The real stuff has 7 inner strands within the main cord. They increase the strength, but more importantly, you can pull the strands out and use them separately, e.g., a single strand can replace a broken shoelace in a pinch.
Many people remove the inner strands for tying lanyards. (If you do this, you may want to soak the outer cord in hot water to shrink it afterwards.)
All things being equal, it's worth having those inner strands, although paracord is plenty strong without them. (Caveat: do not support your body weight with paracord, no matter what's inside it.)
You know, it sound very funny for someone to say not to support your body weight with paracord, when that is what it is used for!!! <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
But I know that it is use in parallel to do that...And while 550lbs SOUNDS like a lot, you lose a LOT of strength with ANY knot you tie, AND, just the slightest bounce, can double your body weight!!! <img src="/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />
Just for your info, you can get paracord with a LOT more strands from a 'jump' rigging supply house, I have some ot the 11 strand stuff and about 50' of the 13(or was that 15) strand stuff, and it is a LOT stronger!!!
Weave a belt out of that stuff and you would have enough string to make a large net, or make a lot of almost ANYTHING...
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