How to Make or Weave a Survival Bracelet Out of 550 Paracord Rope

Paracord is an extremely strong and durable rope that is composed of several thin nylon threads encased in a tough weaved casing. Because paracord is so strong, it is used by the military, campers, and survivalists for a variety of purposes, including emergencies clothing repairs, for hoisting food, for climbing, and many other uses.

Carrying enough paracord with you in the backcountry to be useful in a dangerous situation is tricky. If you wrap a lot of it in a circle, it will be bulky, and will no doubt becomes tangled as your back shuffles around.

The best way to keep your paracord from becoming jumbled is to weave it into a bracelet or belt. By weaving the paracord into a repeated design, you will be able to easily carry the rope on your person, and you will be able to unravel only as much as needed when the time comes.

NOTE: because this cord is so durable, you shouldn't wrap it on your body if you're climbing. If you fall and your wrist snags on a branch, the rope will not break free, and the possibility of dislocating or breaking your wrist, elbow, and shoulder are very real.

Step 1

For a bracelet, cut eight feet of paracord free from the spool. Seal the cut ends by briefly holding a match over the end, which will melt the nylon and keep it from unraveling.

Fold the strand in half so that both ends match up perfectly. Tie a knot in the opposite end (so that both of the cut ends hang freely for weaving; the tied end should have a loop).

Now fold the rope in half again, and tie the end opposite the cut ends (so that the two ends hang freely once again, and you have another loop).

Step 2

There should now be two lengths of rope tied on both ends, and two pieces of loose rope on either side. Wrap one of the free pieces of rope over the front of the center, and wrap the other rope behind, under, then around the opposite rope. Pull them tight to form a knot.

Repeat this process until you reach the end. Join them together with a break-away clip.