If you were wondering what can you do with paracord, you have come to the right place. In this article, I will share the most common situations where the paracord can serve as the ultimate savior.
So, whether you are in the outdoors, in the wild, or at home, having a paracord with you is always a great idea, and in continuation, you will see why. Let’s get started!
What Can You Do With Paracord?
Since its founding, the paracord has become the number one staple tool for every hiker, biker, camper, extreme sports lover, etc.
As this cord is not just a simple cord but a multifunctional super-power tool, more and more people have started using it for the most different types of purposes. For example, as flammable material, for fishing, making a bola, etc.
That’s why, instead of the basic and well-known things, let’s see in detail about the not-so-familiar things and situations where the paracord can come in handy, so let’s begin.
Also read: How Much Weight Can Paracord Hold
Things You Can Do
Flammable material
The first thing that you can use the paracord unconventionally is as a fire starter or burning material. You will need to buy a paracord with special flammable cordage.
Namely, these paracords come with a flammable red cord in the middle that can be used in emergencies where you desperately need to make a fire.
The best way to use this type of paracord is to cut a small section of it and remove the red strand that’s inside. Once you do this, light the red strand with an open flame and use it to light a bigger fire.
Build emergency survival bow
When you need to make a protective tool for yourself or hunt your food but do not have anything elastic and sturdy, the paracord comes to the rescue.
To make a sturdy and elastic bowstring, you can take two pieces of paracord and twist them together around each other. Then, you can use some sturdy dry wood for the arrow, which you will sharpen well before using.
After doing that, you will be equipped with an emergency survival bow that does its job almost as well as a real bow.
Go fishing
Another way the paracord can help you find food is to use it to make a fishing rod. Although it is thick, and you might have to try using it in murkier waters where it will not draw much attention, it is still a fantastic alternative.
Just tie one of its ends on the fishing pole made from any sturdy wood, and attach a sharp hook and bait on the other end of the paracord.
Read More: What Is Batoning With a Knife?
Make a hard-hitting bola
Making a hard-hitting bola is crucial while in the wild. Now, if you have a paracord, you can make a bola with its help. The best type of bola you can do is with three or even four weights. This will ensure the highest possible efficiency.
To do the paracord version of a hard-hitting bola, you must make an overhand knot to join up to five cords together. Ensure that you make each of the sections not longer than three feet.
Next, collect medium to large-sized stones for your weights. The stones should weigh around seven to eight ounces each because the bola will become inefficient if they do more.
Finally, place your stones in wet rawhide or even leather, make holes on the edges of the rawhide and tie each cord to a weight.
To use this bola, you will need to simply hold the knot that joins the weights with your dominant hand, lift your hand behind your head, and throw it on the potential target.
Utilize it in your shelter to improve quality
As paracord is extremely durable, elastic, and sturdy, it can be a great material for improving the quality of your improvised shelter.
You can use it for many different purposes, such as rig the shelter with it, use it to build a dependable structure for a tarp shelter, use it to make improvised cord stairs with wood planks as steps, to secure your belongings and keep them tight in one place, etc.
Cut through zip ties
Not many people know this, but if someone puts zip ties on you or you need to cut zip ties from something, using a paracord will do the trick.
Thanks to its strength, if the paracord is of the highest quality or at least decent quality, you will be able to cut through zip ties by making quick movements like when you use a saw.
In a case where your hands are tied with zip ties, you must take out your paracord and tie it into a single long cord. Then, you need to tie a loop that fits around your feet and thread the paracord through the zip ties.
Finally, move your feet like you would when riding a bike so that the cord over the zip ties goes back and forth, eventually cutting the zip ties open.
Keep your food safe
If you want to keep your food or some other belongings safe above the ground, the paracord is the tool you need to do that.
Namely, the process is extremely simple. You will need to put all your food in a food sack. Then, take one end of the paracord and tie a stone around it so that you can throw the paracord around a branch.
After doing so, untie the stone and tie the food sack. Then, take the loose end of the cord and adjust the height of the food sack. When you are sure that the food sack is safe and can not be reached, even by a bear, tie that same end to another tree.
Also Read: What Size Bank Line for Bushcraft?
Conclusion
Well, you could have read the alternative ways to help you know what can you do with paracord. I made sure to include some of the most useful and less-known tips you can try so that staying in the wild is not as hard.
By practicing these methods, I do not doubt that in no time, you will master all of these skills as a part of your bushcraft experience.