Nowadays, people love to engage in outdoor activities like camping, hiking, etc. Unlike many other extra-curricular activities, pre-preparation is essential to enjoy the adventures. So, you should have the proper survival tools to survive outdoors. In this article, let us talk about the paracord survival bracelet, one of the must-have tools every outdoor lover should carry with them. 

Stay with us to know more about the paracord survival bracelet and its excellent benefits.

We will also tell you how to make your survival bracelet paracord and review some popular survival paracord bracelets. 

What is a paracord bracelet?

When engaging in outdoor activities, one of the most important things you should remember is being lightweight. If you have more things to carry, they will weigh you down and slow your pace. Taking less weight helps you to preserve your energy. It does not mean you should not carry essential tools that allow you to survive outdoors. In an unpredictable environment, you should have all the help you need. 

Paracord survival bracelet comes to help in these situations. There are different names for paracord bracelets. Some of them are survival bracelets, 550 cord bracelets, and parachute cord bracelets. Climbers, hikers, campers, survivalists, outdoor enthusiasts, and military soldiers use survival bracelets. The versatile usage of these bracelets makes it a tool all of them like to use in emergencies. 

It is indeed a bracelet that we can wear around the wrist. Usually, these consist of essential survival equipment like knives, torchlights, keys, and compasses. Nylon, the same material used to make parachute cords, is also used to make paracord bracelets. The survival bracelet got its name “para-cord” from the name parachute code. The bracelets emphasize the characteristics of nylon, strength, and durability, proving it is one of the most vital tools an adventurer can have. 

Although it is not very popular as a fashion accessory, you can disregard that fact and wear it anytime. Who knows, it may even come to your help in day-to-day life.

If outdoor lovers use paracord bracelets as a survival tool, why do soldiers wear paracord bracelets? Do they also wear it because of the same reasons?

Soldiers started to use paracord during the Second World War. In the beginning, they were parachute cords military used as suspension lines for parachutes. With time, soldiers found new ways to use these codes. They started to use them as bootlaces, secure loads, make emergency shelters, etc. Currently, both soldiers and adventurers alike use survival bracelets due to their various advantages.

Although they have many uses like above, wearing a paracord means more to soldiers. For soldiers, it symbolizes that they had each other’s backs facing dangers, and they will get each other back home. Of course, for some soldiers, it is a lucky charm that keeps them safe. For others, it symbolizes their self-sufficiency. Sometimes, soldiers use it to represent their lost comrades, recognize them, and mourn their loss. 

Unlike us, soldiers use the paracord bracelet to represent something, which goes beyond why we use it these days. We can also use the bracelet to convey a meaning, like the soldiers. Even though it is a small tool, it represents one’s ability to take care of them. 

So, wearing the paracord bracelet will also make you realize your true potential and your ability to survive independently. The next time you wear a paracord bracelet, you can be happy thinking about what it symbolizes relating to your life.

What is a paracord survival bracelet used for?

If someone asked what are paracord bracelets for, what would be your answer? 

Is it just a decorative jewelry piece or an essential life-saving tool? 

Life outdoors often can be tiring, dangerous, and even life-threatening. A Paracord bracelet can be a great help to you in those instances. 

Did you know that the bracelet is a woven paracord with about 2.4 to 6 meters of nylon cords? 

If nothing else, you have a strong rope that can come to your help in many ways. Many experienced adventurers love to have this kind of bracelet simply because it has proven helpful on many occasions.

For you, we have listed below the paracord survival bracelet uses. 

1. For fishing
2. First aid
3. Mark a trail
4. Make a shelter
5. Start a fire
6. Trap food
7. Repair something
8. To make cuts
9. Suspension lines and tripwires
10. Boating uses
11. Use as shoelaces
12. Floss

Let us go through each of these uses to know more details.

For fishing

It would be hard to find food in the wilderness, especially if you go to a place with fewer trees and almost no edible fruit-bearing plants. But, if you have a river nearby, you are in luck. With your paracord bracelet, you can easily catch some fish and have a meal enjoying the view. You can get a fishing line by unsheathing the paracord’s inner kerfs strands. Additionally, you may need a hook and some bait along with a lot of patience to catch your food. But surely it won’t be a big problem for an outdoor lover.

You can also make a gill net to catch fish with the paracord. By using two paracord ropes for top and bottom lines as the floating and leadline, you can string the inner yarn between and make a mesh. As anchors, use wood chunks and stones. Make sure to build it so that the gaps are large enough to catch some fish and small enough to trap them inside the gaps. With that, you have two ways to catch some fish.

First aid

In the wilderness, it is difficult to find suitable first-aid materials. It is also not possible to carry a large box of first-aid when going on adventures. The paracord bracelet comes to your help with its functionality. There are a few ways survival bracelets act as first-aid material. If you have a heavily bleeding wound, you can use it as an emergency tourniquet by knotting it above the wound. It will stop the bleeding and possibly save your life. It can also use as a splint for an injured limb or joint. Secure the injury with soft padding and a pole or a stout branch using a paracord to reduce lasting injuries.

Suppose you break your elbow. By simply tying the paracord to the elbow and looping it around the back of the neck, you get a makeshift sling. In extreme cases, we can make a stretcher out of paracord cords. Tie the paracord between two poles and use the cord to string a webbing structure in between. You can use the makeshift stretcher to carry an injured or sick person quickly. 

Mark a trail

During adventures, you may get to travel across planes or woods and jungles. If it’s a plane, you may quickly find your way on open land. But it is different in the woods. With vast and similar-looking trees covering the whole area, it would not be easy even for experienced adventurers to find their way. You can use the paracord bracelet to mark the way on such occasions. Unwind the bracelet and tie pieces of code around branches and visible spots. That way, you can find the correct way to travel back safely. 

Make a shelter

If you plan to spend the night outside, having a shelter is a must. That will protect you from wild animals and changing climates in the wild. So, most adventures will bring a tent with them. But outdoors, you may have to face some unexpected situations. On an unplanned night out in the woods, what would you do? Even if it’s a planned night out, what if you had to abandon your things? There are chances where you may even lose your items. 

What if you need a secure spot to tend to an injured person at your party? 

The paracord bracelet will provide help in such situations. If you know basic knots, use that to tie branches with the paracord and make a lean-to. If you have a tarp, you can secure it using the cord and make a shelter. 

Start a fire

Even if you can find food, you cannot create a fire easily if you do not have the necessary tools and methods. There are instances where you need to have a fire in the wild. 

To resolve that issue, you can use a paracord bracelet. 

Did you know there are fire starter paracords specially made for that purpose?

 Those include flammable strands as part of the core and help to quickly start a fire. Although it is a bit tricky, you can even use a regular paracord bracelet to get an emergency fire. Make a bow by tying the cord to both ends of a bendable branch. 

Find a stone, a piece of wood for the spindle, and another as the fireboard. You can start a bow-drill-style fire starter with these things like in ancient times. 

Trap food

Earlier, we discussed how we could use the paracord to catch fish. 

But if you do not have rivers or lakes in your destination, what can you eat once your food is over? 

Using the paracord’s inner yarn, you can make traps to catch small land animals like squirrels and rabbits. You may have to get some practice on creating a trap beforehand. Although this is possible, remember to use these methods to get food only when facing extreme situations. If you can find fruits and edible plants in your surroundings, always take them to eat first before catching animals as food.

Repair something

The cord of the bracelet can be used as a thread to sew up backpacks, tents, clothes, and other types of equipment. It comes in handy if you spend extended periods in the wild and have rips and tears that need repairing. 

To make cuts

Like a fire starter, most paracord bracelets come with a small knife. It can serve as a helpful tool or a weapon. You can use the knife to cut meat, cut the paracord, or dig notches in the fireboard to start a fire. The blade can also act as a weapon to ward off wild animals in the wild.

Suspension lines and tripwires

The paracord bracelet is made up of solid and durable material. So, the cords can portray as suspension lines in any scenario in the wild. They can also be used as a tripwire to secure your camping areas. Tie the paracord at shin height between trees around the camp, and you get an alarm to notify you of intruders. Adding some noise-making items like bells and metals will make it the best alarm sound you can find in the woods.

Boating uses

We mentioned several times that the paracord cord is the best tool to have during adventures. If you are on some boating adventures in rivers or lakes, this comes in handy in many ways. Use the cord for temporary mooring or to tow something. You can even throw the cord to a floundering person to rescue him. The cord’s strength can handle large weights, so it is a great advantage during adventures.

Use as shoelaces

Although it sounds hilarious, shoelaces can sometimes even save your life. If you need to run away from a life-threatening situation, what may happen if your shoelaces are worn out and cannot be appropriately tied? You may trip and fall. In outdoors, you should have the ability to place yourself away from dangerous situations quickly and efficiently. If a wild animal is chasing you, you should run away immediately. Having proper shoes is a must in these situations. So, if you have broken shoelaces, you can take a piece of paracord to make appropriate and strong shoelaces. That will help you walk without tripping and get you out immediately from dangerous situations.

Floss

We’ll end this list with one final use of the paracord bracelet. While saving your life, the paracord can also save your dental hygiene. Being in the wild doesn’t mean you have to neglect to keep your teeth clean. A piece of paracord will help you clean the residue of your meals from your teeth and keep them healthy. 

Above are some of the primary uses a paracord bracelet can provide. Apart from these, some specialized bracelets can provide specific benefits. For example, a paracord bracelet with flashlights and a compass can guide you in the dark and help you to find directions.

How do you make a survival paracord bracelet?

This section will teach you how to make your survival bracelet from scratch.

So, let us go to the steps of our survival paracord bracelet DIY right away.

Materials

1. 1/8 inches diameter paracord
2. ¾ inches plastic side release buckle

The wrist measurement determines the length of the bracelet. One inch of the bracelet needs 12 inches of cord. So, if your wrist circumference is 6 inches, measure 72 inches of line.

Tools

1. Ruler or tape measure
2. Scissors
3. Lighter

How to make it?

1. Measure out the cord according to wrist measurements. Get the necessary cord with extra 6 inches to make sure you have enough cord.
2. Attach one of the buckle pieces to one end of the cord. Then find the center of the entire length of the cord. For that, hold the loose ends together and pinch the loop at the other end. Next, thread the loop through one side of the buckle. It should stick out about an inch. Next, thread the loose ends through the loop and snug the cord against the buckle.
3. Thread the free ends of the cord through the other buckle. Measure from one buckle to the other. If the bracelet length equals the wrist measurement plus one inch, position the free buckle.
4. Start to weave the body of the bracelet using the cobra stitch. First, pick up the left-hand cord, thread it behind the center cords, and cross it over the top of the right-hand code. Next, pick up the right-hand cord, cross it over the center cords, and through the loop created by the left-hand cord. Then snug the cords tight. Repeat the weave until reaching the buckle.
5. Trim the ends of the extra cord. Then, slightly burn the trimmed endings and press them to the bracelet cords to stick them in place. You can now wear your emergency bracelet.

How to use a paracord bracelet?

We learned how to make a paracord survival bracelet. But do you know how to use a paracord bracelet? There are different types of paracord bracelets.

So, according to the type, their usage may vary. Most have their user guide. We can follow them when using that particular paracord bracelet. As discussed above, it has common uses such as making a shelter, fishing, repairing, tying up, etc.

These are the standard paracord bracelet instructions you can follow.

First, let’s see how to wear a paracord bracelet properly. Wear it on your wrist and tie the two ends of the paracord in a double fisherman’s bend and pull the two knots. This way, you can tighten the cord, fitting it to the wrist. Putting the cord in boiling water for a few seconds will make it shrink. It will allow you to adjust it to the proper length. 

When using the paracord bracelet as a cord, you just have to do a simple thing. Unravel the side of the survival bracelet and pull the rope for everything to dissolve. Although this is common, some bracelets may have other ways to use them. So, if you buy a new emergency bracelet, read the entire guide before using it.

The full paracord gives you the following uses.

1. To make shelters or secure tents.
2. Making a splint or sling
3. To haul heavy objects
4. Creating a stretcher to carry an injured person

If we cut the paracord and remove 7 to 9 individual nylon strands, we can use those strings for other purposes.

1. As a fishing line
2. Making suspension lines or tripwires
3. Sewing threads to repair gear

Do you know how to untie a paracord bracelet? It cannot be apparent to know the best way to untie one. Some bracelets may have a quick-release knot. So they are easy to untie. Others may have to undo by separating the melted rope ends using a knife blade, a pair of scissors, or some other tool.

You can reuse the paracord bracelet many times. When washing the bracelet, you should follow some steps. Get a small container, fill it with heated water and add detergent. Place the bracelet inside the container. Shake it for about 1 minute and let it sit for about 5 minutes. Then you can remove the soap mixture, put fresh water inside the container and shake it for about 20 minutes. Finally, you can empty the container and remove the cleaned bracelet. 

Paracord survival bracelet review

There are many types of survival bracelets in the market. They have various features and functionalities. So, we can’t precisely name one bracelet as the best paracord survival bracelet. But before buying one, you can consider several things like size, durability, reliability, etc. You can also consider the bracelet’s features and whether they match your requirements. Emergency bracelets provide several extra features fire starter pack, compass, emergency whistle, knife, and LED. So when purchasing a survival bracelet, consider the above along with user ratings, value, and manufacturer of the bracelet. It will lead you to buy the perfect paracord that suits your needs.

To make things easier for you, we listed some of the best survival bracelets in the market.

Let’s go through the list.

Atomic Bear 2-pack paracord bracelet

Atomic Bear has gear essentials like a compass, an emergency whistle, a fire scraper, and a rod striker that can start a fire. It is made up of 550lb 12 feet of military-grade paracord wire. It comes with a lifetime warranty from the manufacturer.

A2S Protection K2-peak paracord survival bracelet

The bracelet comes with a fire starter and helps you start a fire quickly. It also has an emergency whistle, compass, and 550lb military-grade paracord wire. The bracelet is lightweight and comes with helpful guidance for a wildlife trip. It is available in 4 fixed sizes and one adjustable size. 

Fire Starter Paracord Keychain

This bracelet consists of an emergency whistle, 550lb paracord strap, and snap-hook karabiner, and can be attached to the daypack.

Outdoor Edge ParaClaw Paracord survival bracelet

It comprises a 550lb paracord wrist strap and a hawkbill knife blade. The blade is durable, corrosion-resistant, and constructed with 8CR13MoV stainless steel. 

Well top Paracord survival bracelet

It has a fire starter, compass, thermometer, 130-dB alarm, sawtooth knife, LED light, emergency whistle, and a strong paracord strap. Its camo-green color makes it easier to blend in with nature.

Also, you can find here how to store gasoline for survival.