Paracord is a light, strong nylon cord for lashing a shelter, tying down gear, hanging food, and making quick repairs when you have to leave home in a hurry. It earns its place in an evacuation kit because a single hank handles dozens of jobs during a flood or bug out.
Stock paracord rated for real loads and sized for the jobs your bag will face.
- Strength rating: Choose Type III cord rated to 550 pounds, the standard for lashing, hauling, and shelter lines.
- Inner strands: Look for seven to nine inner strands, which you can pull out for fishing line, sewing thread, or small ties.
- Length: Pack 50 to 100 feet per bag, enough for a tarp ridgeline, guy lines, and spare repairs.
- Material: Pick nylon, which stretches under load, resists rot, and dries quickly after you cross floodwater.
- Storage: Keep it in a hank or on a winder so it pays out without tangles when you need it fast.
- True construction: Buy cord with a real sheath and core, since cheap look-alikes break at a fraction of the rated strength.
