What Is Paracord?: Origins, Uses & Paracord Basics

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What is Paracord Made Of?

Paracord, also known as parachute cord, is a strong, durable type of cord made from nylon. There are many different commercial and personal uses of paracord. The high-tech paracord material and construction allow it to be tough while still remaining compact and lightweight.

Paracord is a kernmantle cord, meaning it has both a core and an outer sheath, or mantle. Different strengths of paracord will contain different numbers of strands. For the most popular paracord, 550 cord, the core consists of seven strands, with each strand made up of two or three smaller strands. The outer mantle is made up of 32 woven strands. The inner strands can be removed and stretched out to create hundreds of feet of usable cord, making it an essential tool for many outdoor enthusiasts.

How Strong is Paracord?

There are several different types of paracord, but the most popular one is known as 550 paracord, meaning it has a tensile strength of 550 pounds. Other types of paracord may offer different tensile strengths and weights.

Paracord is designed to withstand any challenge you or Mother Nature can throw at it. Since nylon is a synthetic paracord material, it is resistant to rot, mildew, abrasion and UV fade.

Paracord History

To understand paracord basics, it's important to know its roots. Paracord history can be traced back to the 1930s when an inventor working for DuPont created nylon. The manufactured fiber became popular for use in toothbrushes and especially in women's stockings, but it found new life during World War II when the U.S. military needed a new kind of cord to be used on its parachutes and parachute cords. Originally, parachute cords were made with silk. However, silk had to be imported from Japan, which posed a serious issue during World War II. Nylon served as a readily available synthetic replacement for silk as war-time production ramped up.

While the cord served its original purpose, the U.S. paratroopers quickly discovered many new uses for their parachute cords, like securing tarps, running fishing lines and repairing fabric.

Eventually, paracord was declassified and released to the public, and its usage has grown in the decades since.

Crafting

Crafting enthusiasts have found many uses for the synthetic cord, including bracelets, lanyards, jewelry, keychains and more. Some creative crafting artists have even gone as far as using paracord for more large-scale projects such as hammocks, chairs and steering wheel covers.

Fashion

While it may not seem like one of the most obvious uses of paracord, fashion circles have taken to the material through the years. Its many colors and strength have made it popular for bracelets, belts and more. It also can be used as elastic for making your own face masks.

Outdoors/Survival

Paracord's durability and strength have made it extremely popular with outdoor and survival enthusiasts. These uses of paracord include making fishing lines, constructing shelters, designing traps, replacing boot laces or tying gear to backpacks. Many outdoor enthusiasts make paracord bracelets as a storage and transportation method so they always have some of this versatile product with them in case of emergency.