44 Fantastic Uses of Paracord for Prepping and Survival

My love affair with paracord continues.  Not only is it strong and useful for a myriad of tasks, it is colorful and fun to work with while making bracelets, key fobs, belts and other goodies. I am not the only one that feels this way.

Simply enter the term “paracord” into a search engine and you will be presented with thousands of articles covering everything from what it is, how it is used, where to buy it, and more. It seems like everyone has a stake in the paracord love-fest with preppers leading the pack!

What Exactly is Paracord?

Here at Backdoor Survival, I first wrote about paracord in 2012. I  described it this way:

Paracord is a lightweight nylon rope that was originally used in the suspension lines of US parachutes during World War II. Soldiers, however, found that this miracle rope was useful for far more than their paratrooper missions. In the ensuing years, both the military and civilians alike have found hundreds if not thousands of uses for paracord.

It is available by length, typically 50 to 100 feet (or more) and in a variety of colors. It is also available is large quantities by the spool. Many hikers and outdoor sports enthusiasts make or purchase “survival bracelets” made of several feet of paracord which is woven into a compact bracelets that can be unraveled in the field.

By the way, you will often see paracord referred to as Paracord 550 means that it has a breaking strength of 550 pounds or more. Now that is strong!

Paracord can be used for many purposes such as securing things, removing heavy debris and fixed objects, strapping things together, as a harness to escape a burning building, controlling bleeding as a tourniquet, and the list goes on. You can even unravel the cord and use the individual strands as a fishing line or as thread to sew on a button. Wonderful stuff.

I touched upon a number of uses in the description above but that was merely a sampling.  There is more – a lot more.  Today I share 44 different uses of paracord for prepping and survival purposes.

44 Ways to Use Paracord for Prepping and Survival

1. Secure a tent
2. Secure a tarp between trees
3. Hang tools from your belt
4. Hang tools from around your neck
5. Secure things to the outside of your backpack
6. Make a tourniquet
7. Secure a splint
8. Make a sling for your arm
9. Make an emergency belt to hold your pants up
10. Make emergency suspenders
11. Replace a broken bra strap (it happens)
12. Replace broken or missing shoe laces
13. Repair a zipper pull
14. Secure your boat or skiff to a tree
15. Make a tow line; double or triple up for extra strength
16. Create a makeshift lanyard
17. String a clothesline
18. Hang something up off the ground
19. Rig a pulley system
20. Make traps and snares
21. Replace damaged or missing draw strings in packs, bags and sweat pants
22. Keep rolled up items secure
23. Create a neckerchief slide
24. Tie objects together for easier transport
25. Make a rope
26. Make a hammock
27. Make a sack for carrying groceries or gear
28. Bundle stuff together
29. Tie tall garden vegetable plants to stakes
30. Make a pet leash
31. Make a pet collar
32. Secure a garbage-bag rain poncho around your body to keep you dry
33. Hang food in trees to keep the bears away
34. Tie stuff down so it will not blow away in a storm
35. Create a trip wire
36. Create makeshift hand cuffs
37. Tie bad guys or intruders to a tree or chair
38. Tie people together on a trail so that they keep together
39. Identify members of a group using different colored armbands or bracelets
40. Use as sewing thread (inner threads)
41. Use as fishing line (inner threads)
42. Emergency dental floss (inner threads)
43. Emergency suture material (inner threads) when there is nothing else available
44. Make arts and crafts to stave off boredom

The Final Word

Paracord is awesome stuff.  I happen to like all of the various colors and have a number of personal favorites, most notably a keychain (that holds all of my pocket survival gear!) and a lanyard with a whistle attached.

My Paracord Bracelet makes a fashion statement.

Paracord can be purchased just about everywhere these days, including brick and mortar outdoor stores and the veritable Amazon.com.  Just keep in mind that different colors are priced differently so if you are looking for a bargain, consider various color options.

Tucker the Dog has his own Paracord Leash!

Now if you are handy and want to make paracord do-dads, free instructions for paracord projects abound on the Web.  Try Instructables for their set free of  Easy Paracord Projects.  I know that  I plan on making some key fobs using their Easy Paracord Key Fob instructions.  (Did I mention that these instructions were free?)

Whatever you decide, be sure to pick up some paracord for your survival kit, your car and your home.  This is great stuff; I just know you are going to love it.

Enjoy your next adventure through common sense and thoughtful preparation!
Gaye

Gaye Levy started Backdoor Survival so that she could share her angst and concern about our deteriorating economy and its impact on ordinary, middle-class folks. She also wanted to become a prepper of the highest order and to share her knowledge as she learned it along the way. On Backdoor Survival you will find survival and preparedness tools and tips for creating a self-reliant lifestyle through thoughtful prepping and optimism.

To read more from Gaye, visit her website, Backdoor Survival. You can also follow Gaye on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Pinterest or purchase her eBook, The Prepper’s Guide to Food Storage on Amazon.com.