Thursday 23/7/15
Parachute cord (also known as paracord or 550 cord) is a thin, lightweight nylon rope traditionally used as suspension lines for parachutes. Since those times, paracord has been eagerly embraced by the public. It is known as 550 cord because it can hold up to 550 pounds of weight without breaking (550 pounds = 249 kilograms). Paracord is about the same thickness as the average bootlace, but as you now know, is significantly stronger.
Essentially, paracord is made up of nine inner threads encased in a nylon sheath and can be purchased by the metre (or by the spool if you wish). Like many things, you get what you pay for. Make sure you only purchase authentic 550 cord. The imitation stuff is utter rubbish and is incapable of holding 550 pounds.
You should always have a couple of hanks of paracord in your backpack, and each hank should be at least 10 metres long. If your paracord is any shorter than that, you’ll struggle to find many practical uses for it.
There are many uses for paracord, so I’ll just provide you with a few ideas to whet your appetite:
- Makeshift shelter: Secure your paracord between two sturdy objects (such as two trees, or your car and a fence post). Lay a tarpaulin over the paracord then slowly draw each side of the tarpaulin out wide to form what looks like a tent. Weigh the edge of the tarpaulin down with rocks (or some other heavy items). You now have shade and shelter from the rain.
- Clothes line: This can be used just about anywhere, inside or out. Everyone’s been stuck in a situation where they’ve had to hang wet clothes over the back of a chair or spread out on the ground.
- Bootlaces: You might consider replacing your bootlaces with paracord. If you find yourself in a situation where you are desperate enough to use your bootlaces as cordage, you might as well have paracord.
- Replacement broken tent ropes.
- Securing a splint to a broken limb.
- An emergency belt for your pants: This isn’t very comfortable, but it will do the job.
- You can keep gear and food bags up off the ground by hanging them from overhead branches.
- Tie gear and equipment down so it won’t blow away in a storm
- Create trip wires around your campsite.
As I said, there are many uses for paracord. These are just a few suggestions to get you thinking.