The 'para' in the name comes from the fact that it was originally used in the suspension lines of US parachutes during World War II. Its versatility though has seen it become a general purpose utility cord used by both military personnel and civilians. Only the very best paracord will be of sufficient strength to be of any use, which you will be guaranteed to get with genuine 550 paracord.
Genuine 550 paracord is a type-III paracord. It may only be a humble looking rope, but its 550lbs breaking strain means it is fit for a multitude of weight-bearing purposes.
Paracord Knots
Genuine 550 paracord has a braided sheath with a high number of interwoven strands. Its construction makes it surprisingly elastic, which means it is perfect for a wide array of paracord knots. Knowing just a few simple knots means that you can use your genuine 550 paracord for a variety of tasks. Paracord knots will allow you to attach equipment to harnesses, or tie rucksacks to vehicle racks, for example. It can also be used to support the weight of a person, with its seven strand core giving an excellent strength to weight ratio.
Its use in paracord knots to fulfil a number of practical, utility functions is aided by the fact that it can be compacted into wearable paracord bracelets or paracord necklaces. Genuine 550 paracord can then be transported more easily and then easily unraveled when it needs to be used for tying paracord knots.
Genuine 550 paracord
4mm (approx.) paracord with a seven strand core is a is the highest grade of 550 and is made by Boonies Outdoor (as used by many survivalists and military). It is fashioned to exactly the same standard as Mil-C-5040, the only difference being that it lacks the tracer strand, an inner braid which identifies the origin of the cord for government purposes - so unless you work for the U.S Government, it will serve no purpose, so you may as well save some money with this type III.
100% Nylon, ROT-PROOF and UV resistant and colour-fast too.
Paracord is a fantastic multi-purpose product, and sold per foot.
