I've noticed that many survival kits / first aid kits contain cable ties. Being kinda new at this, I'm going to display my ignorance and ask: What sorts of things have folks used them for?

Thanks!

1. Tying Cables
2. Tying things to other things _quickly_ : Think of how much time you could save building a shelter using cable ties instead of cordage....

I really think they are the modern-day equivalent of baling wire. Most useful are the UV-resistant black ones, in 8" length, ~40LB hold. Just my opinion...and I BDC (backpack daily carry) around a hundred or so.

Good qeustion. I used to carry them but I no longer do. Not much I can do with cable ties that I cant do with wire, rope or duct tape and I already carry those three items.

I think its sort of one of those things that are small, and potentially useful, so people throw it in. I can't think of anything they're good for in an emergency that you couldn't do with paracord, so I haven't put it in my kit. I do have a couple bags of it in my box of potential items to put in a kit though.

I keep them because they are easier and quicker to cinch up one-handed than just about anything. They weigh next to nothing and are extremely strong.

Regards, Vince

Edit: Oh, the last things I used them for was to strap stuff onto my ATV, to attach my tag to the antelope I shot, and to relieve stress on the grommets on my tarp when the wind was blowing (the bungee cords were stressing the zip ties instead of the grommets--saved me from ruining a new tarp that night.)

Well..... We won't discuss the number of them holding things together in my car....

Other ideas:

-If you have something that HAD a bolt and nut set holding it together, a zip tie often can make do in a pinch.
-Used them to replace the cotter pins in my old external frame pack.
-Use them to make belt loops on ALICE-pattern pouches, and attach pouches of all types to packs.
-used them to field expident a flash light holder to hard hats several times, everything from solitaires to surefires and scorpions.
-to replace a sling clip that snapped from cold on my old LLBean dispatch bag, and to replace a couple of zupper pulls.

THe extreme for me was using them as part of a splint, outisde the padding.

They are somewhat redundent. If you have fishline/dental floss, some wire and a bit of duct tape, those cover a lot of what you can do with zip ties. Until you have to try to use duct tape on something that is below freezing or oily and won't stick. Or trying to tie a knot when it is 40 below out, and any skin that touches anything is probably stuck there until spring. Or you don't want to have to worry about the stabby-bits from wire, or need it to be non-conductive.

A zip tie doesn't care about cold (that much or wet, and it can be put in one handed in a hurry. It is part of the bag o' tricks. After all, the two blades in the leatherman, the one in the micra, the pocket knife and the razor blades in the PSK can all be used to cut.

Although, I'm a professional computer and electronics geek. I carry a half dozen blaze orange and black ones tucked into the pouch with my leatherman and minimag, along with a bit of wire and a p38, and more in my pack. I use them more than I do duct tape. :P So I might be biased.

I also caary some large ties to use on a prisioners / nutcases and the such as you never know what kind of problem you may run into
Yukon