Why A 550 Paracord Is A Must Have In The Toolkit

By Ines Flores


In a survival tool kit, one item that is never missing is the paracord. It is very simple, practical and can be used by anyone at any given time. It is also cool and trendy. This is highly versatile-filament nylon cord that has unlimited applications. It can be used in different situation by different people and comes with huge benefits. Originally, it is made from seven strong nylon cords. Each of the seven cords is made of equally strong woven strands that are smaller in size. All these are then wrapped in a flexible outer branded nylon wrapper. This gives results to a cord that has a combined breaking strength of 550 pounds. This is why it is commonly known as a 550 paracord.

It was first used in the construction of parachutes, back in the World War II, and is now commonly used in military applications, police, and the scout and by civilians for countless applications. Even though the civilian market is flooded with many copies, the military grade cords are distinct with a designation of MIL-C-5040 Type III. It is also rated at 550 pounds. It normally has 7 inner yarns, each with three strands.

There are no specific standards when it comes to the civilian markets; however, this is not the case with the military varieties. The military cord is distinctly marked as MIL-C-5040 Type III with a rating of 550 pounds. The military cord must have 7 inner yarns, each coming with 3 separate strands.

The civilian varieties are not strict on the number of cords, in some cases; five yarns are used instead of seven. The strands can also be two but not three. The result is that the commercial varieties might not be as strong as the military ones. However, they still serve very well in most of the applications that they may be needed for.

They are also available in many different colors which allow the buyer a wide option to choose from. They are also available in different lengths. If a very long cord is necessary, then this is always available. If a short one is required, then it is a good idea to cut one into smaller portions, after which the cut end should be burnt to avoid fraying.

These cords have very many advantages over the ordinary ones. With a small diameter of an eighth of an inch, it has a breaking force of 550 pounds. It is therefore used for heavy load towing, and support weight of humans and even heavier objects. Its durability is also impressive and the cord is capable of resisting water, mildew and other moist conditions that quickly destroy the ordinary cords.

When it comes to the area of uses, the list is simply endless. However, there are some ideas that make it a necessity at home. It works best as a clothesline, a tarp tie down, a towline, string for supporting tents and poles or building of shelters. The other possible areas of applications include the lanyard, fire bow, shelter making, shoe lace, garden lines, and equipment guy-lines, pack strap, fasten, survival kit, lifeline and several others.

However, the inner strands can also work as fishing string, sewing, dental floss, boiled to work as emergency stitches, and for trapping-snares. Generally, this is a cord that should never miss in your toolbox, this is a tool that you will find necessary in any job you do.




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