100 Uses for Paracord

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What might look small, is in fact very mighty. Invented just before World War II to be used as parachute cord by the United States Air Force, paracord has quickly taken on uses well beyond the sky. Now in almost every home and used extensively in the field, paracord has become a popular lightweight rope that everyone should have on hand. While there are countless uses, here are 100 useful ways to, well, use paracord. If you’d like to try any of these, but don’t have paracord – no worries! We prefer Paracord Planet‘s paracord for it’s durability, vast array of color choices and being made in America.

• Tie a tarp to trees for shade or cover – good idea whether its summer or winter
• Make a lanyard or key fob to hold items, such as your keys! We can custom make them for you too, just send us a message!

3. Craft an emergency, and fashionable, paracord bracelet/wristband – or have one custom made by sending us a message!

4. Build an emergency snare from a single nylon strand – or seven strands!
5. Create a fishing line from a single nylon strand
6. Make a fishing net
7. Use as an extra lace for your boot or shoe
8. If you’re in a pinch, you can use the inner strands as floss
9. Make a dog collar, or have one custom made for you!

10. Create a dog leash (or lead) or have one custom made for your K9!

11. Use an inner strand as an emergency suture
12. Wrap your knife, or axe, handle for extra grip – my husband has done this before and it works!
13. Create a bow drill to start a fire via friction
14. Drape clothes between two trees or poles to dry by making a clothesline
15. Improvise a seat by lashing a long log horizontally to 2 trees
16. Emergency repair for a sail while out on the water
17. Use as a belt for your pants
18. Hang a kettle or cooking pot over a fire – careful that the rope doesn’t get too close to the flames!
19. Use a single inner strand as an emergency sewing thread
20. Make into a net hammock
21. Improvise a rifle sling or have us custom make one for you, just send us a message!

22. Tie your horse – or doggie – to a tree or fence post, making sure they have plenty of room to move into the shade or graze on grass
23. Use as perimeter trip wires with tin cans or bells attached while camping – great way to know if a bear is snooping around, or worse – a skunk!
24. Make a watchband, or message us for a custom made one!

25. Rig up a quick bow stringer if you’ve forgotten yours
26. Carry gear on you back when you don’t have a rucksack, or backpack – just mind your neck and shoulders
27. Make a knotted hose cleaner by tying granny knots in the paracord and pulling it through
28. Have forgetful children, or husband, tie their house keys to their backpack or belt, or even loosely around their neck (think lanyard!)
29. Use several strands to craft an emergency tow rope
30. A pulley line for dragging big bits of wood up to side of a hill – or anything heavy really
31. A standby strop for polishing a razor to make it cleaner or shaper
32. Tie a heavy knot in the middle and make a jump rope for kids
33. Hang mesh frames for propagating plants in a greenhouse
34. Tie up your food and trash items our of reach of nosy bears
35. Make a simple swing for kids
36. Abseil down a cliff edge – like a rock climber does
37. Make a quick headband or hair tie – try using the inner strands for this; I’ve had to do this quite a few times and it works fairly well!
38. Bundle firewood together for easy transport
39. Tie onto a sled so you can drag it through heavy snow
40. Hang a light over the bathroom for nighttime use
41. Replace a snapped pull string on older lights or ceiling fans
42. Improvise a fuse to start a fire
43. Hang a mirror or other large objects
44. Use as a strap wrench or Spanish windlass
45. Make a halter and leads for your horses
46. Improvised bore snake for cleaning a firearm
47. Make a tire swing
48. Hang your hammock or repair a hole in one
49. Hang an emergency whistle loosely around your neck (think lanyard!)
50. Make a pull cord for a chainsaw

Halfway there! Have any uses for paracord in mind that we haven’t included?! Feel free to shoot us a message. We’d love to hear any creative ways to utilize parachute cord you can come up with 🙂

51. Use as a pull cord for a boat engine
52. Fix a pull cord for a lawn mower or a weed-whacker
53. Use as an emergency tourniquet
54. Tie down straps and belts of rucksacks when traveling
55. Replace a drawstring cord in a rucksack or on gaiters – or sweatpants and sweatshirts!
56. Use as tent guide lines – don’t want your tent tipping over or flying away!
57. Make a monkey fist for defense – just use a marble or ping pong ball for the support! Want a custom made one? Send us a message!
58. Make an improved stretcher by crafting a net between two poles
59. Bind poles, or tree branches, together to make a shelter
60. Tie a blade to a long pole, or tree branch, to make a hunting spear
61. Wrap a mini Maglite handle for grip
62. Use to help lower equipment and packs down cliff edges – can also aid in helping an injured person or a puppy down the cliff too
63. Make handcuffs for bad guys
64. Use as a zipper pull
65. Make a rope ladder
66. Use for mooring your boat to a dock
67. Replace a broken water ski rope – or any other water sport that requires a rope
68. Teach yourself to tie life-saving knots
69. Use it to collect water, along with a mylar blanket or poncho
70. Help climb a tree
71. Improvise snow shows
72. Make a sling shot
73. Create a bullwhip for defense
74. Tie a scope to a rifle
75. Use to tie night vision to a rifle
76. Hang tools from your belt
77. Make emergency suspenders
78. Replace a broken bra strap
79. Tie garden plants to stakes, such as tomatoes or green beans
80. Make a camera strap
81. Use as a walking rope for kids when out on excursions, simply tie one end around their waist (belt area and not too tight) and the other around yours
82. Identify members of your group with matching bracelets – remember to message us for custom made ones!
83. Use as trail markers so you don’t get lost
84. Use to measure distance, just make sure you know how much paracord you have first!
85. Knot into a hacky sack for entertainment
86. Make a pit trap by lashing the cord across the mouth of a hole in the ground before placing loose plants on top – just make sure you remember where you set it!
87. Tie pant legs closed to keep out bugs and ticks on hikes – or try our Quit Buggin’ Me Spray and Oil
88. Hang a solar shower for easier use
89. Make a scale balance
90. Work out aid for sit-ups
91. Tie to luggage handles when traveling for easy bag identification – I chose two colors and knotted them before tying to my suitcase and it helps a lot!
92. Wrap around iPhone, or other phone, charging cords to repel cats from chewing on them
93. Seal punctures in broken metal appliances, just melt the nylon and let it seal the hole – use caution!
94. Wrap a hammer to absorb shock, and for better grip on the handle
95. Stake our an area or grid of space
96. Tie a broken door or window closed
97. Repair broken flip flops
98. Use it to train a horse or dog via lead or leash – just probably not a cat!
99. Secure weights to a pop up tent – my husband and I had to do this before the incoming hurricane got stronger!
100. Use as a guide when crossing a stream, just be careful if you’re the first one across to attach the cord to the other side

That was quite the list, don’t you think?! Let me know what you think by sending me a message or leaving a comment below. I’d love to hear your thoughts and opinions, plus any other uses you can come up with for paracord. Look forward to hearing from you!

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