The BEST Paracord – 5 Reviews & Buying Guide

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Lucie Delarue

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BEST Paracord
Do you want to know what the best paracord is?
We also stood before this question, and on our way to discovering, we learned a lot about paracords. We like to share it with you.
Best Overall
TOUGH-GRID 550 LB Type III

TRUE Mil-Spec with high quality, strong and durable!

This is the best one if you aren't interested in buying a new paracord every year. 

Made in USA
100% Nylon
U.S. Military approved

 

Best Budget
PARACORD PLANET 550 LB Type III

For a budget-picked paracord, this is almost the best.

Paracord Planet is known for a broad spectrum of Cords. They give you an extensive selection of colors, strengths, and lengths plus it's an exellent option for good quality.

Best Upgrade
TITAN SurvivorCord 620 LB Type III

This isn't just a brilliant high quality paracord. With its 3 extra strands it can be your lifesaver in survival situations!

Included extra strands: 

25 LB fishing line
Waterproof tinder
50 AWG multi-purpose wire

 

Whether hiking, camping, or in an emergency, your paracord can make all the difference.

To be short, we found the best paracord is the TOUGH-GRID 550 LB Type III. To get to know more about it, check out our review below.

Every Paracord we tested is type III with a strenght to 550 LB, except of of our Upgrade Pick with 620 LB. But almost all of these are available with less or more strength.

Finding the best paracord specialized for your planned use can be challenging.

For your luck, we can help you based on our experiences and many other peoples.

This article compiled a list of the best paracords on the market, including the Best Overall Pick, the Best Budget Picks, the Best Upgrade Pick for Survival and the Best Option for Bug-Out-Bags.

We have considered factors such as strength, durability, versatility, and ease of use to bring you the top paracords that will meet your needs and exceed your expectations. 

So, whether you’re a seasoned adventurer or a novice explorer, read on to discover the best paracords for your gear arsenal.

The Best Overall

The BEST Overall
TOUGH-GRID 550 LB Type III
  • High demands in production for good quality (Mil-C-5040H)
  • Price is OK
  • Long durability with UV- and abrasion-resistance
  • Lightweight
  • Made in USA
  • Compared to the Upgrade Pick, it has less features, but for a "regular" paracord there is no contra.

The Tough-Grid Paracord is a reasonable cord made of seven triple-twisted nylon strands with a strenght up to 550 LB.

This one is much more durable than other paracords with just double twists. So you don’t have to buy a new paracord every year. 

Also, you get a military specification type III paracord, which means you indeed get a well-produced cord that is as powerful as it should be. 

Otherwise, it wouldn’t be U.S. Military approved.

The outside is made of braided nylon and is more abrasion resistant than most competitors. 

You can do everything right with getting this paracord. 

High quality and a long durable paracord for all uses. 


Best Budget Picks

Our No. 1 Budget Pick
PARACORD PLANET 550 LB Type III
  • Excellent value for the money
  • Big selection in designs
  • No running colors
  • Less durable
  • No Mil-Spec Quality

For a budget-picked paracord, this is almost the best.

Paracord Planet is known for a broad spectrum of Cords. They give you an extensive selection of colors, strengths, and lengths.

Plus, they are an excellent option for good quality paracords for that price. 

You can even choose glow-in-the-dark cords if you like something more unique. 

Paracord planet is perfect if you are more interested in smaller do-it-yourself projects like bracelets, lanyards, tool handle wrapping, gear crafting, or whatever you think of. 

Surely you can also use this cord for building shelters or other outdoor projects. But we can not promise the durability to last forever if you use it long-term outside. 

The weather conditions could make it stiffer and harder to handle. 

You get what you pay for.


Our no. 2 Budget Pick
Atwood Rope MFG 550
  • Excellent value for the money
  • Big selection of colors that not will run
  • Lightweight
  • No Mil-Spec Quality

Our second budget pick is the Atwood Rope MFG 550. This one makes a solid impression of quality for a suitable price.

Like all type III Paracords, it comes with seven inner nylon strands and a strength to hold 550 LB. You can lift a whole gorilla with that!

Compared to other types of III paracords, this cord is lighter and more suitable for Kits and Outdoor uses. Nobody needs extra ballast.

You get an extensive selection of colors and designs. This would also be a great cord for bracelets, lanyards, tool handle wrapping, or gear crafting.


Best for Survival

The BEST Upgrade Pick
TITAN 620 LB SurvivorCord
  • High demands in production for good quality (Mil-C-5040H)
  • 25 LB fishing line
  • Waterproof tinder
  • 50 AWG multi-purpose wire
  • Strong and durable
  • Made in USA
  • Stiffer and more weight due to extra strands
  • Price
3 extra strands

TITAN takes Paracords to the next level. This isn’t just a paracord. It has 3 extra strands next to the seven nylon strands integrated

Which can be very helpful for survival.

This includes a fishing line made of a monofil material and can also be used to take care of wounds with a suture in an emergency.

Or a waxed jute line as a tinder to start a fire. If this cord gets wet, the fire starter stays intact. No need to be cold when running out of your actual tinter even when it’s raining!

Even a fine multi-purpose wire made of brass is included for several uses. 

We prefer to double or tribble the wire to make it stronger. For example, you can use it as a snare wire, trap, or tie things together.

Great for: Prepping and Survival, Emergencies


Best Paracord for Survival Kits

Best for Survival Kits
Gear AID 550 Paracord and Carabiner
  • Carabiner included
  • Leightweight
  • Always to hand
  • Option with a reflective effect
  • Lower quality compared to the best paracord overall

This gives you a super light and stable type III cord for your bug-out bag. With the carabiner, it’s made for it.

Just hang it outside your bag or wherever you want on your body, and you’re always saved with some paracord for all needs.

Imagine being in a stressful situation where time plays a significant role. You must search for your paracord in your backpack and start unpacking. 

With luck, you caught a cold and windy night. 

There’s also an option with a reflective effect, so you can find it even more effortless in the dark. 

Its strength with 550 LB will hold you safe when you’re planning for hiking, except your weight is comparable to Esther the wonder pig (a giant pig named Esther weighing nearly 600 pounds/300kg).


Buying Guide

Every paracord is different. Choose cleverly which features suit your needs.

Read on for more knowledge about paracords. This should help you find the best paracord that fits for your planned uses.

Use of a Paracord

Paracords are very versatile. This is the number one tool for outdoor survivalists because they can be used for many useful things.

Use of a Paracord
This shows a bracelet made of paracord and a knife tied on a carabiner with a paracord. Both you could wear on yourself or hang it to your backpack.

Here are some ways paracord can be used:

  1. Shelter building by tying down tarps, creating ridgelines of lash-together branches for a makeshift shelter.
  2. Making a fishing line with the inner strands of paracord
  3. Repairing gear like backpacks, tents, and sleeping bags
  4. Making a bow drill for friction fire-starting
  5. Creating a fire with the inner strands of paracord, which can be used as tinder
  6. Emergency medical uses
    – Tourniquet against bleeding limbs
    – Securing Splint for fracture
    – Suture for open wound with the inner strand
    – Makeshift sling 
  7. Creating snares and traps for catching small game
  8. Tool handle wrapping for more grip
  9. Tying down EDC to your backpack
  10.  Creating a washing line

Value: Cost vs. Benefit

When buying a paracord, it makes sense to consider cost versus benefit

Paracords come in different types and qualities. The cost varies depending on length, strength, and features.

For choosing your paracord, think about your needs.

Balance the cost with the benefits to find the best value for your needs. 

Length

The length of your paracord depends on typical use. 

There are guidelines for some uses, but it’s always a good idea to have an extra paracord saved on the side for unpredictable situations

You should know the shorter a paracord is, the more it can be used locally. 

When planning for a project, better measure the length needed based on the specific instructions for that project.

Here are some general measures for different projects: 

  • Bracelet: 8 – 10 feet (2.4 – 3 meters)
  • Keychain: 2 – 3 feet (0.6 – 0.9 meters)
  • Lanyard: 3 – 4 feet (0.9 – 1.2 meters)
  • Hammock: 150 – 200 feet (45.7 – 61 meters)
  • Tent guy lines: 50-100 feet (15.2 – 30.5 meters)
  • Clothesline: 50 – 100 feet (15.2 – 30.5 meters)
  • Pack strap: 30 – 40 feet (9.1 – 12.2 meters)

Strength

The strength is decisive for the type of paracord. A more stable cord is higher rated in its type. 

More power is made by more strands.

When planning to build something with your paracord, like a shelter or a float, you better be prepared with a higher typed paracord like Type III or Type IV. 

You don’t need a Type IV Paracord for tying gear to your bag.

  • Type I = 95 pounds (43 kg)
  • Type II = 400 pounds (180 kg)
  • Type III = 550 pounds (250 kg)
  • Type IV = 750 pounds (340 kg)

Elasticity

Paracords made from nylon or other synthetic materials are known for their elasticity. They are up to 30% of their original length stretchable. The specific stretch depends on their actual type and quality. 

But keep in mind they are made to be solid and durable. 

So a paracord with a limited strengh to 550 LB will hold this weight. But this is just the load-bearing strength. That means, when there is more weight by moving the weight, it could break.

Using a cord over their strength can cause them to lose elasticity and bring them to break. 

Durability

The durability of a paracord is attributed to several factors. 

This includes the material they are made of, the way of construction, and the quality of the manufacturing process

The golden standard material is nylon

It is a synthetic material that is strong, lightweight, and resistant to abrasion, rot, and mildew. So nylon is perfect for use in an outdoor environment.

Typically they are constructed with several interwoven fibers.

This design allows paracords to be flexible and easy to handle and helps to evenly distribute the weight and tension along the cord’s length. 

Choose paracords from manufacturers who use high-quality materials and rigorous quality control standards to ensure a durable product.

Tips and Tricks

Tips and Tricks
A cobra waved lanyard. Quick release of your paracord is safed.
  • Wet paracord is way heavier.
  • Let it dry before packing it into your bag. 
  • When cutting, melt the ends so the cord stays intact and the inner strands remain inside. Use a flame, but do not put it right into it, so it will not burn black.
  • Use a quick-release method when wrapping tool handles to always be prepared with your paracord when needed.
  • You can do a snake or cobra knot to keep the cord untangled for storage. 
  • Also, keep it dry and protected from direct sunlight.

Last Words

We hope we can help you make a decision for your next paracord. Keep in mind your needs and purpose for a paracord. 

When you need a strong paracord, buying a Type III or IV is better

You may like the GEAR AID 550 Paracord with Carabiner when you want something lightweight for your emergency kit.

For something more special the TITAN SurvivorCord could be the one for you. But the TOUGH-GRID Paracord definitly does also an excellent job.

Make your move, and let us know about your experience in the comment section below.