What Is Paracord?
Paracord, short for parachute cord, is a durable, lightweight nylon rope originally designed for military use. Modern versions like the GearAid Paracord 325 feature a woven outer sheath and multiple inner strands, offering flexibility, lightness and remarkable strength.
Why Every Prepper Needs Paracord
With just a few meters of paracord, you can build shelter, repair gear, make traps or secure supplies. It weighs almost nothing, takes little space and replaces countless other tools — exactly what you need when simplicity means survival.
Key Properties
- High tensile strength: supports several hundred kilograms of load.
- Weather-resistant: resists moisture, UV and mildew.
- Versatile: usable as rope, thread or cord strands.
- Lightweight & compact: fits easily into any pack or pocket.
- Multi-strand core: inner threads can be used individually for fine tasks.
Common Survival Uses
- Shelter building: guy lines for tarp or tent.
- Clothesline: drying wet clothes or gear.
- Repairs: fixing straps, handles or belts.
- Grip wraps: improving handle comfort and safety.
- Medical: emergency tourniquet, splint tie, shoelace replacement.
- Traps & alarms: small snares or trip-line alerts.
- Fishing aid: inner strands as fishing line or repair thread.
- Securing gear: lash items to your pack or tree branch.
- Bundling: tie firewood, poles or tools together.
- Marking line: signal route or perimeter boundaries.
- Handle insulation: wrap hot metal cookware handles.
- Backup laces / loops: replace damaged cords instantly.
Example Product
The GearAid Paracord 325 (15 m) is ideal for most survival tasks. With its 3.2 mm thickness, it strikes the perfect balance between strength and flexibility — suitable for shelter setup, repairs and improvised solutions.
Tips for Safe Use
- Melt cut ends to prevent fraying.
- Use secure knots like bowline, figure-eight or double fisherman.
- Store coiled, dry and out of direct sunlight.
- Inspect regularly for wear or sheath damage.
- Do not use for climbing or heavy lifting.
In Practice
Whether camping, hiking or handling emergencies, paracord solves countless problems. Broken strap? Tie a loop. Torn tarp? Re-tension it with a quick knot. A single roll can handle dozens of situations — and once you start using it, you’ll never go without it again.
Conclusion
Paracord is the Swiss Army Rope: compact, multifunctional and reliable. Keep it in every kit, learn the key knots, and you’ll always have a solution at hand. In survival, every strand counts.