Sorry Chris but your metric conversion is a bit off. I belive parachord is 5mm not 0.5mm (thickness of a toothpick). Also 1/8" is about 3.2 mm thick. 5mm cord would equal 1/5". <br><br>At my local outdoors shop I can get cord that is 2.5 / 3 / 3.5 / 4 mm thick (up to 440#) but I have yet to find true 550# cord locally. The 2.5 mm stuff is like very strong/ thick boot lace.