Still tweaking the belt pack PSK. The medium/small size of this pack is one of my many parameters, and fifty feet of paracord is one of the items I feel is too large and overkill for many uses (like stringing a tent or lashing a shelter frame with branches and limbs). Someone mentioned replacing paracord with monofilament line, but fishing line is slick, hard to see, hard to grasp; I'm not sure I would like it.

There's a seller on ebay who offers waxed Kevlar line, it's rated at #135 and is the size of needlepoint or darning tread. Because it's waxed it's easy to grasp (unlike untreated Kevlar) and the wax may also give some UV protection (?). One could make a round braid of four strands and have a #500+ rated line at just a fraction of the size of paracord. What do you think?

You might try using this. 500 pound strenght and 1/8" flat braid. It is about 1/3 the bulk of paracord. It's also pretty cheap to by a lifetime supply.
http://www.sportsmansguide.com/cb/cb.asp?a=151288

David Enoch

I lkie 50 or 100# test fishing line. Light, small & cheap

Sportsman's Warehouse has florescent orange and yellow bow fishing line that is rated at 300 lbs and is about the same size as plumb line at Home Depot. It is about $10 for a roll. I'm not sure how much is on the roll but it has to be way over 50 yards. I have been tempted to get some but I have braided nylon cord the same size as paracord and the yellow plumb line. I don't really need any.

<img src="/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />
Give up 550 cord?! Have ya lost yer mind?!

Seriously...I EDC about ten feet of paracord as a keychain fob. Definetely not too much. In a belt kit, one hundred feet would not be too unusual for me. How are you carrying it?

One thing I love about 550 cord is its utility. Altogether, as a shell, as seven lightweight strands...<sniff>sweet, sweet utility.

Monofilament's not as easy to work with nor as durable--get a nick on a monofilament under tension and see what happens.

Braided, waxed Kevlar would be a logical replacement, if the sheer cheapness and space of 550 cord are unappealing.

I'm happy with 550, which is why I have several 1500 foot rolls of the stuff <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I've got to agree with you, 550 all the way <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Troy

Your belt pack is really only intended for short term use. However, there are various considerations that you should consider such as: Is it to manipulate with gloves on? Will it slice though plastic sheeting under pressure etc. If you can find smaller & lighter with the same performance - great! But you might wish to mull over the popularity of 550 and the reasons why.

Be not alarmed ye of great para faith. I too have a large reel of paracord and it's included in all my larger PSKs. But a 50' hank in a belt pack is too big, plus the utility of paracord is not what it used to be. With Kevlar as a supplement, I can easily use separated strands for repair, sewing, snares, everything.

....I know, I'm headed straight to hell....
But it's OK cause Kevlar is heat resistant.

Where are we going? Why is it getting so hot? And why am I in this handbasket...?!

I like paracord, but braided dacron kite string is a good thing to have. My Altoids kit has paracord wrapped around the outside, as much as can fit, but it's not all THAT much. Inside I have some sewing machine bobbins filled with heavy kite line.

http://www.intothewind.com/shop/Line_and_Accessories/Bulk_Line_and_Reels_for_Traditional_Kites

Scroll down the page to find the heavier cord. You can get up to 500lb test, but you'll have to take out a loan to afford it. I'd stick to the 100lb stuff myself, unless you're planning to tow cars with it. Much cheaper. $15 for 500 feet (which is quite a bit).

In addition to the paracord, I also include a few metres of braided mason's line. (As you probably know, braided line resists twisting under load). There are various thicknesses, in grades from nylon to dacron. The best is available in establishments catering to the trowel trades.

Can anyone tell me how to braid paracord ? I'd like to have about 20ft or more, attached to my key ring, for my EDC......Krell