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Some people—perhaps including you—wonder why others use paracord instead of regular nylon ropes. What’s so great about this simple-looking piece of rope? In this article, we’ll talk about its origins, the main reasons why it’s special, and more.
Paracord Braided Rope: A Glimpse Into Its Past
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Paracord was first used during World War II. The U.S. military developed it as a lightweight and strong rope for the paratroopers’ parachute lines, which is why it used to be called parachute cord.paracord manufacturer
Once the paratroopers landed, they cut off their parachute’s suspension lines and repurposed them. They may use them for securing equipment and rucksacks to their vehicles, keeping track of distance marched through a pace count, and making camouflage suits or nets.
Similar to commercial 550 paracord, mil spec paracord has a minimum tensile strength of 550 pounds (approximately 249 kilograms). However, it needs to go through rigorous testing in order to meet strict military specifications.
Since then, paracord’s usefulness has extended beyond military boundaries to commercial and personal use. During the second servicing mission for the Hubble Space Telescope in 1997, astronauts used parachute cords to fix the space telescope’s damaged insulation.
Nowadays, civilians use paracord for a wide range of applications. It’s used for outdoor survival, camping, emergency situations, crafting projects, and more.
3 Great Reasons Paracord Is So Special
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And that brings us to the original question: What’s so special about paracord?
There are many reasons why you should use or sell paracord instead of plain nylon cords. Here are three of them:
Useful for Different Applications
One of the things that makes paracord special is its versatile nature. While you may never find yourself in an emergency or survival situation, it’s always a good idea to have it in your possession.
Here are five fantastic uses of paracord:
1. First Aid Device
If you broke your leg, you can use paracord to make a splint to support it. If someone is bleeding to death, you can use the cord as a tourniquet to slow down or completely stop the bleeding. You can also take out a few of its core strands and use them to stitch a wound.
2. Catch Food
When you’re left to survive in the wild, knowing how to find and catch food is an essential skill to have to stay alive. You can use paracord for this purpose in several ways. For instance, you can catch fish by creating your own paracord fishing line. You can also enjoy tasty and nutritious game meat by making a snare from high-quality paracord.
3. Make Paracord Survival Bracelets
Paracord survival bracelets come in different designs, colors, and other unique features. However, most of them share the following basic features:
- Made from 550 cords
- A compass
- A loud emergency whistle
- A ferro rod and scraper for starting fires
- Military-grade paracord wire (at least 10 to 12 feet long when unraveled)
- Small multi-tools, a flashlight, and/or a small knife
4. Start a Fire
One of the most useful components of paracord is found within its outer sheath—the inner strands. Some brands of paracord have a wax-coated strand that you clip off and unravel to serve as the tinder for your fire.
Depending on the brand, fire-starting paracord can start up to 600 fires. The burn time for every inch of cord could last for around 30 seconds.
5. Make Fashionable and Functional Accessories
Paracord helps unleash your creative side. You can use it to make all kinds of accessories, including belts, bracelets, earrings, necklaces with a charm, pet collars, leashes, and keychains. You can also use it to fix some of your things, such as zipper pulls and shoelaces.
Easy To Carry Anywhere
While paracord is strong, it’s still incredibly lightweight. This makes it an ideal option for activities where weight is an important consideration, such as backpacking, hiking, and mountaineering.
So, how much does paracord weigh?
Keep in mind that the weight of paracord can be slightly different depending on several factors, such as:
- Construction
- Length
- Type
- Specialized features
In general, 550 paracord (Type III paracord) weighs around 7.1 to 7.3 ounces per 100 feet. For 750 paracord (Type IV paracord), it usually weighs around 9.7 ounces per 100 feet.
If weight is an important consideration for your customers, be sure to request from manufacturers the complete specifications of their paracord products. You can also ask them if they offer lighter and thinner paracord types, such as micro cords and nano cords.
Affordable and Cost-Effective
Paracord is generally affordable. Brands and manufacturers usually sell this in spools of 50 to 1,000 feet. Depending on several factors (e.g., length, strength, and brand), it can cost anywhere from $5 to $80. The price of bracelets made from 550 cords can range from $5 to $25.
Here are a few factors that can affect the price of paracord:
- The manufacturing standards that the manufacturer adheres to
- The type and quality of materials used
- Its construction and composition (e.g., number of strands)
- The diameter and length of the paracord
- Special features (e.g., reflective material used in reflective paracord)
- The source of your stock
- What should you look for when buying paracord?
What should you look for when buying paracord?
1. Shop Around for the Best Prices
Don’t settle on the first seller you find. Look around and compare the prices from different sources to ensure you get your money’s worth. Remember: The lowest price isn’t always the best deal.
2. Packaging Information
Checking the packaging information of the paracord you plan to buy is important for many reasons. For instance, it helps you determine that you’re buying the right type of paracord for your intended use and that the quality meets your requirements.
3. Check Authenticity
Most authentic parachute cords are made from nylon, or sometimes polyester. When it comes to the cores, the number of strands should correspond to the paracord type (i.e., 7 to 9 strands for 550 cords). In addition, the braided outer sheath should feel relatively smooth.paracord factory
4. Determine the Intended Use
What are you going to use it for? Who are you going to sell it to?
Knowing the intended use will help you decide what features a paracord should have. If you’re looking for a general-purpose utility cord, 550 cords are great options. If you require a cord that’s fit for heavy duty applications, choose mil-spec paracord or commercial cords with a higher minimum breaking strength.
Choosing The Right Paracord Manufacturer
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It’s important to partner with the right manufacturer because it directly affects the scalability of your business and your product’s price and quality. Here’s a quick guide to help you make a more informed decision:
Manufacturing Capabilities
Since you’re tapping into the capabilities of manufacturing companies, it’s important to find one that has the expertise and production capacity for the specific paracord you need. It’s also important to know if they offer add-on services (e.g., customization and free samples), so you can reduce the number of suppliers that your business works with.
Industry Reputation and Experience
The right paracord manufacturer should have a solid reputation in the industry. You can do this by checking the company’s history, businesses they’ve worked with (or are currently working with), feedback from their customers, and accounts on B2B online platforms.
While it’s not a complete guarantee, most established manufacturers are more likely to produce good-quality paracord products. They can also give you valuable insights on how to develop better products that meet your customers’ needs.
Customer Support
It’s crucial for a manufacturer to have great customer service because it shows their commitment and respect for you. Before committing to a specific manufacturer, check how they usually handle client inquiries and issues. Ask them about their communication style and frequency to make sure they fit your expectations.
There’s definitely no shortage of paracord manufacturers. However, not all of them will check all of your boxes. If you’re looking for suggestions to jump-start your search, we have one for you.
Baiyuheng Outdoor: A Professional Paracord Manufacturer
Source: Baiyuheng Outdoor
When it comes to experience and manufacturing capabilities, you don’t need to look further. Baiyuheng Outdoor is an industry veteran that meets the complex business challenges and requirements of their clients all over the world. Since 2010, the company has been manufacturing all kinds of high-quality outdoor and survival equipment, including fire starters, paracord, ropes, and survival cards.
Best Paracord Products
Baiyuheng Outdoor has an extensive collection of paracord products that you can customize according to your business needs. They have them in different breaking strength ratings, colors, lengths, and special features.
They have the popular 550 cord if you need an all-purpose utility paracord. If you need something stronger, they have the “Bengku 850 Paracord” that has 12 inner strands, each made up of 3 yarns. If nighttime visibility is an important requirement, they have glow-in-the-dark and reflective cords that you can check out.
Why You Would Pick Baiyuheng Outdoor
There are plenty of reasons why this company is an attractive option. These are just some of them:
- Add-on services: free paracord samples and photos
- Customizable products
- Responsive customer support team
- Low minimum order requirement
- Reasonable prices
- Fast shipping and door-to-door delivery
- Meets quality standards and has relevant certifications
- Extensive experience in paracord production
Conclusion
In summary, paracord is special because it’s one of the most useful pieces of survival equipment out there. While it may look simple, it can help people save lives, survive in the wild or during a disaster, fulfill basic daily tasks, and unleash their creativity, just to name a few.
