How strong is a paracord bracelet?

[Irving]

This is the most common bracelet where you use one length of paracord, fold it in half, and tie it in knots. Bag has been hanging for two weeks and I've tested it by hanging from it about half a dozen times. I think this is a 75lb bag and I weigh at least 100 lbs.

[Scanker19]

We call it 550 cord in the army. Supposedly it has a 550lb rating of some sort.

[Mazin]

500lbs tinsel strength I think...Nice photos man you look like your comfortable with that heavy bag

[ray1970]

Well, a single length of cord is good for about 550 lbs. I imagine when you double it up and wrap it into a bracelet it will probably be good for nearly twice that amount or more.

[hghclsswhitetrsh]

You don't look near as sarcastic in that pic as you do in your posts.

[KevDen2005]

I also thought you would appear to be more sarcastic

[Irving]

You don't look near as sarcastic in that pic as you do in your posts.

I also thought you would appear to be more sarcastic

Perhaps if I put on some thick rimmed glasses.

I knew about the strength rating, but don't really have a realistic way to test it. Also, the cord feels like it has got a bit of stretch to it. I figured some photos ought to be a good example of strength. I got those rings at Ace Hardware for under a dollar each by the way. I couldn't find any welded D-rings like I wanted, so those round welded rings were all I had. Those rings are way too large because I was going to make a belt like I made for the wife's waist strap on her BOB. After thinking about how much cord that would take, I thought I'd just try the simple bracelet method and see how well it worked. I'm pretty happy with the result.

[SideShow Bob]

The "para-cord" has a natural stretch to it, weaved like it is you get more stretch than a single strand of the same total length do to the tightening of the knots if you will.
And as far as strength, knotting weakens rope and cord.

"Any knot in rope will weaken it. Knots with the greatest load applied to very sharp bends are weakest. The strongest knots spread the load gradually over some distance before there is a grip."
–  Charles Warner, A Fresh Approach to Knotting, 23

[Irving]

Good to know, thank you.

[patrick0685]

good info sideshow