It seems that the past few years have ushered in a resurgence of all things paracord. This is certainly not a complaint, as paracord can be useful in a very wide range of situations. For the hiker or outdoorsman, it is cordage that can be used to build a shelter, keep gear off the ground, fashion a tourniquet, and much more.
However, without really serving a functional purpose, it mainly becomes a fashion statement. Paracord watch bands, paracord key fobs, paracord necklaces, paracord lanyards, and paracord beer koozies. Okay, so maybe I could give that last one a check in the box for functionality!
Shifting back to those of us that spend any amount of time outdoors, 1Tac has created just the product for us. Their Paracord Survival Bracelet and Keychain has all the survival bells and whistles that you would expect to find packed in a hiking bag or day pack, all in one package.
The bracelet itself is all black, with 9 feet of the 7-strand paracord wrapped in about 7 inches of length. On the buckle end, you have a dime-sized thermometer that ranges from -20 to 50 degrees Celsius. Below that is a smaller compass, which has worked flawlessly for me, despite being beaten up a little.
Across from the compass is a survival whistle, which only requires that you hold your wrist up to your lips. Despite being so small, the whistle is surprisingly ear-piercing, so I doubt you’ll have a hard time being heard. On the backside of the buckle is a removable 8 function multi-tool, which is a little smaller than a normal razor blade.
Typical tools for this are screwdrivers, wrenches, and scraper tools. Although thin, the tool is very strong and has held up to repeated use. A stainless steel striker protruding from the end of the buckle can be used to cut your bracelet or strike the ferro rod on the clip side. The ferro rod can be found between the two plastic clasps that insert into the buckle. About an inch long, it has held up to repeated strikes without losing effectiveness. I was pleasantly surprised by the density of sparks this thing puts out.
As for the bracelet, the only difference is the lack of multi-tool, compass, and thermometer. The length of cord on this is about 5.5 inches, with 7 feet of total cordage. A stainless steel key ring is attached to the buckle, with the opposite end of the keychain having a stainless steel carabiner clip.
Overall, I have nothing but good things to say about these two products. At first glance, I was unsure if I would really appreciate them since there are so many paracord bracelets out there. Fortunately for me, these products really pack a punch with the amount of items I was carrying. The bracelet never felt awkward to wear, and everything just felt really solid. Both the bracelet and keychain can be purchased separately from 1Tac for $19.95
Gear seen in this article:
1Tac Paracord Survival Bracelet
1Tac Paracord Survival Keychain
Maxpedition Doppelduffel Adventure Bag
Author – Rodney Pointer is a former Army Infantryman. After graduating from Airborne School, he was ruthlessly assigned to Fort Polk, Louisiana to live out his days as a dirty leg. He served with the 2nd BN, 30th Infantry of the 4th Brigade, 10th Mountain Division. Following his deployment to Afghanistan, he received a Bachelor’s