. That said, if Dyneema meets your criteria, then by all means, go for it. I love cordage in most forms, and consider it super valuable.
 
To carry longer lengths, I quadruple the cord and then Daisy Chain it. Much nicer than a huge long chain.
 
Any Cal. said:
To carry longer lengths, I quadruple the cord and then Daisy Chain it. Much nicer than a huge long chain.
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cool idea. Can you still pull out just what you need then, while leaving the rest of the chain intact? Sounds like you need to undo the whole thing, but I may not be visualizing this right.
 
Inspired by this thread purchased paracord, "550 nylon braided cord, seven inner strands" from Atlanco. On the package it also says, "Not intended for parachute use or life suspension". "Manufactued by a US Govt contractor" same people that brought us the toilet seats. Hmmm. My life is not hanging in the balance here but I am wondering if what I have is not cord used for parachutes then what is it....a commercial knockoff? There must be some real parachute cord and is not it.
 
DOC-CANADA said:
That of course would depend on how much cordage you're carrying. In the picture with the sticks is about 100' of 550. How long does it take to daisy-chain that much cordage and how much do you think a couple of small sticks weigh?

Doc
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Doc, you gave me an idea. I like your method, but I wouldn't want a stick to poke through my backpack or drybag. How about replacing your sticks with a small, automotive drive belt. Fashion the belt into a four leaf clover outline and start winding the parachord. This would provide the same roll resistant shape as your sticks, but the sharp stick ends would be replaced with soft edges, that are light, strong, and weatherproof. The four loops may be used to hang the rope over a tree branch, if needed. And I am sure the belt itself could be used for something.
 
I can't tell you if what you bought is legit paracord that riggers would actually use on chutes but I have some of the real MIL-C-5040 stuff here. It's made by:

E. L. Wood Braiding Co, Inc.
524 Route 11 P.O. Box 753
Marathon, NY 13803

http://elwoodbraiding.com/

This stuff has seven white inner strands but one has yellow and black hash marks on it that are used to verify that it was manufactured to spec. If you're not actually parachuting with the stuff, and maybe even if you are, I doubt it matters what kind you got. Milspec is rated for 550lbs working load but only 275 if it's knotted btw.
 
Yet another source for mil-spec 550 paracord:
SupplyCaptain.com.

They have it in quite a few colors ranging from dull black, brown, & mil-camo colors to high visibility neon colors.

Doc, thanks for that handy winding-stick trick. I archived it and will hopefully remember it next time I'm wrestling with a wad of paracord.
 
Besides having the aforementioned uses, inner strands can be utilized as thread for mending, dental floss, emergency suture material, lashing for snares, fishing line, weaving into bow strings and lashing for fish/turtle traps, and a myriad of other things. Great stuff and indispensable.

Ron
 
Chewy1 said:
I like it for shoe laces!
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Actually, I like using shoelaces for everything. I do use paracord occasionally but for most of my cordage uses regular loonngg cotton or nylon shoelaces work just great. Not strength rated but how often do you need it to be? Just a thought.
 
This thread led me to check the cord I bought recently. I got it on sale at an Army Surplus store and it was labeled as Military Surplus 550 Parachute Cord. Unfortunately, when I cut it open I found out I had been ripped off. I bought 300' feet, 100 each of black, OD green and tan. The black and green had four white cords inside and the tan had five thinner cords. At least I didn't pay too much for them.:mad:
 
mmckinley said:
This stuff has seven white inner strands but one has yellow and black hash marks on it that are used to verify that it was manufactured to spec. If you're not actually parachuting with the stuff, and maybe even if you are, I doubt it matters what kind you got. Milspec is rated for 550lbs working load but only 275 if it's knotted btw.
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Just sliced mine open too, 300 ft spool, I got seven white strands but one has a single black thread braided into it, I forget where I got it but I wonder if all contracted manufacturers used the yellow with black hash marks or if its used to identify the manufacturer. Or maybe I got burned too:mad: Works for me anyway:) but I have thought about if it was really 550# test in case I ever used it to tie something down in my truck.

BTW, I got it in my hiking shoes too, Man.. the yellow and black laces that came with em' made me look like a friggin bumble bee:D
 
KILLAFORNIA said:
Just sliced mine open too, 300 ft spool, I got seven white strands but one has a single black thread braided into it, I forget where I got it but I wonder if all contracted manufacturers used the yellow with black hash marks or if its used to identify the manufacturer. Or maybe I got burned too:mad: Works for me anyway:) but I have thought about if it was really 550# test in case I ever used it to tie something down in my truck.

BTW, I got it in my hiking shoes too, Man.. the yellow and black laces that came with em' made me look like a friggin bumble bee:D
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If it has seven strands, it is probably the good stuff. In doing a little research over the past 30 minutes, it appears that the people that sale the real stuff, always make sure they say 550 7-strand cord, while other people just say 550 cord. The stuff I bought didn't specify that it was 7-strands. It probably doesn't matter in the long run since the stuff I bought is just going to be used to tie stuff together and won't be under much pressure, but I still wish the store would have been truthful. I just ordered some of the real stuff, in a nice and bright neon yellow from Supply Captain, so my problem has now been solved.
 
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