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Paracord (or parachute cord) found its beginnings during World War II, which was a time when the U.S. military needed new types of parachute suspension cords. Over the years, mil spec paracord has been used in a wide range of applications.
However, there has been some debate as to whether paracord is still relevant today. So, in this article, we’ll delve into this topic and take you through the reasons it’s still useful today.paracord manufacturer
Is Paracord Braided Rope Still Popular Today?
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The answer is “it depends.”
In the USA, the military stopped using nylon cord for their parachute suspension lines because stronger and more advanced materials are now available. Depending on the intended use, the parachutes the US military uses today are usually made from synthetic fibers with high tensile strength, such as Dyneema, Spectra, Technora, and Vectran.
Although paracord is no longer a popular material for parachute suspension lines, it’s still used by many people for a wide range of non-military applications. So, which groups of people often use commercial paracord in their activities? Here are some of them:
Survivalists
Similar to preppers, survivalists are interested in preparing for potential natural and man-made disasters. Since they live off of their surroundings, it’s important for them to always have the right tools on hand, including paracord, ropes, survival cards, and knives. These tools can help them build shelters, set up traps, create tools, and more.
Emergency Response Providers
You don’t need to be a licensed EMT to use paracord in emergency situations. If you keep a first aid kit at home, this would make a great addition. You can use it to create makeshift slings or tourniquets. If someone has a cut, you can use the strands from the core to temporarily close it until medical help is available.
Crafting Enthusiasts and Do-It-Yourselfers
Paracord is available in different colors, diameters, and patterns. So, it’s not surprising that it found its way to the arts and crafts communities. People have used it for a variety of attractive and functional accessories, such as drawstring pouches, friendship bracelets, keychains, pet collars and leashes, lanyards, and necklaces.
Outdoor Recreation and Sports Enthusiasts
People who love camping, hiking, horseback riding, water sports, and other types of physical activities would find paracord useful. Most paracord products have an outer sheath that’s resistant to abrasion, moisture, and UV degradation (if exposed for short periods), allowing them to handle almost everything you throw at them.
In summary, paracord that follows military specifications is no longer used for the parachutes of US soldiers. However, paracord is still relevant today. Mil-spec paracord gave way to the development of commercial paracord types, which are widely used by different groups of people.
Great Reasons People Love Paracord
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So, why do people love paracord? High-quality paracord is popular for many reasons. Let’s go through some of them.
Useful for Different Purposes
One of the outstanding features of paracord is its versatility. It’s available in different strength ratings, sizes, and special features (e.g., fire-starter cord and reflective paracord), allowing it to easily adapt to a wide range of purposes. Below are just a few ways you can use paracord:
Medical Emergencies
If you seriously cut yourself, you can use the paracord’s inner strands to stitch it. Please take note that the strands don’t dissolve, so make sure to remove them and have a licensed doctor check your cut. In addition, it’s important to ensure your hands, the strands, and the needle are clean before use to prevent infection.
You can also use the cord to slow or stop the loss of blood. Like standard tourniquets, you should wrap it at least 5 centimeters (approximately the same length as your thumb) above the wound. Never place the cord over a joint.
If you or someone you know has injured a limb, you can use paracord to support and stabilize it. To make an improvised splint, you’ll need two sturdy sticks. Place each stick on each side of the injured limb. Then wrap the cord around the sticks and tighten it to ensure it doesn’t move around.
Living Outdoors
Here are different ways you can use paracord outdoors:
- Build a temporary shelter by using paracord to hang a tarp or set up a tent.
- Tie a few branches (or other materials) together to mark your trail.
- Create fishing lines, snares, and traps for catching food.
- Hang your food and trash from a high and strong tree branch to keep them out of reach from wild animals.
- Start fires in two ways: use the cord to make a bow drill or remove the wax-coated strand that ignites with a spark.
- Collect water by positioning the cord or strand in line with the mouth of your water bottle.
- Secure essential items to your backpack or vehicle.
- Wrap it around your hunting tools to improve grip.
Creative Projects
Whether you find it tacky or fashionable, there’s no question that paracord accessories are here to stay. Some of the creative projects that you can use it for include:
- Belts
- Collars and leashes for pets
- Coasters
- Clips for baby toys
- Drawstring bags
- Necklaces for carrying tools
- Friendship or tactical bracelets
- Handles for bags and tools
- Hat bands
- Headbands
- Horse tack sets
- Phone pouches
- Rifle slings
- Snake knot camera strap
- Wallets
- Water bottle holders
- Woven stools
Durable and Strong
Paracord perfectly combines lightweight with an incredible strength-to-weight ratio. In fact, it can hold up to 1100 pounds of static weight or force at one time without failing. That’s why it’s a suitable option for many heavy duty applications.
The strength of paracord depends on several factors, such as the number of its cores strands, materials used, construction type, cord thickness, and manufacturers or brand quality.
Here are the different types of paracord and their corresponding breaking strength ratings:
- Type I: 95 pounds
- Type II: 275 pounds
- Type III: 550 pounds (most popular)
- Type IV: 750 pounds
More heavy-duty cords can withstand 850 to 1100 pounds of weight. There are also other types of paracord, such as micro paracord and nano paracord, which are thinner and have a lower minimum breaking strength.
Easy to Find
Nowadays, you can buy paracord just about anywhere. You can buy it at military equipment surplus shops, outdoor recreation and survival gear shops, and hardware shops. If you’re planning to sell it, you can source paracord products from manufacturers abroad to lower your production costs and increase your profit margins.
Tips for Choosing the Best Parachute Cords
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Here are a few things to keep in mind to ensure you provide high-quality products that meet your customers’ requirements:
1. Determine the Intended Use
This part requires you to know your target customers and understand how they think. It’s not always easy, but it’s necessary in order to give them great customer service and the right paracord products.
Different types of paracord are designed for specific applications. If your customers are mostly hobbyists and crafting enthusiasts, you might prioritize thinner cords and more options for colors and patterns. If your customers spend a lot of time outdoors, you might prioritize cords that have higher strength ratings and are more resistant to harsh weather elements.
2. Buy It in Person
Going to a store yourself gives you the opportunity to closely inspect the product. In most cases, you can easily tell a poorly-made paracord by just looking at and touching it. Authentic paracord should feel solid and have a slightly bumpy surface. But the most important features that you should look out for are these:
- The core should have the right number of strands. If it’s 550 paracord, it should have 7 to 9 strands.
- Each of those strands should consist of three strands that are twisted together to create a strong cord.
- The cord should be 4 millimeters thick.
- If it’s a mil-spec cord, make sure it has a colored marker thread that identifies the cord’s manufacturer.
3. Check the Paracord Manufacturer’s Reputation
When it comes to paracord manufacturers, you’ll never run out of options. However, not all are worthy of your money and time.
So, take your time researching their customers’ reviews and feedback. Make sure to consider the negative reviews, too.
Another consideration is deciding whether to source your paracord from local or international manufacturers. Both choices have their pros and cons. Nowadays, businesses mostly work with Chinese manufacturers for several reasons, including customized services, affordable prices, and better scaling capabilities, among others.
One of the best paracord manufacturers that we could recommend is Baiyuheng Outdoor.
Source: Baiyuheng Outdoor
About the Company
Baiyuheng Outdoor has a decade-long track record of providing high-quality outdoor and survival gear to individuals and businesses worldwide. Based in Jiangmen City, China, the company can help you design and manufacture products that meet your specific design and volume requirements.
Best Paracord Products
Baiyuheng Outdoor started out manufacturing paracord before they extended their product line to include fire starters, ropes, survival cards, outdoor cooking equipment, and more. So, expect to have a lot of choices for paracord.
They have paracord in a variety of colors, patterns, sizes, and strengths. Whether you’re looking for 550 cords or 850 cords, they have them. They even offer customization services to ensure you get the product that meets your customers’ expectations.
Why You Should Consider Baiyuheng Outdoor
These are just a few things Baiyuheng Outdoor offers its customers:
- 24/7 knowledgeable and responsive customer service representatives
- Customization services (logo, label, packaging, size, etc.)
- Fast shipping and door-to-door delivery service
- Free paracord samples and photos
- A wide selection of quality-tested paracord products
- Affordable prices
Conclusion
Is paracord still popular?
Definitely.
Volunteer groups still create paracord bracelets and send them to soldiers deployed abroad. Civilians, such as outdoor enthusiasts and survivalists, use it today for different purposes and projects.
So, if you’re looking for a new product to add to your inventory, paracord has great potential and can be your winning product. Just make sure to take your time researching the right paracord manufacturer, such as Baiyuheng Outdoor, to protect your investment.
