Paracord is often called the duct tape of the cordage world, and for good reason. Genuine 550 paracord has a minimum breaking strength of 250kg, yet weighs just grams per metre and packs down to almost nothing. In UK survival situations, you'll use it constantly — rigging a tarpaulin shelter against driving rain, creating a washing line to dry sodden clothes, fashioning a tourniquet or splint binding in a first aid emergency, or replacing a snapped bootlace on a remote Munro. The inner strands can be separated for finer tasks like fishing line or suture thread. No survival kit is complete without at least 15 metres.
Paracord is a reach-for-daily item in any outdoor scenario. Use it to pitch tarps and hammocks in UK woodlands, secure gear to the outside of your rucksack, hang a bear bag (or simply keep food away from foxes and badgers at camp), create a ridgeline for a shelter, or lash together a makeshift stretcher. In urban emergency situations, paracord can serve as a tow line, a bundle tie, or a securing strap for loose items in high winds.
True 550 paracord has a kernmantle construction with 7-9 inner strands enclosed in a braided outer sheath. Cheap imitations often have only 2-3 inner strands or none at all. Check the specification — genuine Type III 550 cord has a minimum tensile strength of 550 lbs (250kg).
Each inner strand should itself be made of multiple twisted fibres. These inner strands are individually useful as fishing line, sewing thread, or dental floss in a survival situation. The more inner strands, the more versatile your cordage supply becomes.
For UK use where your cord may spend days wet, choose nylon paracord that resists mildew and rot. Some premium cords include UV-resistant treatments that prevent the outer sheath from degrading in sunlight. Avoid cotton or polyester imitations.
When you cut paracord, the ends will fray rapidly unless you melt them with a flame. Always seal cut ends immediately — this prevents unravelling and makes the cord easier to thread through grommets and tie-down points on tarps and packs.
Despite its impressive strength rating, paracord is NOT rated for climbing, abseiling, or any life-safety application. It has very little stretch and no dynamic energy absorption. Use proper climbing rope for those purposes. Paracord is for utility, not fall arrest.
A 30-metre length of 7-strand 550 paracord for shelter building, gear repairs and countless improvised jobs. One of the highest-utility items you can pack for its weight.
A reel of genuine 3-strand 2mm nylon cord for pitching tarps, guy lines, repairs and general lashings. It's thinner and lighter than 550 paracord, which suits shelter-building and everyday jobs where you don't need full 550 strength.
A genuine 4mm Type III paracord with seven inner strands, sold in 15, 30 and 50 metre lengths. The inner yarns pull out for fine repairs, fishing line or lashings, while the sheath handles the heavier work. A cheap, endlessly useful length of cord for any grab bag or shelter kit.
A reel of general-purpose paracord from UK outdoor brand Kombat, useful for shelter guy-lines, gear repairs, lashings and a hundred other jobs around a camp or grab bag. Cord on a reel stays tidy and tangle-free, which matters when you actually need it in a hurry. Treat it as a solid utility cord for rigging and repairs rather than a rated climbing or load-bearing line.
A 50-metre roll of 3M's general-purpose cloth duct tape for the repairs and improvised fixes that come up in any emergency. It tears by hand and sticks to most surfaces, so it earns its place taping tarps, sealing gaps or patching kit in the field. A trusted-brand roll is worth keeping in the grab bag and the car.
A concentrated de-icer from a trusted UK car-care brand that clears a frozen windscreen in seconds. Keep one by the door for the commute and a spare in the boot so an overnight freeze never turns into a dangerous, half-scraped drive.
A compact folding saw that cuts green wood, dry timber, plastic and bone with ease. A bushcraft favourite for processing firewood and clearing obstacles.
A 30-litre water-resistant rucksack that makes a solid grab bag — big enough for a couple of days of essentials without being so large you overpack it. Berghaus is a long-standing UK outdoor brand, so the straps and stitching are built to carry a real load rather than fall apart at the first emergency. Keep it packed by the door with your kit inside so you can leave in seconds.
A six-pack of lightweight PU-coated grip gloves for the fiddly, hands-on jobs after a storm or during a clean-up. They keep enough dexterity for handling debris, moving kit or clearing broken glass without wrecking a bulky pair each time. Not cut-proof gauntlets — think everyday protection you won't mind getting dirty.
Assorted-length elasticated bungee cords with strong carabiner hooks for securing loads, rigging shelters and strapping down gear quickly and reusably.
A quality multi-tool combines pliers, knife blades, screwdrivers, and other implements into a single compact unit. The Swiss Army knife's more robust cousin and an indispensable survival companion.
Lightweight waterproof sheet for creating emergency shelters, ground cover, and rain protection.
Heavy-duty duct tape is the ultimate field repair solution — capable of patching tents, waterproofs, shelters, and gear in seconds. A survival kit staple that weighs almost nothing when wrapped around a pencil or card.
Understanding the key differences between a bug-out bag and a survival kit, and when you need each one.
A step-by-step guide to building a kit that will sustain you and your family for 72 hours during any emergency.
How to choose paracord in the UK: what 550, 425 and 275 really mean, how to spot genuine 7-strand Type III against cheap imitations, safe working loads, and how much to carry for storm repairs and the grab bag.
