Over the years I've found myself in survival situations from time to time and whilst I've been fortunate to have emerged safe and sound the word fortunate shouldn't be confused with luck. Preparation, skills and the right equipment are the hero's of my survival stories and luck, well luck doesn't get a seat at the table.
I've got a lot of equipment and don't skimp on quality - Cheap equipment isn't something I want to find myself with when my wellbeing, or someone else's, depends on equipment working every time.
There's many important things to carry, a long list, however in my experience there is one item that is often forgotten, one of the cheapest; Rope. Yes, the humble rope. Every survival kit, hunting rig, bug out bag or hiking kit should have some.
I can't imagine what human life would have been like in the past without rope and from the first moment human's began to use rope, or its early predecessor vines, life transformed...And, moving through time the use of rope evolved as did rope itself.
From a survival perspective there's really only one choice which I'll talk about in a little bit; There's options though I guess, I'm just not the guy who will ever opt for the lesser options, certainly not where survival is concerned.
Twisted rope, made by twisting three strands of polypropylene together makes the worst choice, in my opinion. It is bulky, not agile of movement and whilst is better than none, it's not a good choice for a survival pack. Braided ropes should also be avoided although are widely used in marine applications. They do not unbraid well (if required) but are strong although they stretch which isn't often ideal. Avoid this type if possible.
Climbing ropes are getting closer to the mark, and depending on the operation may form part of the loadout. It is very strong, resists abrasion when rubbing on surfaces and will stretch very little - It's super-bulky though and so, in my opinion, not the best choice.
The natural fibre rope called sisal, made from the plant agave sisalana, is great rope; Strong and cheap and it handles water reasonably well but...Bulky again, and very rough on the hands which is why I don't use it. Space and weight constraints are always an issue.
There's other ropes like bungee cord, baling twine, guy-line and so on, none of which could come close to being suitable as use in a survival kit.
This means it's time to talk about my personal choice.
This is my go-to rope for survival situations; It's been used since World War Two by militaries and civilians and, in my opinion, is the best rope to cover multiple situations a person can have as part of their loadout.
The lightweight nylon rope is constructed using kernmantle technology (German kern for core and mantel for jacket). 550 paracord consists of a core of seven to nine strands intertwined in pairs meaning multiple strands in total. The outer mantle is braided nylon. 550 relates to the rated strength, 550 pounds (250kg).
This rope is seriously strong and very light, a combination that makes it a winner as far as I'm concerned. It is also highly resistant to abrasion which adds to the durability. It doesn't rot when wet and dries rapidly. It is easily unravelled and the smaller core strands can be used for a multitude of applications. It really is a multipurpose rope and its reasonable purchase price makes it essential equipment in my humble opinion.
Seven-strand 550 paracord is about $12-$18 per 30 meters here in Australia and whilst it can be found cheaper I never buy Chinese versions, they are simply not as good. It's available in just about any colour you need including camouflage and safety colours and there's a multitude of accessories to go with it from dispensers to needles and buckles.
This wouldn't be a short answer if I chose to be comprehensive and realistically the uses are endless, limited only by one's imagination. Here's a few though:
Making a tourniquet
Fishing (the cord itself or internal threads)
Sewing thread for buttons or clothing and gear
Boot or shoe laces
Making traps and snares
Tying down things like tarps and equipment
Teeth flossing
Climbing, lowering or raising loads,
Building shelters
Repairing torn or broken equipment
Holding gear together for transport
Securing items on top of vehicles
Building ladders
Tying things to your backpack, sleds, carts, bikes buggies
Trip wires
Pulley system for lifting heavy gear and general rigging
Making a hammock
Building a raft or other floatation device
Making a sling or catapult
Use as a bow drill for fire starting
Building a stretcher (paracord between two solid sticks or poles)
Sewing up an open wound (using the internal core/strands)
Use as a tourniquet (it's not the best thing to use in this case)
Restraining detainees
Securing things open or closed
There really is no limits on paracord use due to its strength and durability. It has even been used in space when astronauts fixed the Hubble space telescope with it!
When not at work I typically have a survival bracelet clipped on my wrist which is made from a few metres of paracord and incorporates a whistle into the buckle. In an emergency I can unravel the bracelet and use the cord as required. These are readily available to purchase but some time on YouTube will reveal the method of making them along with other cool stuff.
I don't head out camping, hunting, culling, hiking, kayaking, off-roading or any other outdoor activity that takes me away from civilisation without paracord and all of my bugout/go bags and hunting loadout contains some. I have extra lengths in various sizes but the most common is 550 as I think it's the most versatile. In my mind it is an essential part of the outdoorsman's kit and anyone heading remotely should have some and a clue about how to apply it in various ways.
So how about you, is there something you don't leave home without, and don't say your VISA card here, you'll just be showing how susceptible you are to marketing mind-control. What is with you in your daily life, when you engage with your hobbies or what can't you do without?
Design and create your ideal life, don't live it by default - Tomorrow isn't promised.
Be well
Discord: galenkp#9209
