Paracord (or some other type of cordage, but it is hard to beat 550 paracord)is arguably the most useful item you can have in a survival situation, second only to your knife. This strong, durable, flexible and light cordage is so useful that the word “useful” becomes a complete understatement. Paracord has so often proven invaluable in a survival situation because its truly unique versatility. And yes, contrary to popular belief, paracord is arguably more useful in a survival situation than even duck tape! A 25 to 50 foot hank of quality paracord is an absolute essential item for every kit.

When choosing the right paracord for your kits, settle for nothing less than the industry standard: military grade seven strand 550 cord. This type of paracord is referred to as “550 cord” because it is actually rated to hold 550 lbs.! It consists of a woven nylon sheath covering 7 independent nylon strands that each hold 30 lbs. (Actually, each of these 7 strands is made up of two even smaller strands of nylon twisted together, technically making the cord a 14 strand cordage... not to split hairs). The woven nylon sheath itself will support the remaining 340 lbs.! Nylon is a superior material in this application to other cordage materials like cotton since nylon is fairly impervious to water(dries quickly and resists mildew). Don’t be fooled by the cheapo cordage with the solid or fuzzy core. Make sure your paracord has at least 7 of these independent strands. You can find 8 strand and even a “650” cord is available as well (I like an 8 strand you can get from GoingGear.com personally), but the standard 7 strand 550 cord will do the job.

For your convenience, I have assembled a comprehensive page of paracord links that includes all of my favorite paracord suppliers, hardware suppliers, specialty items for your paracord projects (like glow in the dark and reflective paracord, glow in the dark cord ends, turks head tubes and paracord needles, lanyard hardware, knot tutorials, and much more!)

Paracord Uses

The uses for paracord are almost limitless! It is remarkably handy stuff. You could use it as the main “ridgeline” support for your tarp shelter or bind together you main supports for your debris shelter. You can use it to create a dry line for wet clothing or gear, tie gear or tarps down, secure gear, make improvised shoe or boot laces, or repair equipment. You could use it to keep food out of reach of critters, improvise snow shoes, make a bow, make a fire bow, snares, traps,  or to make wrist and neck lanyards for knives or other tools. You could use your paracord to create an anchor line, a collar or leash for your dog, improvise a splint or tourniquet, and much, much more!

But wait... you can even take your paracord apart and get even more uses out of it! Remove the inner strands to create fishing line, use it as sewing thread, small bird snares, dental floss, .

Combine your paracord with the knowledge of a few really handy knots and a little creativity, and you will be absolutely amazed what you can accomplish! Knots like the cow hitch...

From here the uses can get more clever and sophisticated! For example, use the inner strands of your paracord and a series of “cow hitch” knots to create a net bag or even a gill net! Or combine it with a couple of caribiners (in place of pulleys) and create an improvise “block and tackle” (pulley) system to help you lift extremely heavy items!

Not only can paracord be included in every PSK (personal survival kit), but many clever ways have been devised to ensure that this valuable cordage is always on hand. Some of these solutions are even decorative and/or fashionable!

Check out our paracord and knot projects photo gallery!