Paracord Is The Best Survival Cordage
Everyone has a different opinion on what the best survival cordage is. The reason for the widely differing opinions is that people use cordage for different things. This article aims to discuss which cords are best suited for a survival situation in the outdoors. Each type of rope/cordage has pros and cons, many cords are designed for a specific purpose. The fishing line excels at fishing, climbing rope is designed for climbing.
The best survival cordage will be versatile, weather resistant, flexible, have a high-tensile strength, lightweight, and holds a knot well.
Not all ropes/cordage are created equal. Even the same type of cordage manufactured by different companies varies greatly in quality. But before we traverse the minefield of different cordage brands. Let’s narrow down the best types of cords there are, that can be used as survival cordage.
Natural Vs Synthetic Cordage For A Bug-out Bag
Natural cordage only has 2 benefits over synthetic cordage. The first one is that natural cordage is flammable, which may sound peculiar, but does come in handy in a survival situation where tinder is scarce. And the second benefit of natural cordage is that it is bio-degradable. The first is relevant in a survival situation, the second is of lesser concern.
Don’t misunderstand me, the environment is very important to me. I am a firm believer in the principle of “Leave No Trace” when in the outdoors. But in a survival situation, the ethos of “leave no trace” will be low on my list of priorities. Or to be more accurate, I would have other things to worry about and wouldn’t give it a thought.
Common Natural Fiber Cordage
Manila is the strongest, softest on the hands, and easiest to tie off the natural fiber cords, favored by pioneers and the boy scouts. Add to that manila is resistant to dampness and can be used as tinder for a fire, this is the best cordage for bushcraft and survival training.
Advantages:
Reasonable price
Durable
Resistant to salt water
Easier on the hand than sisal and jute
Can be used as tinder
Great for tying knots
Strongest natural fiber cord
Disadvantages:
Difficult to untie when wet
Rots
Not resistant to mildew and mold
Sisal is a natural plant fiber cord that is easy to tie, cheap, and a great bushcraft cord, popular with bushcrafters. A step down from Manila
Jute is the weakest of the 3 natural fibers on my list, and the one I would be least likely to use except for the lightest of binding/tying requirements. Its only redeeming qualities are that it is cheap and a little softer and more malleable than sisal.
Summary On Natural Fiber Cordage
Natural fiber cordage is great for camping, around the home, in the garden, and as training cordage. But as a primary survival cordage, synthetic cords are stronger, more resilient, and easier to tie and untie.
If synthetic cords are not an option, then buy Manila rope, it is the best of the three listed here.
Synthetic Material Cordage
The best survival cordage will be made of synthetic materials. It is better in every way. Well… Accept for the price. Synthetic cordage is generally more expensive than natural.
Paracord Is The Best Survival Cordage
There is no question that paracord is the most versatile cord. And while specialty cords (designed for one purpose) perform better in their given fields, there is no other cord that can compete with paracords’ “Jack of all trades” attributes.
550 mil-spec paracord has a tensile strength of 550 pounds (static weight). Mil-spec means that it has gone through a higher standard of quality control and more rigorous testing than the non-mil-spec variety of paracord. It was originally designed for military use as suspension lines in a parachute. Combine all these little titbits of information and you have the name “550 Mil-spec Paracord”.
Paracord is a kernmantle type of cord, which means that there are strands of cord inside an outer protective layer (the mantle).
A good paracord comes with 7 strands inside the kernmantle, and each of the 7 strands is composed of 3 braided strands.
The inner strands can be taken out and used individually if needed. Meaning that a 10-foot piece of cordage can be turned into 70 feet of cordage, albeit thinner and weaker than the original.
Can Paracord Be Used For Climbing?
Paracord is NOT a climbing rope. The 550lb rating may look impressive, but a decent climbing rope has a significantly higher rating. But first, we need to understand a little bit about climbing ropes.
Climbing rope is not rated the same as other cordage. Climbing rope is rated by KN (kilo newtons), one KN is roughly equivalent to 100kg (220lb), and climbing ropes have ratings that are usually higher than 8kn. This means most climbing ropes have a higher tensile strength than 800kg.
I would NOT use paracord as a climbing rope.
The Best Survival Paracord
I am a fan of Atwood 550 paracord, I have tested a dozen different brands (a drop in the ocean, there are hundreds of brands out there), and of all the ones I have tested, Atwood is the best.
Since there are no agencies that control paracord quality, there are some very shoddy brands out there, some have 5 to 6 strands instead of 7, and others have 2 braided threads per strand instead of three.
If you are going to use paracord as your main survival cordage, Buy from a reputable company. Like Atwood, Tough-Grid, Titan-SurvivorCord, etc.
Pros:
Cost-effective
Extremely Strong for its diameter and weight
Lightweight and compact
Easy to tie and untie
Cons:
Stretches when under a heavy load
A small diameter means that it is difficult to hold onto when under a heavy load
Shrinks when wet (usually just the first time)
Technical Specs For Atwood 550 Paracord
Weight is 227 grams per 100ft
Kernel and 7-strand core
Rot and UV resistant
Diameter 4mm
Tensile Strength 550 lb
Made in the USA
Lightweight, strong, color does not run or bleed, and consistent quality.
Summary:
It is never a good idea to have just one of anything in a survival situation. A prepper/survivalist will have a backup. Paracord is the BEST multi-use survival cordage, but it should not be the only one you have. Here is a list of Cordages for Survival.
Paracord is the best survival cordage for light use.
Climbing rope for heavy use, yes, climbing rope is expensive but well worth it if any climbing is involved.
But I recommend carrying a variety of cords, some take up barely any space at all. For example, fishing lines, snare wire, and dental floss would all fit in an Altoid tin.
