Paracord - where to buy the best quality?

[Fletching]

Hi Guys,

I've bought paracord from many different sources and find the quality varies. Some of the stuff I've bought is absolute rubbish as it frays easily, the inner strands come loose (or even come through the outer layer) and some of it is much too flammable.

I use it for lines, suspension, lanyards etc., etc..

Any recommendations for a good quality source (different diameters and colours)?

Steve :)

[Ben Casey]

I normally use the bushcraft store here is the link to them it always seems ok but if anyone has any better it would be cool http://www.thebushcraftstore.co.uk
I have nothing to do with them apart from shopping though LOL

[Dan XF]

If you have a Cotswold store near you try them out. I used to work for them years ago. All their cord is sourced with climbers in mind. It's all strong and won't fall apart or rot. They do bungee cord and lots of different thicknesses of cords. It is mostly brightly coloured but they do do a standard OG para cord as well.

[jus_young]

I would agree with Ben on that one and what a range of colours they have aswell :)

[SwissGearLabs]

I tend to use paracord less an less .

one reason being that the quality differences between manufacturers/distributors tend to increase and are huge. so, you never know what you're going to get. in december, for example, i bought different colours from the same shop (http://www.thebushcraftstore.co.uk/550-gsa-compliant-paracord-85-c.asp) and between them the touch/feel/shape was totally different. am not sure what "compliant" means, but what you normally buy online does not resemble what i've seen on parachutes in the swiss air force (the old ones to be exact. the new stuff is dyneema or tapes....)

often, the cladding (the outer tubular tape) is not stretched enough, which means that the load is mainly carried by the center strands, the tube slips with regard to the center strands when using the cord (potentially creating burns), and, finally, when cutting the cord, the center strands disappearing into the tube.

or the opposite quality problem: the tube is to "tight", with effects contrary to the ones described above.

for ornamental applications i still prefer paracord (i just love the soft feel and the knots are easily made). for more serious applications (well, I'm not talking rapelling down a gorge) i started to test other manufacturers and like Beal (3mm as paracord replacement) best: http://bealplanet.com/sport/anglais/corde-cordelettes.php
this cord is somewhat stiff in the beginning but after a while becomes usable, holds knots very well and has good specs (on the prize i cannot really comment since the swiss franc is so blooming high at the moment)

i did not really give a direct answer to your question but thought i'd share my view...

[jus_young]

Much appreciated, all views are valuable. Thanks for the link.

[Fletching]

Yeah, thanks for the heads up guys.

Steve :)

[happybonzo]

I tend to use paracord less an less .

one reason being that the quality differences between manufacturers/distributors tend to increase and are huge. so, you never know what you're going to get. in december, for example, i bought different colours from the same shop (http://www.thebushcraftstore.co.uk/550-gsa-compliant-paracord-85-c.asp) and between them the touch/feel/shape was totally different. am not sure what "compliant" means, but what you normally buy online does not resemble what i've seen on parachutes in the swiss air force (the old ones to be exact. the new stuff is dyneema or tapes....)
----
i started to test other manufacturers and like Beal (3mm as paracord replacement) best: http://bealplanet.com/sport/anglais/corde-cordelettes.php
this cord is somewhat stiff in the beginning but after a while becomes usable, holds knots very well and has good specs (on the prize i cannot really comment since the swiss franc is so blooming high at the moment)

i did not really give a direct answer to your question but thought i'd share my view...

This sounds a bit like companies that used Riri zips: Absolute top quality but they've drifted over to the ubiquitous YKK zips now

Dyneema were, I believe, the first company to start making climbing ropes that were decently water-resistant so I'm not surprised to see their name as being manufacturers of top quality paracord

[Banleno007]

If you have a Cotswold store near you try them out. I used to work for them years ago. All their cord is sourced with climbers in mind. It's all strong and won't fall apart or rot. They do bungee cord and lots of different thicknesses of cords. It is mostly brightly coloured but they do do a standard OG para cord as well. http://www.frou.info/g.gif

[JonnyP]

If you have a Cotswold store near you try them out. I used to work for them years ago. All their cord is sourced with climbers in mind. It's all strong and won't fall apart or rot. They do bungee cord and lots of different thicknesses of cords. It is mostly brightly coloured but they do do a standard OG para cord as well. http://www.frou.info/g.gif

Why do you keep copying other peoples posts..?

[Fletching]

Why do you keep copying other peoples posts..?

...there's a .gif file in the post which is linked to (one site) and redirects to (another site) - which is 'Web Games' link collector site.

Banleno007 - do you have an explanation?

Mods?

[Martin]

Which post Steve? I can't see any gifs unless they've been deleted.

Martin

[Martin]

It doesn't matter now, the user has been permanently banned for irregular behaviour and posting.

Martin

[Fletching]

Go get 'em tiger! :)

Good spot Jonny.

Steve

[BushcraftAndSurvival]

I find that the actual cordage that they use on parachutes is very good. Go onto ebay and find the people selling old parachute canopies to bushcrafters and ask them to sell you a bunch of the lines that they often cut off before selling. I got over a hundred meters for £5 just before Christmas.

Alternatively the stuff that Woodlore stock is very good, I had not seen that type before but it comes in a pale, olive green colour and is of excellent quality.

I can tell you one to avoid is the Webtex reel that look oh so tempting when you see 50 or 100 meters on a drum for £10. It is utter rubbish. 3 strokes on a bow drill and it melts straight through.

As other mentioned above, climbing cord of better, it's unbelievably strong since it is designed with climbing in mind. I have a length of 6mm climbing cord that when tripled up serves as a 3 point anchor when I'm belaying from above. It is not only super strong under tension but it highly resistant to friction which makes it an easy cordage to use with the Bow Drill.