Parachute cord

The yarns of the core (commonly referred to as "the guts") can also be removed when finer string is needed, for instance as sewing thread to repair gear, or to be used as fishing line in a survival situation.

For applications requiring a thinner or less elastic cord, such as shoelaces, users often remove the yarn in the core and use the nylon sheath alone.

There are also modern versions of parachute cord that include non-traditional survival strands within the core such as fishing line, fire tinder, and even snare wire.

[5] In addition to purely utility functions, paracord can be used to fashion knotted or braided bracelets, lanyards, belts, and other decorative items.

A given product labelled as paracord may not correspond to a specific military type and can be of differing construction, quality, color, or strength.

Hikers and outdoor sports enthusiasts sometimes use "survival bracelets[8]" made of several feet of paracord which is woven into a compact and wearable form.

Such bracelets are meant to be unraveled when one needs rope for whatever purpose — securing cargo, lashing together poles, fixing broken straps or belts, or assisting with water rescues.

[9] On the other hand, the paracord is a poor choice for an emergency tourniquet as its small diameter will crush tissue without applying the needed pressure to stop bleeding.

A very similar usage niche is nylon webbing, a strong, economical fabric woven as a flat strip or tube, also often used in place of rope.

Additional uses for parachute cord are in the manufacture of items such as lanyards, belts, dog leashes, rosaries, and key chains.

[11] The US military specification for paracord gives strength and construction parameters to which the final product must conform, as well as requirements for packaging and marking.

The inactivated military standard only describes sheath colors as natural or olive drab ("camouflage green").