Paracord: The Most Versatile Item In Your Bug-Out Bag

No fashion accessory says “prepper” more than a paracord bracelet. With that around your wrist, you have at least 10 feet of 550 pound test rope. The cord is made of many tiny strands and can also be unravelled if a thinner cord is necessary.

Paracord, according to Wikipedia, is a “light weight nylon kernmantle rope originally used in the suspension lines of US parachute during World War II. Once in the field, paratroopers found this cord useful for many other tasks. It is now used as a general purpose utility cord by both military personnel and civilians.”

The question isn’t “What can you do with paracord?” It’s “What can’t you do with paracord?”

Here are some ideas for what paracord can be used for. Some of these would use the cord in its entirety, while others would call for the cord to be unravelled with single strands being called into duty.
50 Ways to Utilize Paracord in a Survival Situation

1.     Bear bag
2.     Belt
3.     Bow drill for fire starting
4.     Clothesline
5.     Dental floss
6.     Dog collar
7.     Fish stringer
8.     Fishing line
9.     Hair tie
10.     Hammock
11.     Handcuffs
12.     Hatband
13.     Handle on an improvised weapon
14.     Key fob
15.     Lanyard
16.     Leash
17.     Net
18.     Pulley system
19.     Rappelling (Only in extreme emergency – not designed for this)
20.     Repairing broken equipment
21.     Repairing flip flops or sandals
22.     Repairing torn clothing
23.     Replacement drawstring for bags or clothing
24.     Replacement handle for bags or totes
25.     Replacement hardware for doors or drawers
26.     Replacement shoelaces
27.     Rifle sling
28.     Rope ladder
29.     Secure an animal by tying it to something
30.     Secure a tent or shelter
31.     Secure outdoor items during a windstorm
32.     Shoelaces
33.     Sling
34.     Slingshot
35.     Snare
36.     Snowshoe assembly using branches and paracord
37.     Stitch a wound or repair tore clothing
38.     Stretcher for an injured or ill person
39.     Suspenders
40.     Tie down items to a vehicle roof rack
41.     Tie on a splint
42.     Tie things to your belt or belt loops
43.     Tie up an intruder
44.     Tourniquet
45.     Tow rope
46.     Travois for hauling supplies
47.     Tripwire
48.     Water filter
49.     Watchband
50.     Zipper pull

You’re really only limited by your own creativity.

Speaking of creativity, paracord bracelets can be ordered from Amazon, but it’s simple and fun to make your own. This video shows you how to tie the cobra knot to create your own bracelet. Once you’ve mastered the basic knot, there’s no need to stop with bracelets: you can create belts, hatbands or key fobs to be sure that you always have this vital survival element close at hand!

Contributed by Tess Pennington of Ready Nutrition.

Prepper's CookbookTess Pennington is the author of The Prepper’s Cookbook: 300 Recipes to Turn Your Emergency Food into Nutritious, Delicious, Life-Saving Meals. When a catastrophic collapse cripples society, grocery store shelves will empty within days. But if you follow this book’s plan for stocking, organizing and maintaining a proper emergency food supply, your family will have plenty to eat for weeks, months or even years.