How to Buy the Right Paracord for the Job
Parachute cord, or 550 cord, is one of the most useful items you can carry in your hunting pack, on your boat, or just about anywhere else you might need a thin, super-strong, but super-light, braided rope
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Paracord is one of the most useful items in a sportsman’s gear bag, serving as everything from haul rope for tree-stand hunting to bow lines on your canoe our layout boat. Replace a boot lace, make a bow-drill fire set, hang game, or tease out the core for emergency fishing line—paracord was once even used to repair the Hubble Space Telescope. If there is anything that surpasses the utility of duct tape, it’s paracord. Here’s what you need to know to find the right braid for the task at hand.
Poundage Rating
Originally created for military parachutes, modern paracord is strong enough to handle up to 750 pounds of pressure. Amazon
Paracord is sometimes marketed as 550 cord, a reference to the minimum strength rating of traditional Type III paracord. Originally used as suspension lines in military parachutes, 550 cord has found its way onto the shelves of virtually every sporting goods and hardware store. In the four most commonly available types (I, II, III, and IV) strength ranges from 95 pounds to 750 pounds, respectively. Check the type carefully to make sure you are getting cordage strong enough for your outdoor task.
Core
Legit paracord has a braided sheath with multiple twisted strands or yarns inside. Be wary of products marketed as paracord that have a single core strand (including Type I) as they have neither the strength nor durability of more rugged types and don’t allow breaking down into multiple yarns for more refined tasks like fishing, sewing, or trap making.
Ultimate Paracord
Some paracord is sold with survival specifically in mind. In addition to maintaining a strength rating at or above standard Type III Paracord, several of its core strands are of made of specialty materials, such as monofilament for fishing, a jute strand that can be used as fire tinder, and thin metal wire for snaring or random Jerry rigging.