No fashion accessory says “prepper” more than a paracord bracelet. With that around your wrist, you have at least 10 feet of 550 pound test rope. The cord is made of many tiny strands and can also be unravelled if a thinner cord is necessary.
Paracord, according to Wikipedia, is a “light weight nylon kernmantle rope originally used in the suspension lines of US parachute during World War II. Once in the field, paratroopers found this cord useful for many other tasks. It is now used as a general purpose utility cord by both military personnel and civilians.”
The question isn’t “What can you do with paracord?” It’s “What can’t you do with paracord?”
Here are some ideas for what paracord can be used for. Some of these would use the cord in its entirety, while others would call for the cord to be unravelled with single strands being called into duty.
50 Ways to Utilize Paracord in a Survival Situation
- Bear bag
- Belt
- Bow drill for fire starting
- Clothesline
- Dental floss
- Dog collar
- Fish stringer
- Fishing line
- Hair tie
- Hammock
- Handcuffs
- Hatband
- Handle on an improvised weapon
- Key fob
- Lanyard
- Leash
- Net
- Pulley system
- Rappelling (Only in extreme emergency – not designed for this)
- Repairing broken equipment
- Repairing flip flops or sandals
- Repairing torn clothing
- Replacement drawstring for bags or clothing
- Replacement handle for bags or totes
- Replacement hardware for doors or drawers
- Replacement shoelaces
- Rifle sling
- Rope ladder
- Secure an animal by tying it to something
- Secure a tent or shelter
- Secure outdoor items during a windstorm
- Shoelaces
- Sling
- Slingshot
- Snare
- Snowshoe assembly using branches and paracord
- Stitch a wound or repair tore clothing
- Stretcher for an injured or ill person
- Suspenders
- Tie down items to a vehicle roof rack
- Tie on a splint
- Tie things to your belt or belt loops
- Tie up an intruder
- Tourniquet
- Tow rope
- Travois for hauling supplies
- Tripwire
- Water filter
- Watchband
- Zipper pull
You’re really only limited by your own creativity.
Speaking of creativity, paracord bracelets can be ordered from Amazon, but it’s simple and fun to make your own. This video shows you how to tie the cobra knot to create your own bracelet. Once you’ve mastered the basic knot, there’s no need to stop with bracelets: you can create belts, hatbands or key fobs to be sure that you always have this vital survival element close at hand!
I love them! I recently started making them too. You can get paracord in so many different colors! Here’s a great color chart: http://www.mrparacord.com/product-category/paracord/instock/
You can also make a thuggee killer cord to strangle your enemy with. I like to sling it around their neck and pull until they stop kickiing.