I have OD green and orange 550 parachute cord from County Comm. I have played with it quit a bit. I have used it to tie all the knots I know. I have used it for lashing and putting up a tube tent. I have taken the strands apart and tried tying knots with just the sleeve and the just the inner cords.

I’m sorry but I’m not impressed! If you take the inner cords out; the outer sleeve does not make a great tying cord. If you need a particular length of inner cord or the finer inner cord then you have to cut the sleeve at the length you wanted, now you may not have the full strength cord/sleeve at the length you need. It is all too much bother to me.

The best cord I have found is white 1/8” braided nylon cord from the Boy Scout store. It is of a higher quality than I have found at any hardware store. It ties easily and holds all the knots I know. It is a pleasure to use! I do not know what outdoor use you could put it to that the 550 parachute cord would work better. As a replacement for the inner cord I like fluorescent yellow, braided nylon, plumb line. It works great for tying knots. It is easy to see while you are working with it. I have made neck cords for compasses and whistles out of it. If you drop anything with the cord it is very easy to find. Wonderful stuff! For the 550 fine inner cord I use waxed dental floss. I think it works better for sewing things than the 550 fine inner cord.

Another issue I have is that cord needs to be wrapped around something. I hate it when I try to use cord and it gets tangled up. This is not something I want to deal with when I am stressed out.