- Commercial Type III, 550 Parachute Cord
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7 Inner Cords Made Up of Two Strings Each for a Rating of 35 Pounds per Cord
- 14 Inner Strings, Each of Which Have a Rating of About 17.5 Pounds
- 32 Strand Sheath Structure
- 550 lb. (248kg) Minimum Breaking Strength
- 30% Minimum Elongation
- 225 Feet (69m) per lb. Minimum
- Approximately 1/8 (3.175mm) Diameter
- Quick Drying
- All Weather – Will Not Rot or Mildew
- Made in the U.S.A. by a Government Contractor
Parachute Cord, also called Paracord or 550 Cord, is a lightweight nylon kernmantle rope originally used in the suspension lines of US parachutes during World War II. It is now used as a general purpose utility cord by both military personnel and civilians. The soft braided outer shell is durable yet cushioned, allowing this cord to be flexible so it is the perfect wrap for knife handles, spears and survival gear.
U.S. Military issue paracord is specified to the MIL-C-5040H standard. Type III, the most common, is nominally rated with a minimum breaking strength of 550 pounds, thus the term “550 Cord”. It is used in almost any situation where light cordage is needed. Typical uses include attaching equipment to harnesses, as dummy cords to avoid losing small or important items, tying rucksacks to vehicle racks, securing camouflage nets to trees or vehicles and so forth. Ends of the cord are almost always melted and crimped to prevent fraying.
In addition to purely utility functions, paracord can be used to fashion knotted or braided bracelets, lanyards, belts and other decorative items.
Uses
- Emergency / Survival
- Shelter / Gear Tie Downs
- Fire Starter Bow
- Improvised Pace Counter
- Drag Line
- Safety Line
- Tunicate to Stop Bleeding
- Boot / Shoe Laces
- Clothes Line
- Food Hanging
- Improvised M.O.L.L.E. Repairs / Modifications
- Binding
- Trail Marking
- Spear Making
- Magazine Pulls
- Trip Wires
- Improvised Fishing Net
Inner Strand Uses
- Fishing Line
- Traps / Snares
- Sewing (Tent / Clothing Repair)
- Sutures
- Lashing
- Dental Floss
- Small Animal Snare Trap
- Gill Net
- Small Repairs
Paracord Braiding
- Lanyards
- Survival Bracelets
- Zipper Pulls
- Knot Making
- Hat Bands
- Belts
- Rifle Slings
- Monkey Fists
- Key Chains
- Dog Collars / Leashes
- Whips