TOUGH-GRID® 700lb Reflective Paracord FAQs

These and other questions have mostly come to us from our thousands of Amazon Customers.

– What is the diameter of TOUGH-GRID® reflective paracord? –
We generally speak of the diameter running between 5/32″ and 3/16″ or 3.96mm and 4.76mm. Since the cord will compress, it is difficult to pin-down an absolute diameter.

– How much stretch does TOUGH-GRID® reflective paracord have? –
Most all 100% Nylon Reflective Paracord has a “minimum stretch” of about 30%. Paracord is designed for parachutes and must have some stretch built-in for the sudden loads it is expected to endure.

– How many inner strands are in this reflective paracord and are they triple or double-ply? –
TOUGH-GRID® reflective paracord has (11) inner strands, all of which are triple-ply, 100% nylon threads. There is also a marker strand that is black and tan which is used by the military to identify the origin of the parachute cord.

– What are the results of the tensile strength test of TOUGH-GRID® reflective paracord? –
There is a range at which our 700lb Type 4 Mil Spec cord fails/breaks. Generally speaking… that is somewhere between 700 and 750+ pounds. Why the range? Well, even though our reflective cord is hybrid mil-spec cord, there are still variations in the yarns that warrant an honest disclosure about the break strength. In reality… no two cords are ever identical due to variations in the nylon manufacturing process. That said; our cord always exceeds the 700lb minimum break strength.

– Can this cord be used for hammock hanging? –
It sure can and many of our customers use it for hammocks without any problems whatsoever. We use it for our hammocks as well. That said; the cord has 30% stretch built-in so you may need to re-tighten a time or two as you work-out the stretch over time. Another way to account for the stretch is to use more lines to slow the stretching process.

– Can I use this reflective paracord for mountain or wall climbing? –
Only use paracord for climbing or descending IF you have no other choice of a better climbing rope. While our cord is excellent and considered a great “emergency supply” it is not intended to be a climbing rope… even though many have used paracord for such in emergencies. There are thousands of uses for paracord but one should be prudent and cautious if life & limb are on the line.

– Could I use this cord as a replacement for the shoestrings in my boots/shoes? –
Sure, Our reflective paracord makes excellent replacement laces and it’s a great way to keep some paracord on-hand at all times (just in case.) The cord is slightly thicker than 550lb paracord and will have some trouble fitting through very small eyelets. One of the solutions to this is to melt the ends of the paracord into sharp tapered points to help thread the cord through the eyelets. You can also straighten a paper clip and melt it into the ends of the paracord to help you guide and feed the paracord through the eyelets if they are very small.

– How are your different lengths of reflective paracord packaged? –
Our 100 foot lengths come loosely coiled in sealed bags while the 200 footers come wound on a tube and 500 and 1000 footers come wound on a spool.

– Is TOUGH-GRID® reflective paracord UV and Abrasion resistant… Good under harsh conditions? –
Yes, our Hybrid Mil-Spec Reflective Parachute Cord is UV and Abrasion Resistant (Mil-C-5040-H). That said; it will deteriorate over time in harsh sunlight, whipping winds, rubbing on tree bark etc. It will out-last any other paracords, but may need occasional replacement if subjected to harsh conditions. You may also need to re-tighten it a time or two while working-out the built-in stretch.

– Is this cord suitable for making paracord bracelts and other projects? –
Absolutely. It can be a great upgrade from 550lb paracord as there are 11 inner strands that are very useful in survival situations. One “con” is that 750 cord is a bit thicker than 550 cord and may be a little bulky for more ~dainty projects.

– Is TOUGH-GRID® reflective parachute cord pre-shrunk? –
Yes, our reflective paracord is pre-shrunk. We have personally tried boiling sections of paracord and measuring the length before and after to see if there was any stretch or shrinkage. We couldn’t measure any difference between the cord before and after extensive boiling, which is a common method for shrinking paracord.

– Are the 1000 foot spools continuous (no splices, etc.)? –
We don’t splice our reflective paracord anywhere. That said; our 1000 Footers “May come in up-to two non-spliced sections.” It sometimes happens, but we avoid it the best we can. A high percentage of the time it is a full 1000 feet continuous. That said; we never use more than two non-spliced lengths and don’t go below 300Ft. for the shortest length if two are used. The reason some spools have two sections is that they come from “master spools.” The master spools are only 3000 feet long themselves, but lets say a defect or a “temporary manufacturing splice” was found somewhere in the last 1000 feet of the master spool while winding a 1000 footer from it… rather than start over and rewind the (up to 700Ft.) on to some other spools or hanks (lots of time and money re-handling it) the manufacturing team just adds another 300Ft.+ to fill the remainder of the spool. We could guarantee 1000Ft. continuous but would incur a lot of machine downtime and expense in the process. Along with that… we find that 99%+ of our customers really don’t care if it is continuous as they just cut multiple sections out of it anyway. We try to keep the cord cost as low as we can and this is one of the ways we do it. Just so you know… the 100, 200 and 500 footers are always guaranteed continuous.

– What is the shipping weight of each length of reflective parachute cord? –
Our shipping weights (plus whatever additional packaging Amazon decides to use) are: 100Ft. (9.2 Oz.) – 200Ft. (18 Oz.) – 500Ft. (44 Oz.) – 1000Ft. (87 Oz.).

– Will you be adding any other colors to your listing? –
We add colors based on the demand for each color. We are always looking into adding new colors as we want to have something for everyone. If there is a rise in demand for a certain color, we do our best to add that color to the listing. eMail or call us if there is a specific color you’d really like and we’ll see what we can do.

– Are some colors more pliable and flexible than others? –
Yes, some of our reflective paracord colors actually start-out a little bit stiffer than others but become (pretty much) equally pliable with use and time. Our Red cord starts out a little stiffer than any other color but soon becomes very flexible. This leads us to believe that the dyes used in the sheathing must be responsible for the initial difference. Since the inner (11) “Triple-Strands” are never dyed, this seems to be the only logical conclusion.

– Can I use this paracord to suspend my bear bag or other gear? –
The funny (maybe not so funny) thing about paracord is that the Hybrid Military Grade we sell MUST stretches at least 30%. Our reflective paracord is built to 100% Mil-Spec except for the reflective strands which slightly weaken the cord and remove the “Mil-Spec”, hence the term “Hybrid Mil-Spec”. The Military doesn’t use reflective cord for obvious tactical reasons. So, when hanging bear bags or hammocks etc., it helps to either double or triple the line OR re-tighten it after the stretch is pretty much worked-out from it. That is a little inconvenient, but the cord is actually made for parachutes and has to be able to stretch so it doesn’t snap when the load hits it hard in the air. Our 750 Mil Spec cord is actually used for cargo parachutes and that is why it is extra tough and requires the 30% stretch.

– Can this cord be used as clothesline? –
Definitely. Clothesline is generally 3/16 – 1/4 inch and our paracord is anywhere between 5/32 and 3/16 inch. Our cord is much stronger than clothesline and if your clips will clamp tight, it will certainly work. Due to the Hybrid Mil-Spec stretch requirements, you may need to re-tighten a time or two to keep your clothesline taut especially over a long stretch.

– Will this cord work as a backup rope for a tree swing? –
Because our cord is built for parachutes, it has 30%+ stretch built-in to it. So, if it suddenly had to take the full load of a swinger, it would stretch quite a bit first… maybe even more than you’d want it to. That may cause a problem or endanger people. I’d recommend a primary rope that had little or no stretch to it. If you want to use it for your backup rope, we would suggest braiding a multi-strand rope with 3 or more lengths of paracord.

– Is there a way to combine shipping charges for multiple rolls ordered at the same time? –
Yes, by default, Amazon will pack everything together to minimize your shipping costs where possible. Where we run into issues is when some cord is in California but they don’t have the other color(s) or length(s) you want at the same warehouse in California, but it is sitting in i.e. Pennsylvania. That actually happens quite often because Amazon is doing their best to guarantee same day or second day shipping for so many orders. Amazon requires us to send our cord to many different warehouses for this reason. I’m pretty sure, however, that if all the cord you order comes from the same warehouse, you will get combined shipping.

– What is the “Working Load” of your 700lb Hybrid Mil-Spec reflective paracord? –
Ropes, cords, cables, and chains, have a working load limit of somewhere between 15% and 25% of their maximum weight limit.  You should not confuse the “Working Load Limit” with the “Breaking Strength” of the paracord. The “Breaking Strength” or “Tensile Strength” is the average force at which the cord would break if in new and unused conditions when a load is applied in direct line to the cord at a uniform rate of speed on a standard pull testing machine. This is a minimum of 700lbs all the way up to 800+lbs for our reflective paracord.

– Is there any way to buy this cord in Canada? –
Unfortunately we don’t sell our reflective paracord internationally but do hope to sell internationally someday.

– What can I expect on shipping speed and accuracy? –
We use something called FBA or “Fulfillment by Amazon” to complete all of our orders. This means we ship our reflective paracord to Amazon warehouses all over the United States and they ship our cord to customers from there. Amazon does this to try and make sure people can get 1 or 2 day shipping. If a customer orders some Black Reflective in California, but we only have Black Reflective Paracord in Florida, it is much harder for them to offer or achieve 1 or 2 day shipping. Amazon is extremely good at shipping with more than 99%+ on-time delivery.  If you ever have an issue with a shipment, please let us know.

– Why is your red reflective paracord such a deep red color? –
Our red reflective paracord is dyed to the (non-reflective) color that the United States Military purchases. It is a fairly “deep red” which a lot of people really like. It is impossible to show “exact” colors online. People are visiting via PC, Mac, Tablet, Phones, etc. and no two screens display colors the same way… as far as that goes, no two eyeballs see them the same way either. If you really “must have” a certain color, we recommend you buy a small section of it first and see if it meets your needs, then buy the quantity you want.

– How is your reflective paracord packaged? –
Everywhere we sell our cord, there are images that show what it will be packaged like. We ship the 100 foot lengths coiled into a hank and placed in a bag.  The 200 footers are shrink-wrapped on a tube. The 500 & 1000 footers are shrink-wrapped on a spool. If you click on the small thumbnails of these images, it will display the image in a larger format so you can examine more closely and see additional images.

– How do I cut and melt my paracord? –
If you’re new to paracord, it is different from other ropes or cords, with its nylon inner strands and braided outer sheath. All paracord will allow the inner strands to protrude from the end of the cord if the cut end is not melted/fused together with a flame or heat. Any sharp tool like scissors, knives, nippers, razor knives, or blades, etc. may be used to cleanly cut paracord.
*PLEASE NOTE: The inner strands of paracord WILL separate from the outer sheath at the cut end if you don’t melt the end(s) after cutting.
Hot Knife End Fusing Method (Cleanest Results)
1. Lay the part of your cord you would like to cut on a solid, heat resistant surface.
2. Heat the end of an old (wooden handled) steak knife with a flame until the metal tip of the knife is cherry red hot.
3. Use the hot end of the knife to cut down completely through your cord and melt/fuse it at the same time.
4. Carefully place the hot knife in a safe place when finished.
5. Caution! Melted Nylon will stick to your fingers and anything else it touches and may burn you or cause damage to other items until it has cooled.
Cut and Flame End Fusing Method (Good Results)
1. Once your cord has been cut, hold a flame (from a lighter or other source,) near the cord to melt and fuse the inner strands to the outer sheath.
2. It is best to back the cord away from the flame before it becomes set on fire.
3. Caution! Melted Nylon will stick to your fingers and anything else it touches and may burn you or cause damage to other items until it has cooled.

– Is this paracord good for hammocks? –
When done properly, our cord is excellent for hanging hammocks. Part of the US Military’s Mil-C-5040H requirements is that the paracord has at least 30% stretch. This is crucial when they are using it for parachutes since the cord needs to endure a very sudden load without damaging the cargo. Because of that, this cord can be used for suspending hammocks but will need to be re-tightened over time. One way to slow the stretch is to double or triple the number or cord sections hanging your hammock. Also, when suspending a hammock with paracord, you’ll want to span the shortest distance you can to reach the trees (or other item) you’re tying off to. The more paracord, the more stretch distance. The less paracord, the less stretch distance. For every 10 feet of paracord, you will get ~3.33 feet of stretch. Paracord can be great for suspending hammocks but it helps to know how parachute cord works and how to use it.

– Why are the inner cores and outer sheath not connected? –
This is the nature of all real parachute cord. Paracord is different from other ropes and has different qualities. The inner cores/strands are not supposed to be connected and can be taken out for many, many different uses. This is called a “kernmantle” construction. In all real paracord, only the ends are melted together. The 11 inner strands will slide freely inside the sheath except when/where the ends are melted together.

– Does 700lb reflective paracord take longer to melt? –
All 11-strand paracord will take longer to melt than 7 to 9-strand paracord.  We recommend using a red-hot knife instead of a flame for creating cleaner cuts/melts and for tapering ends if needed for threading into boot eyelets, etc. We have also noticed that some colors melt easier than others. That can only be related to the dyes used in manufacturing as all our paracord is 100% Nylon and nothing else.

– Why is TOUGH-GRID® America’s Paracord©? –
Our paracord is manufactured right here in the USA using only American made materials. We care about our citizen workforce and helping make America ever stronger! USA!

– TOUGH-GRID Our Warranty & Guarantee –
We guarantee that all TOUGH-GRID products are free from manufacturing defects. IF a defect is found in any of our products we will replace the defective product in a timely manner or refund the full purchase amount for the defective product upon its return, or both refund and replace, at our discretion. We want you to have ONLY the best products and will do all in our power to ensure that happens! Please contact us immediately if you find a defect in any of our products and we will make it right as soon as possible!

– Why would anybody ever rate this cord less than 5-stars? –
The truth is, most of the time we get anything under 5-stars, the review poster hasn’t had a chance to test the cord yet.  We would prefer to have people leave reviews who have given our paracord a fair test instead of giving it a lower rating because they don’t know how well it works. We, however, have no control over that. Most of these folks forget to come back and review and rate it again after they have used it. Kind of a bummer, but we understand how busy people get. Most of our 4-Star reviews are from good people who just haven’t had the chance to test it yet, so they don’t want to overstate anything. We always hope they’ll come back and update things even so.

Thank you very much for reading our FAQ’s. We hope you found them helpful. If you have any other questions, comments, or concerns, please don’t hesitate to give us a shout. We will be updating this FAQ periodically as we see more great questions from customers.

All the Best to You and Yours,

Bill & Son Adam Hanover
TOUGH-GRID®
(435) 792-4380
wecare@toughgrid.com

—The cool trick to help thread your boots with our thicker paracord!—
Since our paracord does have trouble fitting through small eyelets, Bill came up with a great idea. All you need to make this work is a length of paracord that you will use for your laces (give yourself a few extra inches), a paperclip, a pair of pliers, and an old steak knife.
1) Straighten the paperclip as straight as you possibly can.
2) Holding the paperclip with a pair of pliers, heat the end of the paperclip with a hot flame such as a stove top or propane torch until it glows red. USE CAUTION!
3) Push the end of the hot paperclip into the end of the paracord about 1″.
4) Once the paperclip cools it will be fully fused into the end of the paracord. Next we want to taper the end of the paracord.
5) Heat the tip of the blade of your old steak knife until it is glowing hot.
6) Use the hot knife to melt and taper the top of the paracord that holds your paperclip. USE CAUTION! You’ll want the tip of the paracord to be conical to help even further to guide the paracord through the small eyelets of your boots or shoes.
7) Reheat your knife and cut/seal the end of the paracord to make a nice, clean tip to your paracord. Some people like to crimp a tube on the end of the shoe or melt the end a little bigger to have something to grip onto when tying their laces.

And that’s it! Just repeat these steps with any paracord that you plan on threading through your small eyelets. I’ll post some thumbnail pictures below which you can click on to view full-size to see some images of this project. Thanks for reading!