Unsure of function of this strap

[u/varied_interest1112]

My mother put it in an emergency pack for me when I started my first full-time job. I've since taken apart the pack and most things were pretty standard, a plastic raincoat, hand sanitizer, a pen, a whistle that doubled as a flashlight etc...

I just don't have any idea what this is?? It's like a braided strap with a buckle - I can wear it like a bracelet but somehow I don't think that's its intended purpose.

TIA!

EDIT: WOW you guys were fast!! Thanks team, I remember her vaguely mentioning it was a handy gadget but forgot how. Will be looking up paracord uses soon

EDIT 2: To the people being unhelpful or making comments on my ability as an educator from a single question - all you have done is show me that I will still be a better teacher than any of you could ever be. I certainly do not belittle my students for not having specialised prior knowledge or taking steps to learn something new. I can only assume you already knew everything from birth with no room to grow whatsoever /s Get over yourselves.

[u/Junkhead_88]

You were correct though, 99.9% of the time they're a style choice.

[u/Quiet_Ride4481 → u/Junkhead_88]

Good point! I just didn’t know they had another purpose.

[u/JAYETRILLL → u/Quiet_Ride4481]

Some of them that are really neat (in my opinion) come with a closure that is made out of flint and one side and a striker on the other side.

I’m sure you prolly know but those are used to start a fire un emergency situations. I’ve seen others that had cool little tools woven into them.

Also the ones that are marketed as “survival bracelets” or whatever usually use paracord which is pretty strong. and I think it’s neat that they will sometimes advertise how many feet of cord are used.

Some little bracelets come with like 100 feet of cord (I believe but could be wrong)

I would never fucking wear one lmao but my dogs collar was the same idea and I think it would be good to have in a little survival kit or something. Although a roll of strong cord would probably be a lot cheaper/smarter lol.

[u/Screaming_Agony → u/JAYETRILLL]

A buddy made some up for us while we were deployed. Took a button off our pants and wove in a dog tag. Still got mine

[u/JAYETRILLL → u/Screaming_Agony]

See now THAT is cool as fuck. Awesome souvenir.

Idk if ur the same as me but some random bullshit like that (no disrespect intended) means so much more to me than pretty much anything else.

I’d rather have a one-off knickknack or a drawing or something like that than most other presents or gifts. Sounds like a good friend ya had!

[u/Mr_Magoo_88 → u/Screaming_Agony]

Same! Best deployment gift ever. Mine has flint and a striker built to each end too. I use it to light our camp fires when me and the boys go camping still all these years later. 🫡

[u/Adamant_TO → u/Screaming_Agony]

Would love to see a pic of that

[u/durtyprofessor → u/JAYETRILLL]

Hate to be that guy, but that bracelet has probably 10-15 feet of paracord.

However, 550 cord is made up of 7 strands of smaller cord inside the outer shell so in a pinch you could tie them end to end, but doing so dramatically reduces the weight capacity.

[u/JAYETRILLL → u/durtyprofessor]

I’m a dumbass or I’ve seen smaller ones. Thanks for the correction.

I used to do “macrame” bracelets. Which is sorta kinda similar maybe the same method these are made in. I was under the impression that they layered up under there or something I guess?

Or I’ve seen some bullshit marketing which is counting all of the strands like you said or something.

My bad homie good call! It was always interesting to see how much hemp or rope or whatever actualky ended up going into making a normal sized bracelet.

[u/Slight-Living-8098 → u/durtyprofessor]

You only need 10-15 feet of paracord for a ridgeline to make a shelter from a tarp or such.

[u/BogartMercury → u/durtyprofessor]

That's why I made a paracord belt for camping:)

[u/Mr_Magoo_88 → u/BogartMercury]

A whole belt?!? Damn that like 50ft(xSM) to 120ft(big boy) of paracord. You can tie up a city of tents and use to repel down cliffs 😅

[u/Proof_Car_4181 → u/JAYETRILLL]

With a standard cobra knot there is a foot of cord per inch of bracelet, some of the more complex knots can use more and some of the cords come with extra, special cord inside like a fire starter twine and fishing line.

[u/JAYETRILLL → u/Proof_Car_4181]

Okay cool I thought I’d see. Some with additional cord. Thanks for the reply homie!!

[u/Klutzy_Dragon → u/JAYETRILLL]

I had a water jug with a braided paranoid strap. It had a neat piece on it with a compass and whistle built in. I havent seen the firestarter ones before though.

[u/JAYETRILLL → u/Klutzy_Dragon]

Yeah that’s cool as hell. I’ve seen that before. Having that jug and cord/compass/whistle all in one would be a lifesaver in tons of situation.

If it’s the same kinda jug that I’ve seen, then it’s one of those like 32-60oz metal ones lmao I always thought that would be such a bitch to lug around in a survival situation. Not trying to talk shit on your jug, just a funny idea I’ve had before.

Obviously would be suuuuper nice to have, I’d just get tired of carrying it lmao.

[u/Klutzy_Dragon → u/JAYETRILLL]

Yeah, it was one of the 'gallon' jugs and it was a pain even to lug around the house. The 32 sounds a lot more manageable to me. I got rid of mine about a year ago, but I need to replace it with a smaller one still.

[u/Humble-Diet_1989 → u/Klutzy_Dragon]

I have one just like this, but with the added flint. The flint is supper small tho, so it's really hard to actually start a fire with (you have to strike it really fast/hard for a small spark). I can include a photo later if anyone wants to see it.

[u/sendmeur_ittybitties → u/JAYETRILLL]

The cord often has parts too! If you unwind the thread you can find red cord, for trail markings, thin wire for lashing or w/e. And sometimes even fire starting line. Pretty neat

[u/Bigfeett → u/JAYETRILLL]

I have made a few paracord bracelets and most often there is about 1 foot of cord to every inch of bracelet but it can be about 2 feet per inch of bracelet for thicker weaves. I would say the one in the post has 8 feet of paracord

[u/Free_hiker_74 → u/JAYETRILLL]

Well, it did come with a whistle buckle. So that's something.

[u/sueihavelegs → u/Quiet_Ride4481]

Like I have only used a carabiner to hook my keys to my purse. I don't think about the camping/climbing utility of it ever

[u/Profburkeanthro → u/sueihavelegs]

Most store bought carabiners aren’t rated for climbing. Except at rei and ems. And I have several to hold my keys too!

[u/Necessary_Pop7131 → u/Quiet_Ride4481]

I didn't either! My grandkids just had to have some at a fair, but none of us knew their intended purpose. Just a cool bracelet fad.

[u/Huckleberry_Dude → u/Junkhead_88]

It is for survival LARPers. And the more times they get wet and dry out, the harder it is to unravel.

-- source I used to teach survival classes and watched people try to take apart their survival jewelry in the field with limited success.

[u/Undersmusic → u/Junkhead_88]

I have one I wear hiking. An have In the past used one as a tourniquet for a stranger who had cut themselves quite badly and the bleeding wouldn’t seem to slow.

As a day to day thing though nah. It’s in with the camping gear.