Gap Year Gear

Gap Year Gear

Three reasons you should pack some paracord

Image from Naimakka

What do you want to do with the rest of your life? No question has haunted me as frequently as this over the years. How do you aptly encapsulate an array of your life ambitions into one brief statement? How do you narrow your scope to a singular ambition? I guess I’ll take a stab at it: I want to enjoy life. A recent trend among college grads is to take a “gap year” upon receiving their diploma. In essence, a gap year is a twelve month period of time for young adults to check items off of their bucket lists—a twelve month period of time to see the world. With the increasing attractiveness of the gap year route, this blog is dedicated to the practicality of packing paracord in one’s travel bag. Listed below are three of the most pertinent reasons for you to bring paracord along for your journey.

Reason #1: Paracord can pack a punch.

Image from SurvivalLife

Mark Twain once said “it’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in a dog.” The same logic applies to paracord. When you look at a paracord bracelet, it’s hard to imagine that so much functionality can reside in such a compactly-sized accessory. The creative uses of paracord bracelets are continually expanding as crafty corders innovate more and more functions for the rope around their wrists. Today, paracord bracelets serve a multitude of purposes for traveling men and women—everything from rigging a makeshift fishing line to being used as a tourniquet to treat unforeseeable injuries. Paracord can even be used to saw wood. No matter what part of the world you are traveling through during your gap year, you will be exposed to unpredictable climates and landscapes. By simply wrapping a paracord bracelet around your wrist, you have access to your own quasi- survival kit. Let’s say during your hike through the Black Forest in Southern Germany you get tired and cold and need to prepare a fire for the night. Aimlessly forgetting to pack a lighter, you luckily have a flint rod buckle (watch this video) attached to your bracelet. If there’s one thing that I’ve learned through my research on paracord products, it’s that the capabilities of a paracord bracelet are limitless.

Reason #2: It's (k)not too hard to store your paracord.

Image from Biohazard John

Before every family vacation since I was eight years old, my mom told me “remember, Jack, pack lightly.” That advice applied to vacations that lasted less than a week in length. Spending twelve months traveling, the guidance of my mother is even more applicable. It’s important to pack lightly as you will be frequently changing locations; the last thing you want to deal with is the burden of lugging around heavy bags. With a finite amount of room in your suitcase, fitting in a massive survival kit is impossible. Paracord, however, is quite easy to store. If you choose to wear paracord around you as a jewelry item, you don’t even have to worry about storage. However, if that’s not quite your style, the flexibility of paracord becomes an asset to you as you try to make room for all of your essential travel items. Easy to knot into compact items such as key fobs, paracord can also be cleverly stored in containers as shown below. The fact that paracord is so easy to store and adapts to your requirements becomes a major blessing as you travel during your gap year.

Reason #3: Are you going international? So is paracord.

Tom Hardy, British Actor

My buddy, Matt, recently returned from a semester abroad in Scotland. When asking him about his experience, he only had one complaint: he felt like an outsider at times. Adapting to foreign cultures and customs is the most notoriously difficult part of traveling across the world. Luckily, paracord can bridge that gap as it has become universal commonplace over recent years. Paracord—formally known as “parachute cord”—was originally solely used by the United States military. At the turn of the Second World War, paracord was utilized as the suspension line in parachutes, and military personnel began finding additional uses for this rope while in the field. Eventually making its way into the lives of the civilian population in the United States, too, in recent years paracord has also emerged on the international landscape. If you search “paracord” on Twitter, you’ll get a vivid picture of paracord’s massive fanbase across the world. With huge markets for paracord sales across Asia and Europe in particular, you are bound to see paracord bracelets being worn virtually anywhere you travel during your gap year. The community of paracord lovers is a tight-knit one, and it is not too farfetched to think that you will create a bond over paracord during your travels. Paracord’s popularity abroad is a blessing for travelers wearing paracord bracelets, necklaces, or earrings. 

As a young, healthy adult, now is the time to travel the world. When you do so, however, allow paracord to prepare you for anything you might encounter. Make sure to like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, add us to your Google+ circle, and check out our Pinterest boards to stay up-to-date on all things Paracord Planet, including contests and giveaways for FREE merchandise!!

Written by: Jackson Yakowicz, Paracord Planet Intern

Contact at jacksony@imsetc.com

For more of Jack's work, visit his full blog

Swinging for the Fences

Swinging for the Fences

How Paracord ties in with America's pastime

There are few memories I revisit more frequently than my first baseball game. I was eight years old when I first laid eyes on the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in downtown Minneapolis, and instantaneously fell in love. From the salty, sweet aroma of freshly popped kettle corn, to the shiny, new batting cages adjacent to the plaza, it would have been impossible for a Minnesotan kid like me to not become a die-hard Twins fan. One new stadium and thirteen years later, my fascination with the Twins, and with America’s pastime in general, is as prominent now as it was then. The most valuable lesson that I’ve learned from all of my years of baseball fandom is that the unexpected is always possible, and you can never be too prepared. Just look at the 2004 American League Championship between the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees. Down 3-0 in the series, the Red Sox became the first team in MLB history to dig their selves out of such a massive hole and emerge victorious. Analogously, paracord was revolutionized by like-minded individuals who believed anything can happen in life and thus preparedness is essential. We’re now about two months into the MLB season and this blogpost is dedicated to America’s rope, paracord, and America’s sport, baseball. 

MLB Paracord Bracelets

Image from Carolina Custom Cords

One of the uses of paracord that is too sparsely mentioned is its ability to help you express yourself. Pertaining to baseball, paracord bracelets that are being worn in the summer months can say a lot about the MLB team that you are cheering for. You wouldn’t be crazy enough to wear a black and yellow paracord bracelet in Phillies territory, would you?! Show your true colors with your paracord bracelet! Paracord Planet offers pre-assembled bracelets in the color schemes of ten separate MLB teams here.

Baseball-Themed Bracelets

Image from Etsy

Survival bracelets have their place on the diamond, as well. Just imagine if Bill Buckner had been wearing a paracord bracelet while he went down for that infamous groundball that snuck under his glove; maybe the extra weight on his wrist would have dropped the glove down enough to snag the ball. I apologize to all Red Sox fans that I just forced to revisit that moment. On a serious note, the baseball-themed bracelets have circulated as another way for ball players to express and identify themselves. All of the survival capabilities are simply added incentive. Here is a video tutorial that can teach you how to construct your own baseball-themed bracelet design. 

Baseball Monkey Fists

Image from Amy Gilbertson Peltz

The Monkey Fist is arguably the fiercest member of the paracord craft collection. Tying some 550 paracord around a small aluminum ball erects a destructive makeshift weapon that can hang from your lanyard or keychain. On our Facebook page for Paracord Planet, we host a weekly event called “Monday  Medley” that highlights submissions from our talented fans. One of our fans, Amy Gilbertson Peltz, created this awesome baseball-themed monkey fist. Although I wouldn’t suggest bringing this thing to the batting cages out of fear that it might shatter your bat, it still is an awesome accessory with a whole lot of hidden power.

Make sure to like Paracord Planet on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, add us to your Google + circle, and follow our boards on Pinterest to stay current on all things paracord, and to have the opportunity to participate in our giveaways and contests for FREE merchandise!!

Written by: Jackson Yakowicz, Paracord Planet Intern

Contact at jacksony@imsetc.com

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

Gone Fishing

Gone Fishing

Make sure to pack some paracord in your tacklebox

As a Minnesotan, I’m all too familiar with the significance of The Fishing Opener. The night before the perennial Governor’s Fishing Opener consists of searching for bait, relining of rods, and dreaming of reeling in that first walleye of the year. My first time fishing was with my father on Big Detroit in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. I remember the faint hiss of my fishing line as it pierced through the sky, the way my opaque bobber glistened in the morning sun, and the sheer ecstasy that I experienced upon my first catch. At risk of sounding corny with this obvious pun, I was hooked. Fishing is a pastime that is held near-and-dear in the hearts of many recreational activity aficionados. However, as is the case with all sports in this era, change is inevitable. Technology advances, new approaches are discovered, and word is spread. Here at Paracord Planet, we’ve never been shy about spreading the word. This blog post will focus on four ways that paracord can be used to help you increase your number of catches on your next fishing trip. 

1. Paracord Fishing Bracelet

Image from Paracordable

A new twist on a classic item, fishers who tweaked their survival bracelet to have further application out on the lake are experiencing remarkable benefits. Whether you are in a survival situation in which you need to fish for food, or you are out on the lake for lengthy hours and want some backup line and hooks, the fishing bracelet can be an extremely advantageous possession. The best part? The Paracord Fishing Bracelet is extremely easy to create. Instructions on how to create your own fishing bracelet can be found here. To see a Paracord Fishing Bracelet in action, watch this video.

2. Paracord Fishing Lure

Image from Paracord Forum

As far as I’m concerned, there are two types of people in the world: those who eat the crust of their pizza, and those who throw it away. Stay with me, here. In terms of paracord, you face a similar dilemma. Avid paracord crafters that buy in bulk are inevitably going to be left with a couple excess feet of paracord that they prematurely deem to be useless (the “crust” of a paracord hank). One great idea for this scrap paracord is to make a fishing lure. With a couple inches of cord and a hook, you have a very inexpensive addition to your tacklebox. Instructions on how to create your own fishing lure can be found here. To see a Paracord Fishing Lure in action, watch this video.

3. Paracord Fishing Line

Image from Instructables

As far as I’m concerned, there are two types of people in the world: those who eat the crust of their pizza, and those who throw it away. Stay with me, here. In terms of paracord, you face a similar dilemma. Avid paracord crafters that buy in bulk are inevitably going to be left with a couple excess feet of paracord that they prematurely deem to be useless (the “crust” of a paracord hank). One great idea for this scrap paracord is to make a fishing lure. With a couple inches of cord and a hook, you have a very inexpensive addition to your tacklebox. Instructions on how to create your own fishing lure can be found here. To see a Paracord Fishing Line in action, watch this video.

4. Paracord Fishing Net

Image from Ultimate Survival Tips

Some people are old school. Now, I’m not talking Will Ferrell and Vince Vaughn old school. I’m talking about the self-sufficient, “grocery store is cheating” individual who values a challenge; the type of person who would catch a fish with their bare hands if allotted the time, but settle for a net. Well, paracord can also be used to help this type of fisher! By conducting the same weave pattern that is more commonly used for making hammocks, a Paracord Fishing Net can also be built. Instructions on how to create your own fishing net can be found here. To see a Paracord Fishing Net in action, watch this video. 

Make sure to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to participate in our giveaways and contests and receive free paracord products!!

Written by: Jackson Yakowicz, Paracord Planet Intern

Contact at jacksony@imsetc.com

For More of Jack's work, visit his full blog.

Paracord: A Dog's Best Friend

Paracord: A Dog's Best Friend

A few ways paracord can please your pup

My mom thinks my Golden Retriever is a human. I’ve caught her on numerous occasions attempting to instigate conversations to no avail; “Riley, are you excited to go to the lake?!” Riley stands, aimlessly wagging his tail in response. For the majority of pet-lovers, the term “pet” doesn’t do our dogs justice. A dog is more so an extension to one’s family—a hairy, four-legged extension. Naturally, we wish to provide our dogs with the best equipment possible; that’s where paracord comes in. A handful of creative corders began crafting items such as leashes, collars, harnesses, and toys constructed with powerful paracord to both spoil and protect their pups. Listed below are five items that are guaranteed to put a slobbery smile on the face of your beloved dog:

1. Paracord Dog Leash

Take a walk on the not-so-wild side! Paracord Planet’s impeccable cord can withstand as much as 750 lbs. of pull with each single rope. That means that the next time your pooch attempts to run after the mailman, you don’t have to worry about a leash fraying, ripping, or slipping from your hands. A paracord dog leash will allow you to contain your dog’s energy and keep you, the walker, in control. To learn how to make your own paracord dog leash, click here.

Image from Paraco Shop

2. Paracord Dog Collar

Who says a dog can’t have fashion sense?! Equipping your pup with a stylish, handcrafted paracord collar is a surefire way to get all the other dogs on the block barking in sheer jealousy. Outside of the stylistic benefit, placing a paracord collar around your dog’s neck is a great way to make sure that you have easy access to even more survival cordage. The strength and durability of paracord is just an augmented benefit when it comes to these collars. You can almost guarantee that one hand-crafted collar will be enough to last your dog’s entire lifetime. To learn how to make your own paracord dog collar, click here.

Image from Survival Straps

3. Paracord Dog Harness

The same benefits that apply to a paracord collar can be reiterated in this section. Strength, durability, style, and further survival capabilities all combine to make constructing your harness with paracord a very sensible option. Let’s be honest, paracord has the innate power to make anything look better. For the aesthetically-concerned, a cord harness breeds a plethora of benefits. To learn how to make your own paracord dog harness, click here.

Image from Boxer Forums

4. Paracord Dog Toy

Up to this point, an indestructible dog toy seemed unfathomable. What kind of material could match the strength and relentlessness of a canine’s clutch? Paracord, of course. A paracord dog toy will be the ultimate test for your dog, entertaining it as it tries for hours on end to chew through the resistant cordage. Finally, you’ll have a toy that can withstand more than a few weeks of torment. These toys are often simple to make, and allow room for creativity as well. To learn how to make your own paracord dog toy, click here.

Image from Etsy

5. Paracord Dog

If nothing else, Paracord can simply become a friend for your dog. Look at this adorable paracord pooch!! To learn how to make your own paracord dog, click here.

Image from Instructables

Make sure to like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and add us to your Google + circle so you can participate in our giveaways and contests to receive free paracord products!

Written by: Jackson Yakowicz, Paracord Planet Intern

Contact Jack at jacksony@imsetc.com

For more of Jack's work, visit ParacordPlanet.com/Blog