42 Survival Uses of Paracord

A parachute cord or paracord is an essential survival item that should always be included in your BOB or emergency kit. In any emergency scenario, the paracord has a lot of uses. In this article, we have compiled 42 survival uses of paracord.

But before we continue to the list, here are a few notable info about paracord…

There are different types of parachute cord but the most popular choice for survival situations is the 550 paracord. The ‘550’ refers to the cord’s breaking strength which is 550 pounds.

There are commercial and military issue 550 paracords (MIL-C-5040 Type III 550 Paracord) with the military spec referred to as the ‘true’ paracord and the commercial ones simply rip-offs. You can tell these two types apart by the following differences:

• The true 550 paracord (MIL-C-5040 Type III) has 7 inner yarns and each yarn has 3 strands.
• Commercial 550 paracord usually have 5-6 yarns only but some may also have 7 yarns. Each yarn only has two strands.
• MIL-C-5040 Type III 550 paracord also has one yarn with black and yellow fiber

Aside from these differences, the two 550 paracord types appear closely similar on the outside.

How about strength?

Though both are said to have the same breaking strength of 550 pounds, the military spec paracord has been tested to extend its breaking strength up to 785 pounds.

There are survivalists who don’t care much whether they have a true paracord or not. After all, both types of paracords can be used to lash a makeshift shelter, build a trap or hold together gears. Still, you’d thank yourself for choosing the true paracord when the time comes that your life and essential gears depend on it. The MIL-C-5040 Type III 550 paracord is a lot more heavy duty after all.

The type of paracord to include in your emergency kit is a personal choice. The important thing is, you have some with you in a survival scenario because it is simply an indispensable gear.

Now on with the list…

Emergency uses for Paracord from Survivor Geek

1. Repair torn clothing with the internal strands which slide easily out of the kern mantle (casing). Use a makeshift needle or be sure to keep one in your first-aid kit.
2. Repair torn or broken equipment either by sewing or tying the pieces together securely
3. Rig a makeshift tow rope. A single length of paracord has been tested to handle 550 lbs. of weight, so wrap it securely 10 times and you have the ability to pull 5,500 lbs.
4. Securely tie down items to the top of a vehicle, or to protect them from a wind-storm.
5. String up a clothes line. Wet clothes are uncomfortable when you’re camping and dangerous when you’re trying to survive.
6. Hang a bear bag to keep your food away from critters. This is good whether you’re camping or roughing it in the woods
7. Replace your shoe laces. Just burn the ends and thread them through.
8. Replace a broken Zipper pull
9. Use it as dental floss. Pull out the internal strands and keep up your hygiene even in the woods, or to get that pesky piece of meat out from between your teeth.
10. Tie things to your backpack with it so you can carry more stuff, hands free.
11. Secure an animal to a tree or post, or make a leash.
12. Tie up a person.
13. String up a trip wire to protect an area, rig it with bells or cans or make a fancier trap.
14. Lower yourself or an object very carefully down from a height. (Note: paracord is NOT climbing rope, and is NOT a realistic replacement for true climbing rope; do not expect it to catch you, should you fall. For security double or triple the thickness if you can).
15. Rig a pulley system to lift a heavy object.
16. Make a ladder to get up or down.
17. Tie up a tarp or poncho to make an awning to keep off sun or rain.
18. If you’re hiking in a place where there is danger of avalanche tie yourself to your buddy so you can find each other, should one of you get caught under snow.
19. Keep your stuff. Tie objects you’re likely to drop around your wrist, ankle, or waist.
20. Make a pack by first making netting then adding a draw-string.
21. Build a shelter using sticks or by tying up the corners of a poncho or tarp.
22. Rig an improvised hammock (in case you haven’t sprung for a real hammock).
23. Make a snare out of the internal strands.
24. Lash logs or other items together to build a raft.
25. Use it to make a bow drill for fire starting (Note it does take a lot of practice to start a fire with a bow, so don’t rely on this unless you’ve done it before!).
26. Make a sling to throw stones for protection and food.
27. Use it for signaling by tying a mirror or colorful cloth to the top of the tree.
28. Use it to make a bola for hunting large birds.
29. Make fishing line by cutting a length and pulling out the internal strands (there are seven of them, each of which comes apart into two, so there’s 14 thin lines if you aren’t catching really big fish). Just tie them together.
30. Make a fish stringer. If you’ve just pulled the strings out to make fishing line, the remaining kern mantle (the colored sheath) would be plenty strong enough to hold fish. Otherwise just cut a length, and tie through the gills.
31. Tie straight sticks around a broken limb to make a splint.
32. Tie a sling to hold your arm.
33. Sew up a wound using the internal strands. For thinner thread untwist one of the internal strands.
34. Make a tourniquet to slow loss of blood.
35. Make a stretcher by running paracord between two long sticks, or fashion a branch drag to move an injured person.

Uses of Paracord for Prepping and Survival from Backdoor Survival

36. Secure a tent
37. Secure a tarp between trees
38. Hang tools from your belt
39. Hang tools from around your neck
40. Secure your boat or a skiff to a tree
41. Keep rolled up items secure
42. Create a neckerchief slide