Very interesting! I carry (a bunch) of the "coated bank line" (test #350 or so IIRC) as it's more abrasion resistant - nice to learn something

 

Great post

 

I always carry quite a bit of 550 paracord. I love the stuff. Good post pgrass.

In a separate load out bag I also keep 50' of 5mm Dacron/Technora (Sail Braid) which is incredibly tough stuff.

 

Always a good reminder. I've got 45 ft wrapped around my hat via a Slatt's Rescue Belt (can be undone a bit at a time) and also as boot laces so I've always got plenty on me.

 

I have just started getting into 550 Paracord. That stuff is amazing. Lots of uses and it is reasonable inexpensive.

 

though does anyone have any tricks for helping Para-cord take knots? seems everytime i try to put a bowline it never wants to cinch down, it will but then the knot "walks"(?) and my loop is too small or too big. square knots, hitch's, i mean they will all work, to some degree, the stuff just seems "slippery"(?).

forgive my bad terminology, my knot-work is mostly just fundamentals.

EDIT- though i was pleased when i put it into a noose, i love noose knots BTW, a slip-knot that HOLDS.

 

I've never worked with Paracord, but from the way you describe the problem it seems like it's too stiff and slippery for the knot. Try using a knot that doesn't put as sharp a bend on the cord (retraced figure eight or Alpine butterfly might work as a bowline replacement). If joining the ends of two cords, try a triple fisherman's. Leave *plenty* of tail and tie a backup knot if you're concerned about slippage. Let me know if any of this worked.

I personally hate the bowline because when you load it it can get cinched so hard that it's difficult to untie. Can't remember the last time I actually used one for anything serious (the double bowline on a bight is a different animal and is actually pretty awesome, though).

 

Paracord makes great boot laces and replacement starter cords for chainsaws, string trimmers, outboards, etc!

 

I pulled some Paracord thru the loops on a Boonie hat I keep in my truck. About 20-30 feet. I should have just bought a thousand foot roll of it 20 years ago. Around 1986 I bought one of those metal spools of *Baling Wire* that weighed 10-15 pounds when new. I finally used the last of it a couple years ago. I got some scraps of it hanging in my kitchen holding up my phone line.

 

I'll confess to being fairly ignorant as to the wonders of paracord. After doing a little research, I don't know how I've lived without it. Lol. After watching a few videos and visiting a couple of websites I think I'll try my hand at braiding a survival bracelet or two. Any recommendations on which eRetailer to patronize? Thanks

 

Someone else that knows more than me needs to jump in here: Please discuss the quality of paracord, and why some is better, some worse?

 

What you are looking for is 550-7 Paracord which would be 550 LB test with 7 Internal strands.
By an American manufacturer.

 

"Paracord" or "550 cord", is nylon cord. Technically, it's Type III MIL-C 5040H cord, but that's quite a mouthful and hard to remember.

It costs more than other 4mm nylon cords composed of 7 to 9 inner yarns each made up of 3 strands and an outer nylon kernmantle sheath and rated for 550 lbs breaking strength simply because it's more "tactikool."

As an 82nd Abn Div alumnus, I've got tons of the stuff laying around or wrapped around stuff.

 

Yes, the 550-7 is Commercial Grade which is pretty much what everybody buys for B.O.B. SHTF.

Then there is:
Military Grade Parachute Cord
MIL-C-5040 Type III 550#
8 Strand

I don't know anything about the Chinese made stuff. Do they even use parachutes when they jump out of their planes?
I think they are pretty much expendable so...they don't bother even giving them chutes.