Yes it is handy, and I carry several lengths of it, daisy chained for ease of deployment without tangling. I have some short and some long. I refrain from cutting unless absolutely necessary, but I have the shorter lengths for the smaller jobs. It is very susceptible to melting, so you can't use it around fire (suspending a pot to boil water). It is not the best cordage available, but it does work. When I am traveling for business I actually carry unwaxed dental floss. You can carry a hundred yards of it in a very small package and it is pretty strong. 550 cord raises eyebrows when in a business suit going through airport security.