Paracord for Function and FashionGaye Levy, Contributor Bringing us forward to current times, in addition to hiking, boating, camping, bike riding and other outdoor pursuits, we have basic survival skills to think about and plan for. After all, if the SHTF in a big way, without the proper gear we may all be up a creek without a paddle so to speak. Enter the miracle of paracord. This is very useful stuff that is also very inexpensive. What Exactly is Paracord? 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. 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. And it can be fashionable too. I was recently contacted by the folks at Cobrabraid 550 Paracord Gear and asked if I would like to take a look at some of their paracord products. Are you kidding? Of course I said yes. I was especially excited because I had previously purchased a paracord bracelet for my pocket survival kit that was a bit large for me so this would give me a chance to get something a bit more suitable for my small wrist. Look Ma! It is Adjustable The first thing I noticed when my bracelet arrived was the Velcro strap. This meant two things: I could adjust the size to fit exactly the way I wanted and I also could put the bracelet on and take it off with one hand without fumbling. This would be an especially important feature for someone with arthritis or simply very cold fingers out in the wilderness. The second thing I noticed was the quality. Sitting side by side with the other bracelet, you can see the difference. The finish work is nicer and the paracord itself seems to have more heft. I dont know for sure but I wonder if that is because the CobraBraid bracelet is made from 100% US-made paracord which is stronger and of higher quality than the Chinese-made product, which isnt 550 paracord (it is usually about 200-300 pound break strength). A Belt Like No Other Although the bracelet was nice, the true piece de resistance was the paracord belt. What is neat about the belt is that it is not simply woven paracord it is a real double-ply nylon belt that has abut 60 feet of USA made 550 paracord woven and wrapped onto the belt along with a super strong and attractive buckle. The really cool thing is that in a survival situation you can remove the paracord from the base and still have a belt left to hold up your pants. SurvivalHusband provided me with some feedback on the paracord belt: First impression: The belt is really well-constructed with a quality metal buckle (not flimsy and not plastic) Very fashionable: Great with jeans and other casual pants. He is thinking of getting a few more in different colors or perhaps even with a base and a contrasting trim color. Lots of Paracord: He likes the idea that the belt has about 60 feet of paracord to be able to use in an emergency and also for practical things such as tie downs. While hiking, if necessary, he could use the paracord with tree branches to create and emergency splint after a slip and fall incident. Strong but light weight: This speaks for itself. CobraBriad, the Company Doug and the team at CobraBraid are a family operation in central New York. They build their products right there in their own facility using paracord that is produced by a military contractor with a break strength above 550 pounds. They offer their paracord items in more colors than you can imagine; and, if you are so inclined, they will make up a custom color-combo just for you. Doug is a veteran and is committed to great customer service. A heck of a nice guy, too. The Final Word I asked Doug about his top-selling items. He indicated that the top sellers are the custom bracelet (you can choose up to 3 colors and buckle or Velcro closure), the DIY bracelet kit, the belt products and the dog items (leases and collars). And me? Next on my wish list is a lanyard (or two or three) to match my outfits. Because after all, being prepared does not mean that I cannot look good as well! You can find the original article with more images at Backdoor Survival. Enjoy your next adventure through common sense and thoughtful preparation! Gaye Levy, the SurvivalWoman, grew up and attended school in the Greater Seattle area. After spending many years as an executive in the software industry, she started a specialized accounting practice offering contract CFO work to emerging high tech and service industries. She has now abandoned city life and moved to a serenely beautiful rural area on an island in NW Washington State. She lives and teaches the principles of a sustainable, self-reliant and stylish lifestyle through emergency preparation and disaster planning through her website at BackdoorSurvival.com. SurvivalWoman speaks her mind and delivers her message with optimism and grace, regardless of mayhem swirling around us. linkwithin_text=Related Articles: 