Did you know…
The same cord that you use on your dog’s harness can also suspend you from a parachute? That’s right!
Just as long as it’s of high-quality material and high tensile strength.
And just as long as it’s a paracord!
You’ll find lots of brands for this product on the market. It’s not the most complicated thing, after all.
So we gathered up what we could find and tested them both indoors and outdoors (except for the parachute thing – we relied on online reviews about that). And now, in this article, we give you:
- The top ten best paracords for survival situations, camping, backpacking, etc.;
- The pros and cons of each paracord product;
- What makes a good paracord and other features to look out for;
- How Type III differs from a Type IV cord and other types;
- The comparison of each product from each other in terms of the appropriate metrics; and
- So much more!
If you’re still confused about what exactly a paracord is, keep scrolling, and we’ll make it clear for you.
So hang in there, buddy!
And stay on the line…
Introduction
Technically, ‘paracord’ is usually referring to a parachute cord. So it’s supposed to be strong, bendable, resistant to abrasion and other damages, and generally durable.
But let’s be honest…
Not every manufacturer adheres to those standards. So, we decided to help you choose the paracord you need without buying everything in the store.
We took it upon ourselves, so you’re welcome!
It was a little expensive but definitely worth it! Because now we have a bunch of paracord at our disposal.
Plus…
We know which ones are great for making paracord bracelets, lanyards, handles, fishing lines, shoelaces (yes, you can do that), and whatnots.
Based on the metrics, you’ll also find what will work for you and the most important quality to you.
Now, what are we waiting for…
Best Paracord
Best Paracord For Camping – Editor’s Choice Award
Tough-Grid 550lb Paracord
- Material: 100% Nylon
- Size: 12 x 4 x 0.5 inches
- Weight: 3.9 ounces
- Item Thickness: 4 mm
- Brand: Tough-Grid
Overall Score:
96
The Bottom Line:
Make your ultimate survival cord into existence with this Tough-Grid paracord.
What’s Good
- Affordable compared to others
- Strong and sturdy
- Has seven inner triple strands
- Heavy-duty
What’s Bad
- The nylon’s elasticity could be improved
Summary
This paracord from Tough-Grid is a Type III, with seven core strands that can hold up to 550 lbs. That, in itself, is a plus in tensile strength.
This is our Editor’s Choice for the best reasons.
It’s strong enough to hold 550 lbs, so we figured it was strong enough to be used as a parachute line. But since we couldn’t test that, we tried it on different tasks instead.
And we were more than satisfied with the results!
We made durable paracord bracelets, paracord lanyards, ropes, and even a fishing line. We also tried to see if it could cut through zip ties, as we’ve seen online. And yes, it could.
All projects came out sturdy!
It’s a bonus too that it’s relatively affordable. This is one of the best commercial paracords that we got our hands on.
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Best Budget Paracord – Best Value Award
Werewolves 700lb Paracord
- Material: Nylon
- Size: 3.46 x 3.31 x 3.31 inches
- Weight: 8 ounces
- Item Thickness: 4 mm
- Brand: Werewolves
Overall Score:
94
The Bottom Line:
This all-nylon paracord is budget-friendly without compromising quality.
What’s Good
- Very affordable
- Has 700-lb tensile strength
- Multipurpose
- Durable and sturdy
What’s Bad
- Needs more elasticity
- The packaging needs improvement
Summary
From rope to paracord bracelet to pulley line to survival bracelet – this Type III cord has been through a lot.
It has seven inner strands and can withhold a 700-lb load.
That’s way more than expected from a cheap buy!
Needless to say, it won our Best Value Award. It’s one of the cheapest we could find on the market. But it’s also one of the highest quality paracords.
It’s so durable and sturdy that the knots we made were held in place after wind and rain. It’s not as elastic as we would’ve hoped, but given the price, we’re not complaining.
Besides…
Not all paracord have that 150 lbs of extra tensile strength. Believe it or not – we’ve tested it.
We secured our camping gear on the top load of one of our cars with this paracord. We attached it to fishing hooks and got lucky. As we said, it’s been through a lot.
And it survived all of those! So yes, we highly recommend this paracord.
Related: Survival Garden Layout
Best Twisted Paracord – Top Pick Award
Paracord Planet Paracord
- Material: Nylon
- Size: 10.08 x 4.57 x 1.85 inches
- Weight: .01 ounces
- Item Thickness: 4 mm
- Brand: Paracord Planet
Overall Score:
92
The Bottom Line:
Here’s a strong cord with seven twisted inner stands that you can hold you – or anything heavier.
What’s Good
- Durable and sturdy
- Multipurpose
- It can be made into different paracord products
- Very strong material
What’s Bad
- Needs better packaging
- Has inconsistencies in color
Summary
The best thing about this paracord…
Is that the material is so strong that it holds even after so much strain. We pulled at it just to test its elasticity, and it didn’t break.
It stretched but was just back to its original size like nothing happened.
We also made it into paracord bracelets, into a climbing rope, and other things. We can say that it turns into very durable items, big or small.
The only things we didn’t like… Is its packaging. If you want a paracord that goes on to its full length (we bought a 100-foot line), this may not be for you.
But if you’re going to cut it up anyway, then we highly recommend this product to you.
Also, if you’re particular about the color, you might find the inconsistencies annoying. But since we’re all about its durability, we didn’t mind the dye at all.
That’s why it won our Top Pick Award!
Related: Best Survival Books
Best Quality Paracord
Balit 550 Paracord
- Material: Nylon
- Size: 7.4 x 5.71 x 2.24 inches
- Weight: 10.93 ounces
- Item Thickness: 4.1 mm
- Brand: Balit
Overall Score:
90
The Bottom Line:
You can trust this paracord’s ten internal strands to keep your tents, camping gear, and yourself safe.
What’s Good
- High-quality material
- Very durable and sturdy
- High elasticity
What’s Bad
- Relatively expensive
Summary
The Balit paracord has ten inner cores. That’s a lot more than the other paracord products have.
But despite that…
It can hold only up to 550 lbs. That’s a heavy load, and for a Type III paracord, we’re not complaining.
But since it has more in its core than others, we kind of expected it to have greater tensile strength.
But none of that mattered after we actually tried this cord out. It may not be the strongest paracord…
But it has one of the best quality nylon we’ve seen on the market.
After being stretched to its limit, it simply went back to its original length without damage. And the knots we made with it held on tight. There was no need for adjusting.
And the best part…
This paracord is fade-resistant and UV-resistant. It’s going to last you long enough, so its relatively expensive price is worth it.
Best Paracord For Harsh Weather Conditions
Paracord Planet 100′ Hanks Parachute 550 Cord Type III 7 Strand Paracord Top 40 Most
- Material: Nylon
- Size: 8 x 0.7 x 0.5 inches
- Weight: 7.3 ounces
- Item Thickness: 4 mm
- Brand: Paracord Planet
Overall Score:
90
The Bottom Line:
This paracord can withstand any weather you leave it under.
What’s Good
- Durable and strong
- High-quality material
- Multipurpose
What’s Bad
- Expensive compared to others
- Less elastic than expected
Summary
This paracord is UV-resistant and abrasion-resistant. You can leave it under the sun, the rain, the snow – when you come back for it, it’s still good as new.
This is a very strong cord of good quality nylon.
It has seven inner strands and has a 550-lb tensile strength.
It might not be as elastic as we expected from an expensive paracord. But it’s certainly going to last you long. So who cares if it’s a little stretched out in some places?
Besides… The paracord bracelets we made from it are strong and sturdy. And not only that! We also really love the fishing line and climbing rope.
This is a must-have survival paracord in your gear.
Best Multifunctional Paracord
Bengku Outdoor Mil-SPEC 550lb Paracor
- Material: Nylon
- Size: 8 x 2.4 x 1.9 inches
- Weight: 9.88 ounces
- Item Thickness: 4 mm
- Brand: Bengku
Overall Score:
88
The Bottom Line:
The Bengku paracord won’t disappoint you in any heavy-duty work.
What’s Good
- Strong and durable
- Can be used for high-strain purposes
- Heavy-duty
What’s Bad
- Expensive
- Too stiff and inelastic
Summary
From survival situations to walking your dog, this is an extremely durable paracord to use.
Bengku will certainly last long.
You won’t find an elastic paracord here. In fact, you might find it too stiff. But its strength compensates for that.
If it survived the pull of a very enthusiastic dog, we think it could survive parachute jumps and other strenuous activities.
But we do know for sure that…
Bengku can hold tents and tarps in place even when the wind blows hard. It also secured the camping gear that we loaded on top of our car.
It has seven internal strands, can hold up to 550 lbs, and works as expected for its price.
And it’s thin and strong enough to use as boot laces!
Best Tensile Strength Paracord
Paracord Planet 750 LB Type IV Paracord
- Material: Nylon
- Size: 5.67 x 4.45 x 0.51 inches
- Weight: 1.41 ounces
- Item Thickness: 5 mm
- Brand: Paracord Planet
Overall Score:
88
The Bottom Line:
With its 750-lb tensile strength, this is a true survival cord at your service!
What’s Good
- 26% Stronger when compared to type III 550lb paracord
- Half the price of standard military grade
- 30 Different color options
What’s Bad
- Expensive
- Doesn’t have a marker strand
- Too stiff
Summary
If you’re looking for a Type IV cord with eleven internal strands, here’s one of the best on the market.
Only…
We expected it to have at least one marker strand. It does say that it’s military-grade.
But we didn’t mind that after making such a durable mono fishing line from it. It makes a strong climbing rope as well.
It’s a little too stiff for making a paracord bracelet. But once you get the hang of it, you’ll find it very sturdy.
With this Type IV…
You’ll be confident in different survival scenarios. After all, it ticked off a lot of military-grade requirements.
We dare say that this is the stronger cord that you’ve been looking for!
Best Material Paracord
Goldberg G 550lb Parachute Cord Paracord – 100% Nylon
- Material: Nylon
- Size: 7.8 x 0.7 x 0.5 inches
- Weight: 7.04 ounces
- Item Thickness: 4 mm
- Brand: Goldberg G
Overall Score:
86
The Bottom Line:
The Goldberg’s outer shell can stretch and bend to endure whatever strain you bring it.
What’s Good
- Elastic
- Good quality nylon
- Stretchable
- Sturdy
What’s Bad
- Expensive
- Less durable compared to others
Summary
Let’s face it.
It’s not the most durable product for a Type III cord – especially since it’s marketed as a mil-spec paracord.
It’s what you’d call a commercial paracord – one that’s more suitable for light jobs. For example, making paracord handles, knife lanyards, etc.
But why do we still recommend it?
Because of the elastic, durable, and stretchable nylon shell that it’s made of.
This all-nylon cord may help you in a survival situation. But just to be sure, don’t use it with parachutes.
Better yet, use it to secure your tents, wrap around handles, and maybe even walk your dog.
And by the way…
The individual threads of this paracord’s outer shell are strong enough to use as a sewing thread.
They’re not as fine as those you use for repairing buttons and stuff. But out in the wilderness, when your tent or your shoes encounter unfriendly tree branches or whatever…
A strong sewing thread will come in handy.
So if you have a few dollars to spare, treat yourself with this Goldberg paracord.
Best Survival Paracord
SGT Knots Type III Paracord Rope
- Material: Nylon
- Size: 9 x 2.5 x 2 inches
- Weight: 8.11 ounces
- Item Thickness: 4 mm
- Brand: SGT Knots
Overall Score:
84
The Bottom Line:
Wilderness survival is never as easy with an SGT Knots paracord.
What’s Good
- Durable and sturdy
- Elastic outer shell
- Multipurpose
- Trustworthy in any emergency situation
What’s Bad
- Not suitable for wet areas or weather
- Relatively expensive
Summary
SGT Knots has this highly durable Type III (seven internal strands that can hold 550 lbs).
You can fashion it into a bracelet, knife handle, climbing rope, etc. Use it for keeping your tent in place too. Or if you need a makeshift kitchen system in the wilderness, this will come in handy too.
Only…
Beware when it rains. When the ones we had on hand got wet, we noticed that they lost a bit of their elasticity.
But it’s still as durable as ever.
The outer sheath is abrasive-resistant too, which is a huge point in survival.
Best Braided Paracord
Atwood Rope MFG Color Changing 550 Paracord
- Material: Nylon
- Size: 9 x 2.5 x 2 inches
- Weight: 8.11 ounces
- Item Thickness: 4 mm
- Brand: Atwood Rope MFG
Overall Score:
84
The Bottom Line:
Atwood’s tightly braided outer sheath adds to its overall strength and quality.
What’s Good
- Relatively affordable
- Sturdy and strong
- Weather-resistant
- Multipurpose
What’s Bad
- Less durable
- Inelastic
Summary
This brand is one of those that you always hear when you’re looking to buy paracord. And for a good reason too.
When it’s Atwood, you’ll know it’s good.
And this product won’t disappoint you. Keep in mind too that it falls at the middle of the price range.
It’s not the hardest to break, especially since its tight braids make it a little less elastic compared to others. But that’s also what makes it sturdy and strong.
We suggest that you use this paracord for lightweight tasks. It’s more for tying, securing, and handling rather than climbing and hanging.
But the best part is…
Atwood offers not just a variety of colors. They also have a reflective paracord, glow-in-the-dark, and Kevlar options.
Why Trust Us
A paracord is not the most complicated thing to buy. Still, you need to know what you’re buying so you won’t waste a penny that could’ve been used for something else.
And, if we may say so ourselves…
You can trust us – a group of people who’ve faced our fair share of survival situations.
We’ve been out and about – camping, hiking, and backpacking – with only a few useful stuff in our bags.
And since this is something we’re enthusiastic about, we take our gear seriously. We don’t choose just what’s available or what’s the cheapest.
Once we figure out what we like…
We write about it because – why not?
Everything we say here is based on our own experiences and what we read online. So you can relax, read on, and go get your new survival cord!
Buyers Guide: How To Choose The Best Paracord
1 – What are the different types of paracord?
There are four general types of paracord based on the number of yarns in the core:
- Type I – one core strand can hold up to 95 lbs.
- Type II – has four to seven strands and can hold up to 400 lbs.
- Type III – has seven to nine strands, can hold up to 550 lbs.
- Type IV – has up to 11 core strands and can hold about 750 lbs.
2 – Features to look out for:
- You can now find paracord with a waxed jute cord or a tinder strand. You can scratch either of those to make fire. They cost more, but they’re worth it.
- Another more expensive paracord can be used as a conductive metal wire.
- A reflective paracord will come in handy when you’re in an emergency situation and need rescuing.
3 – Paracord and specifications explained.
A paracord or a parachute cord is a rope made of interwoven strands of lightweight nylon kernmantle. The nylon material makes the paracord a bit more elastic than other types of rope.
It was made originally as parachute suspension lines. But now, you can use it for a variety of chores.
- Material – a paracord is made of either nylon or polyester. Nylon is generally more durable and elastic than a polyester cord.
- Size – this will tell you if you can bring the whole paracord line with your gear.
- Weight – a lightweight paracord is generally more preferable to heavy ones.
- Thickness – a paracord’s diameter can also be the basis of its type; thickness can tell you what purposes you can use your paracord for.
4 – These are things to consider:
- The best paracord bracelets are not always the thickest ones. You’ll need an abrasion-resistant paracord that can withstand any weather.
- A waxed jute strand may come in handy, but don’t expect it to work when wet.
- A polyester cord may be less durable than nylon, but its advantage is its resistance to natural elements.
5 – Jargon buster:
- Core strands – AKA inner strands; made up of two or three yarns interwoven together and wrapped inside an outer shell.
- Paracord bracelets – bracelets made of paracord that survivalists use for parachute suspension lines.
- Mil-spec – a term used for something that has passed military standards.
6 – Paracord Top Tips:
- To check if you have a mil-spec paracord, you can check for the marker strand. It’s usually at least one black among white core strands.
- Choose a mil-spec cord if you want to make sure that your paracord can hold heavy loads.
- If you’re only using paracord for your swiss army knife handle, or any light purpose, mil-spec isn’t necessary. You’ll save a few dollars too.
How is Paracord Different From Climbing Rope?
A paracord and climbing rope are almost the same, except that the latter should have greater tensile strength because you use it by pulling at it as you climb.
What Can You Do With a Paracord?
You can use a paracord for climbing, rappelling, as a fishing line, making a fire, cutting through zip ties, and many other survival functions.
How Far Will Paracord Stretch?
A good paracord can stretch (without breaking) up to 30% more than its original length.
Our Analysis. Comparisons & Test Results
Round-Up
Those are the pros and cons of each paracord we could find on the market.
Now…
Let’s see how each item fared against the others based on the specific metrics for each. Also, each metric has some explaining to do – so keep scrolling!
Value for Money
There’s no need to waste a single penny, right? So we put this metric in to measure the satisfaction we got from each product. It’s an important criterion because not all the expensive ones are the best.
At the same time, you might find the affordable ones to be of great value.
Value for Money Ratings
Tensile Strength
In this metric, the first thing we observed was the number of core strands. Then, we tested if the item’s strength was consistent with it. And then, we tried to see if it could carry its maximum weight capacity.
Tensile Strength Ratings
Durablity
Does the paracord break easily? Is it elastic as expected of nylon? In this metric, we answered these questions and others like them. We also measured how long it can stretch before the tensile weakens.
Durablity Ratings
Quality of Material
Aside from durability, sturdiness, and elasticity, it’s also important for a paracord to be smooth. This is the metric that combines it all, measuring the overall quality of the product.
Here, we also observed if the material is scratchy or comfortable. Nobody wants rope burns, right?
Quality of Material Ratings
Stretch / Versatility
There’s a lot that you can do with this material. So in this metric, we considered if the product is strong or elastic enough not just to carry heavy loads, but also to be made into various paracord projects.
Stretch / Versatility Ratings
Our Final Verdict: Best Paracord
There it is!
Overall, the Tough-Grid paracord towered over the others because of its tensile strength and affordable price. It’s our Editor’s Choice, after all.
But then again, there’s our Best Value Werewolves. It’s one of the cheapest, but its tensile strength isn’t playing games.
But if you’re into something that doesn’t break easily…
Get our Top Pick ParacordPlanet Type III.
All paracord on this list deserves a place in your bug out gear!
Best Overall Score
Conclusion: Best Paracord
There’s a lot of ParacordPlanet products on our list; we noticed that too.
What can we do?
They’re affordable and reliable. But the Best Value Werewolves paracord towered over the other cheap ones because it has better quality than other more expensive brands.
But if budget isn’t an issue, you can’t go wrong with our Editor’s Choice Tough-Grid. Or our Top Pick – ParacordPlanet again, my friend.
Anyway…
Whatever you choose from this list, we’re sure you’re going to like it. We did, didn’t we? But that’s just our opinion.
The final step is still up to you…
Now get that next addition to your bug out gear!
