If you regularly spend time in nature, it is (literally) vital that you are prepared for emergencies. Most survival stories begin with an ordinary or mundane situation that quickly takes an unexpected turn for the worse. Maybe someone falls and breaks their ankle, or flips over after missing a vital fork in the overgrown trail. In extreme cases, they may be attacked by a bear or other wild animal. Whatever the case, it never hurts to be prepared, and a simple survival paracord bracelet is one of the cheapest but most valuable tools you can add to your arsenal. Most of these bracelets have eight to twelve feet of paracord cord that you can use for all sorts of purposes. You can wear them on your wrist or quickly attach them to a backpack or rucksack.
For hikers and campers, it’s a little extra peace of mind knowing you have something useful to build shelter, bandage a wound, or start a fire in a snap. In truth, the only limit to how you use one of these bracelets is your imagination. They are an invaluable tool that will make bushcraft much easier in survival situations. These bracelets have become so popular that many people keep them in their daily carry kit (EDC) in case something goes wrong.
So how can you use one of these bracelets? We’ll recommend affordable and valuable options before your next outdoor adventure.
How to use a survival bracelet?
Getty Images: simonkr
The truth is, the possibilities are endless for this survival tool. One of the main reasons people carry one is to use it as an emergency fire starter. Many survival bracelets and lanyards have a flint fire starter for lighting flames built into the loop. You can use the fibers of the parachute cord material to help start the fire with the striker when there is no suitable tinder nearby. It helps provide heat, a way to cook a meal, and even a way to boil water to make it drinkable. But the function goes beyond that. For example, if your survival kit includes hooks, the fibers can be used to craft a makeshift fishing line and catch a meal. Some even come with fishing line standards for this purpose. You can also use them to help build an emergency shelter from logs and sticks. It is easier to use a cord than natural materials for this purpose, saving you the energy and time needed in a critical situation. The cord is excellent for repairing clothes. This sort of thing is vital in cases where you might be in danger of exposure to the elements.
Although not an ideal material for climbing, most paracord survival bracelets are made with cords that can hold hundreds of pounds of weight. This means you can use it to rescue someone who has fallen somewhere they can’t climb from. For more experienced survivors, the inner strands of rope can provide the means for a makeshift bowstring or the building mechanism of a snare trap to capture small animals for food.
You can make a DIY style bracelet yourself. As a bonus, many commercial survival bracelets have many other features built into the loop, such as a simple compass to indicate direction or even an LED light. Others may contain a small knife or whistle that can be used to alert rescuers to your location. Finally, as we have already mentioned, paracord is extremely valuable for wounds. It can help you place a slit on a broken limb or exert maximum pressure on a wound to stop bleeding in the blink of an eye. The possibilities for this survival gear are truly endless, and because these bracelets are so lightweight and affordable, there’s no excuse not to have one with you on the go. Now let’s look at some of the options on the market today.
Kodiak exterior element
Amazon
The Kodiak is one of the highest rated survival bracelets on Amazon, and for good reason. This is a high quality 550 paracord bracelet braided here in the US, so you can feel better about buying from US. We also like that this one comes in three distinct sizes, so you can get one that fits your wrist perfectly. This is something that is not always an option with other brands. Other features include an emergency reflector, Ferro rod and firing pin for making a fire. As a bonus, they have a 20-pound braided fishing line, a hook, seven strands of nylon rope, and a strand of jute to use as fuel for a fire. Simply put, this bracelet is packed with great gadgets for the serious hiker or camper who spends a lot of time in the backcountry. It’s a bit more expensive at $20-$24, but you get great quality with this option.
Atomic Bear Paracord Bracelet
Amazon
With this option, you get two for one. You are looking at 12 feet of paracord ready for any outdoor survival situation you may face. These bracelets have the usual fire starters. Unfortunately, there are no different size options. However, they are adjustable so you can fit them perfectly to your wrist. There are two other great features of this bracelet in the compass and a loud emergency whistle to signal rescuers. The compass is relatively simple but should work in a pinch. Just make sure the buckle is undone when you try to use it. Otherwise, the metal from the fire starter will likely interfere with it. For $22.99, it’s a bargain. Moreover, you get two different colors, orange and black, depending on your taste. Keep one on your wrist and the other on your bag. It’s also a solid option for a backpacking couple who want to double up on their survival gear.
NVioAsport 20 in 1
Amazon
If you want more functionality from your survival bracelet, this camo paracord option might be for you. It only costs $10 but packs a lot of features. This one also has a compass, but it’s slightly larger than the Atomic Bears, so it’s more visible if your eyes aren’t quite what they used to be. This option also includes a thermometer to monitor weather conditions. This is another adjustable bracelet, but it has other great features that we like, like a magnesium fire starter and a stainless steel firing pin. There is also an SOS LED light with three different modes for working in the dark or signaling a rescue. There’s also an emergency whistle to double your chances of being found.
Paracord PSK 8-in-1
Amazon
This option is only $7 and seems pretty sharp for a survival bracelet. This one contains 12 feet of paracord. This one has the usual fire starter and scraper for starting a fire and an emergency whistle. But he also has a small signal mirror, a fishing line and a hook. Another feature we like on this one is the addition of a window breaker. For that reason, we like this one for ice anglers who regularly drive their vehicle on frozen water. This tool could help you quickly escape through a window if your truck goes through the ice.
Titan Survival Survivorcord
Titan Survival
This option comes with approximately 11 feet of 550 mil-spec cord rated at 584 pounds woven in a trilobite weave pattern. Titan Survival includes 25-pound monofilament fishing line, waxed jute for starting fires, and even a short length of yarn for single snares. We also like that five different colors and sizes are available. It’s a bit more expensive than the other options at $24.99 each. However, as a bonus, the company is owned by Americans and veterans. They even contribute a portion of their profits to Wounded Warrior, so you’re helping support vets while enjoying a quality product.
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