The Best Paracord Bracelets for Survival and Adventure
Upgrade your wrist fashion and your survival kit at the same time.
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Sometimes, all you need to be prepared for survival in an emergency situation fits stylishly on your wrist. Whether you’re an avid camper or just a weekend outdoors enthusiast, paracord bracelets are a convenient and versatile survival tool you can wear as fashion.
Paracord bracelets are made from about 10 feet of strong paracord rope that you can unravel and put to use at a moment’s notice. This rope can hold several hundred pounds after it’s unbraided, but good survival wristbands also come with added features like compasses and fire starters.
If you want the extra security of a spare rope on your next big camping trip, buckle one of these paracord bracelets on your wrist before you set off.
The Best Paracord Bracelets
- Best Overall: The Atomic Bear Paracord Bracelets for Hiking Gear
- Best Value: Nasogod Survival Paracord Bracelet
- Best Bracelet with Watch: BlueStraw Survival Bracelet Watch
- Best Inner Strands: A2S Protection Paracord Bracelet K2-Peak
- Best Adjustable Bracelet: The Friendly Swede Set of 2 Fish Tail Paracord Bracelets with Metal Clasp
What Kind of Paracord Material Is Best?
Paracord is made of nylon or polyester, sometimes blended with other materials. Both nylon and polyester are reliable, strong materials that can serve you well in a range of survival situations.
Nylon is the traditional choice—it’s what the first paracord was made of—and remains a sturdy option with more resistance against hard snaps and shock from heavy weight than polyester. Polyester paracord excels when wet in comparison to nylon. The polyester fibers offer a higher level of water resistance and continue to hold strength when submerged in water or in rainy climates.
Weight Capacity
Most paracord is rated to hold up to 550 pounds. Some more affordable paracord bracelets are only rated for 250 pounds or less—we don’t recommend this for extreme situations, but this should be sufficient for uses like temporary tents, clotheslines, and carrying small tools.
Some thicker cords are rated for more than 550 pounds. This heavier duty paracord can come in handy for suspending heavy items in trees, belaying a person, or hauling something with your truck. If you need support for significantly more than 550 pounds, you may want to invest in standalone paracord.
Additional Features
Many paracord bracelets build on the usefulness of the rope itself by adding several other survival tools within the bracelet such as small knives, compasses, and fire starters. Some come with watches or are designed to hold smartwatch faces.
How We Selected
We made our final selections after researching and comparing dozens of paracord bracelets based on their weight capacity, additional survival tools, price, and, of course, verified user reviews. We also relied on our own experience here at Popular Mechanics, with many of us, including myself, having previous experience using or owning paracord bracelets and other survival gear. We made sure our list contains options across the spectrum of features and prices, so you can find a reliable bracelet that best fits your needs and taste.
Tom Price is an Associate Editor of Reviews for Popular Mechanics, and also contributes to Runner's World, and Bicycling. He has previously covered product reviews, startup news, and even professional wrestling. In his free time, he enjoys watching pretentious TV, low-brow movies, and exercising for beauty, not health. If you are interested in exploring more of his work, check out his website.
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