This stuff is great, super strong, lightweight, compact and it even looks good! [LOL] First thing I'm going to do is wrap my old Schrade knife handle with it, second thing is order another length in black [when it's back in stock]. Always a good thing for hiking/camping or just basic uses. Again, this stuff is not phony, it's the real thing.

I was introduced to 550 cord in the Army, being stationed with parachute riggers. They used it for everything and so do I. I make everything knife handles to garden trellises out of the stuff. When my bootlaces break, I replace them with 550 cord and those laces usually outlast the boots. The black is just as good as the OD stuff.I use both.

I needed this for lashing my USMC fighting knife to my leg for a halloween costume, but when I got it I was surprised how versatile it was. It has 7 removable inner strands of white cord that can be used for fishing line, tying snares and traps, trip wire, and whatever else you need. Simply cut it to what length you need, burn the ends, and it's ready for almost any survival application you can think up. And its 550 lbs breaking strength means that although its not any bigger than a shoelace, I'd feel comfortable using it as a last-resort rappelling rope (but please don't try that on your own). I've already used it for tying down sheaths, securing pouches to my shooting belt, tying my canteen to its pouch, making lanyards for several items, and I have many more jobs already planned for it!