I am considering purchasing paracord. However, I live in an urban environment. A big city. What would be some possible uses for this cord?

I use it to lasso rooftop antennas and play SpiderMan! <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

So far I've used it for two things in urban real life, both car related. (1) To reenforce a radiator hose attachment that was leaking (used a constrictor knot). (2) To tie up the shades on my van-conversion's windows after their normal mechanism failed and they fell down, blocking my right-rear-side "backing up" driver's view.

Around the house I've used it to tie trash can lids in place in the wind, to make quick clotheslines when our dryer went on the blink, and to tie an extension ladder in place when it's feet kept sliding on a slippery deck. Also as a temporary holdfast when I needed a third hand to keep something in place while working with it.

Around a campsite, the uses are too numerous to mention.

"Slender they looked, but strong, silken to the touch, grey of hue....

"'Ropes indeed!' ... 'Never travel far without a rope! One that is long and strong and light. Such are these. They may help in many needs'"

I'm rereading Tolkien (except the Silmarillion, which is too much poetry). The above it taken from a conversation between Sam and one of the elven rivermen as the Fellowship is leaving Lothlorien (page numbers vary widely between editions). I think it sums up the issue of paracord rather nicely; for urban carry, I might suggest grey, both in honor of the grey flannel suit, the grey of concrete, and these words of wisdom. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Paracord is one of those things like duct tape- you never know why you'll need it, or when, but if you need and don't have, you might regret it later. Or you might not survive. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Paracord has the advantage over things like 3mm climbing accessory cord, which is stronger and smaller but a lot harder to handle.

You shouldn't repel or hoist with paracord, but it's been done. You might need to lash something down to keep it from blowing or floating away. YOu might need to walk home, and you use it to turn your jacket into a blanket roll-type pack, or turn a spare pair of pants into a crude backpack. You might need to repair a shoe lace in a hurry. You could have to move something hot, either electrically or thermally (so long as it is under say 300 degrees, but boiling water should be fine), or very cold. You might need to tie part of your car's grill work up so that it stop banging into your tire after cracking it on something. You might need to use it as a throw line to run an extension/phone/network cable up and over something. You might need to bundle shopping bags together so they are more managable, or rig a bookstrap-like carrier for a box. You might need to tie your boss up, so it looks like an accident when you arrange for his chair to fall off the roof or down a stairwell or an elevator shaft.

Paracord, wire, duct tape, zip ties. With those four items, you can make almost anything that doesn't need to be glued together. For that, we have superglue and 20-ton epoxy. Just remember, MacGuyver was a slacker. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

tie open doors (LIRR Passengers - "Old Train M1-M3" - NO AC...) spare boot laces, tie packages, etc. I'm NOT afarid to use, and LOSE paracord - which reminds me, I have to order another spool. I go through the stuff fast

Well, if the wife comes home and says: "Honey. I just purchased some furniture at a yard sale. Can you help me get it over here?" Nothing like paracord to tie furniture down to the top of your car. Just drive slow.

Just tie it tight, because paracord will stretch quite a bit. Don't ask me how I know because I'm not tellin'. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Well, think about it's intended purpose- it has to be a dynamic (stretchy) line. That's why I carry both paracord and nylon webbing, which doesn't stretch so much.