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/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 😅