Polyester vs. Nylon

Polyester vs. Nylon

Which type of paracord is "better"?

I’ve always been more of a Coca-Cola guy than a Pepsi guy. Side-by-side, it’s hard to distinguish any major differences between the two sodas. If there were two separate glasses of either beverage placed on my table right now, I would not be able to tell you which one I prefer. However, once my lips touch liquid, I know immediately which of the two my favorite is. Likewise, avid paracorders know automatically whether to purchase “Nylon cord” or “Polyester cord.” Though neither cord is objectively greater than the other, the vast majority of paracord users prefer nylon cord for their crafting. Why is this? What sets nylon above polyester in the eyes—or, rather fingertips—of so many paracord purchasers? This blog post will differentiate between Nylon and Polyester, and postulate the reason that Nylon is so much more popular.

The 3 Main Pros of Nylon

Pro #1: Nylon has a more natural feel than polyester. Although looks wise, nylon and polyester cord are hardly separable, you can definitely feel the difference between the two. The silky texture of Nylon is a magnificent contrast to its fiber-feeling counterpart, Polyester.

Pro #2: Nylon is stronger in composition, but softer in touch than polyester. The strength in composition of nylon makes it a very appealing material for paracord users. Especially when you are using paracord for projects such as harnesses, or leashes, strength is a must have. The soft touch is an added benefit, making nylon more of an ergonomic match for its user.

Pro #3: Nylon is more elastic, and will stretch with greater ease than polyester. Using nylon cord is a huge benefit for crafters, as elasticity is a must-have. When you make a bracelet with nylon cord, you will have a tad bit more wiggle room in your sizing than you will with polyester, which is a more rigid material.

The 3 Main Pros of Polyester

Pro 1: Polyester is more resistant to wrinkles than nylon. “Durability” is the name of the game with polyester, and to those crafters that are concerned with their cord losing its form, polyester trumps nylon here. Polyester’s ability to withstand wrinkles can be a major factor influencing a purchaser to invest in polyester over nylon.

Pro 2: Polyester performs better when wet than nylon. The amount of times I’ve been asked “can I wear my paracord bracelet in the shower” amazes me. Water-resistance is clearly a big concern for bracelet-wearers, and polyester’s advantage here is undeniable. Nylon cord will stay wet longer than polyester cord, and nylon’s composition is affected to a greater measure than polyester’s from moisture.

Pro 3: Polyester has better color retention than Nylon. Part of this point ties back to the fact that polyester is more water-resistant than nylon. Polyester will not fade from exposure to moisture like nylon will. Also, over time polyester is much better at retaining color than nylon cord. This aspect is also very important to crafters. 

Similar to the Coke and Pepsi debate, a lot of the “Which is better: Nylon or Polyester?” debate boils down to personal preference. An advantage of Polyester that I did not list above is the fact that polyester is cheaper to purchase than nylon. This in itself may seal the deal with paracord customers. From my experiences, and the experiences of many, however, nylon has the superlative quality. You get what you paid for is an aphorism that fits as well as any in this scenario. For the best crafting experience, Nylon is the preferred material, despite its inferior water-and-wrinkle-resistance.

Want to see more from Paracord Planet? Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, add us to your Google+ circles, check out our Pinterest, and add us on Snapchat at “ParacordPlanet.” Not only will you stay informed on all things paracord, but we also frequently run contests and giveaways for FREE paracord on all of these social media platforms. Become a part of the #ParacordFam today!

Written by: Jackson Yakowicz, P2 Intern

Contact at jacksony@imsetc.com

For more of Jack’s work, view his full blog here.

Are You a Paramaniac?

Are You a Paramaniac?

Diagnosing your paracord addiction

Last week, I had a dream in which all I was doing was knotting cord. There was no rising action, there was no climax; there were just knots, upon knots, upon knots. It wasn't until this moment that I realized how much paracord was beginning to consume my life. You spend enough time working with the material and you begin to envision everything wrapped in paracord--houses, streets, your burger from McDonalds. There is virtually no limit to the amount of uses paracord has, and likewise, there is virtually no limit to the amount of time you can spend fishtailing through an alternate reality of ties and weaves. It's called "paramania:" the complete and utter obsession with all things paracord. Has your love for paracord become overwhelming? Take our self-guided quiz below to see if you have the symptoms of a paramaniac!

1. Do you have more than one bracelet on your wrist at all times?

Source: sowhatthisisme.tumblr.com

2. Do you stare at a computer screen for hours on end trying to learn new weaves?

Source: whatshouldbetchescallme.tumblr.com

3. Have you ever thrown a tantrum like this after messing up a design?

Source: bezimpossible.tumblr.com

4. Is this the look on you and your friend's faces when you discuss paracord?

Source: TheFrisky.com

5. Is this how you look with your paracord?

Source: Giphy.com

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then it’s official: you’re a paramaniac. Don’t fret, though! There are many cures to this pseudo-disease including psychotherapy and taping your hands shut. Or, you could simply come to terms with your addiction to paracord. Embrace it, make wonderful creations, and share them with us! We gladly accept paramaniacs of all shapes and sizes at Paracord Planet. Make sure to like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, add us to your Google+ circles, and check out our Pinterest! We’re also on Snapchat, at “ParacordPlanet.” Follow us on all of these social media venues for opportunities to win FREE paracord from our numerous contests and giveaways.

Written by: Jackson Yakowicz, P2 Intern

Contact at jacksony@imsetc.com

For more of Jack's work, view his full blog.

Paracord of the Future

Paracord of the Future

What bracelets will look like in 25 years

Every grandchild has had their fair share of “back in my day…” conversations. These talks with my grandma have led me to many horrifying realizations; I now believe that if it were not for a cell phone, I would have never gone on a date, and if it were not for Facebook, I would have no friends. In 50+ years when I’m a grandpa, I’m sure that I will have similar conversations with my kin. ‘When I was your age, all we had were the cobra-weave bracelets.’ Like all other commodities, paracord is bound to flourish as technological capacities increase. Look back two years ago on how limited the designs for paracord bracelets were. Now, we have bracelets with flint-rod buckles, LED lights, and much much more. The functionality of paracord is ever-expanding, and it got me to thinking: what will paracord bracelets look like 25 years in the future?! Here are a few of my ideas…

#1: The Invisi-Cord Bracelet

Harry Potter’s “Invisibility Cloak” meets the futuristic real world. Imagine the benefits of a paracord bracelet that could go into hiding. I love my paracord bracelet, but in an office setting, it’s not exactly “proper attire.” Also, while you are out hunting and don’t want your brightly-colored paracord bracelet to draw attention, how great would it be to be able to push a button and have your bracelet vanish from sight? On top of everything else, it would just be downright cool. Technological developments aimed at creating invisible military clothing is already well underway, and it might not be long until the invisible paracord bracelet is actually an item for citizens to purchase.

#2: The Para-Spy Bracelet

I think I watched too much “Spy Kids” when I was younger. I also thought that I was going to be a CIA agent until I was about 12. Needless to say, when I heard about the “Google Glass,” I was infatuated. For those of you who don’t know, this hands-free device from Google allows you to take pictures with just the blink of an eye. Imagine these same capabilities from your paracord bracelet. A microscopic camera could be inserted in a bead on your bracelet, and you could be able to have your very own spy gear that could respond to natural language commands, or touch. As technology advances and internet becomes increasingly accessible, it’s not too farfetched of a concept for your paracord bracelet to be used to surf the internet, too. Maybe I’m a dreamer, but I’m certainly not the only one.

#3: The Bracelet That Flies

We’ve seen an evolution in paracord hardware just over the past six months. We now can purchase a high-pitched whistle buckle, a flint-rod buckle that can start a fire, and a special buckle with a handcuff key attached to it. The sky is the limit—and hey, maybe your paracord bracelet will fly towards it. Many years down the road, as jetpack capabilities and other apparatuses for flight are innovated, we might just see the “flying buckle.” Imagine how great this would be for your business! Instead of the traditional route of making a bracelet and then sending it to a customer, you could simply fly the bracelet to them. I know, I’m getting way ahead of myself, but if history has taught us anything, it’s that we need to expect the unexpected. I don’t know about you, but I would love to have a jetpack bracelet strapped around my wrist.

As those of you avid corders know, the possibilities with paracord are truly infinite. Do you have any other ideas of what we can expect from paracord bracelets in the future?! Make sure to like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, add us to your Google+ circles, check out our Pinterest, and add us on Snapchat (at ParacordPlanet)! We frequently run contests on all of these social media venues, and would love to connect with the rest of the #ParacordFam!!

Written by: Jackson Yakowicz, P2 Intern

Contact at jacksony@imsetc.com

For more of Jack's work, view his full blog.