You need a 1000' paracord spool.

[Mikewood]

You need one. I didn't think I did. I could get by with rope bungee straps and tie wraps. Then I dropped $50 at the local gunshow on a 1000' spool and now it's all I seem to use. It's nylon so you can cut it wih a hot knife or regular knife and seal the ends with a lighter. It's impervious to sunlight, swimming pool chlorine dirt, salt and a ton of other chemicals. Once you learn to tie a better knot than a square not it will hold. If you want to spit the cost you can get an empty fishing line spool from academy. The 4"x4" ones seem to hold about 300 yards. So you can split the cost or split the spool up into manageable chunks. Maybe he best part is its so cheap you don't have to untie it. Just cut it and throw it away.

My next spool is going to be black because the wife is not too hot on olive green.

 

[ROGER4314]

I bought several 100 foot bundles of black cord and have not bought a bootlace since. I wear mostly boots or sport (walker/jogger) shoes and the cord works great for replacing the laces. Like you said, burn the ends and you're good to go!

Flash

 

[AKM]

I need to buy some. OD greens my favorite color. Id paint my boat OD if the neighbors wouldnt bitch. Your wife just doesnt have good taste like we do lol.

 

[country_boy]

Yeah its awesome stuff I use it all the time. Hell paint the boat OD, your boat not theres.. I would do it to mine!!!

 

[M. Sage]

Tan looks good, too. I use 550 for stuff from time to time. It's a handy thing to have around.

The stuff makes awesome boot laces, since it won't stretch.

 

[Mikewood]

Have you used it to start fires? Cut a 4" piece and Fluff the strands out and knot it and you have a nice little fire for a few minutes.

 

[shortround]

550 cord has its drawbacks.

Can't be used in place of 250 lb. cotton webbing.

Causes severe burns when drawn against human skin.

Degrades rapidly when exposed to UV rays.

"Fused ends and enclosed cords rarely stay fused.

Is about as useful as "Gorilla Tape."

It is most suitable for Parachute guy lines: What it was invented for.

 

[scap99]

Kill joy.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[M. Sage]

550 cord has its drawbacks.

Can't be used in place of 250 lb. cotton webbing.

Causes severe burns when drawn against human skin.

Degrades rapidly when exposed to UV rays.

"Fused ends and enclosed cords rarely stay fused.

Is about as useful as "Gorilla Tape."

It is most suitable for Parachute guy lines: What it was invented for.

Despite those drawbacks, it really does have about a million uses. It's the duct tape of cordage.

I've never had my fused ends separate, even in the boot laces that saw two rough trips in the mountains (where they just found a famous ultra marathon dude dead) and several years of daily wear. Maybe you're melting your ends wrong?

 

[stalker19]

550 cord is hella handy, right up there with duct tape and super glue.

I love it for hiking shoe and boot laces.

Can't say I've experienced the UV stuff or melted ends separating; I've had 550 cord laces outlast the boots they were in as well as other assorted stuff that was exposed to the desert environment for up to 18 months.

Works well enough for me, but I'm far from a cordage expert.

 

[TexMex247]

OK. So ther than the gunshow, where can you get the best bang for the buck ? I do a lot of online shopping with Smansguide. I think they do 100 yd spools for 15 bucks but it's always on backorder. Where else ?

 

[ROGER4314]

The Command Post Surplus stores in Houston carry it. In the store, they have the 100 foot "hanks". Here's a link:

Buy 550 Cord - 1000FT at Army Surplus World

Flash

 

[M. Sage]

550 cord is hella handy, right up there with duct tape and super glue.

I love it for hiking shoe and boot laces.

Can't say I've experienced the UV stuff or melted ends separating; I've had 550 cord laces outlast the boots they were in as well as other assorted stuff that was exposed to the desert environment for up to 18 months.

Works well enough for me, but I'm far from a cordage expert.

I know a guy who's got a parachute bag stuffed full of 550 that was cut off parachutes. He got it in the early 90s, and it's still good. A few years ago, one of his jungle boots fell apart on a hiking trip. Still had the original 550 that he put in as laces...

So, yeah. It usually stands the test of time.

It's light and packs easy, and works great for building shelters. I've heard it's not very good for snares (not slick enough), but take the strands out of the inside and you can apparently rig something for catching birds.

 

[TrailDust]

Is about as useful as "Gorilla Tape."

What's wrong with Gorilla Tape? It's always kicked ass over duct tape whenever and wherever I've used it.

 

[shortround]

Anyone who would equate 550 cord with Duct Tape must be re-educated.

Duct tape is that crappy gray stuff that falls apart once the temperature gets above 90 degrees.

If you ever worked with G.I. 100 mph tape, you would see a new world of possibilities!

550 cord is better than duct tape, but inferior to 100 mph tape.

Gorilla tape works temporarily whenever 100 mph tape is unavailable.

 

[M. Sage]

You've got to get the commercial-grade, REAL duct tape. That stuff doesn't fall apart at high temps.

 

[TexMex247]

So who has 1000' or 300yd spools of paracord(not 550 ) at the best price?

 

[craftkr]

They have the big spools at a local Army surplus store here for $89.

 

[TexMex247]

Do they have an online store? I only get down there once or twice a year to visit family.

 

[TrailDust]

You've got to get the commercial-grade, REAL duct tape. That stuff doesn't fall apart at high temps.

But how well does it weather?