Kevlar Cord

[Lynn LeFey]

After reading about the Seal Team Six Survival Kit, I was curious if Kevlar Cord was any good.

I didn't have any cordage with me, and decided to give this stuff a shot, so ordered a piece off of Amazon.

I haven't done much testing with it, but it's supposedly 200lb strength, and very heat resistant. I couldn't get a piece to snap from pulling it (using two MTs for handles so I didn't cut my hands).

As I don't intend to use it for long-duration projects, the potential degradation from exposure to UV is really not important to me. I also don't see a real need to cut out of flex cuffs with it. I found it interesting that it'd cut through paracord, and may attempt to see how it might work with friction fire starting.

Worst case, it's $15 wasted in a nifty piece of string.

[Dr Gonzo]

I bought a big spool of Kevlar cord on the bay...http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-1000ft-Kevlar-fiber-large-kite-line-string-200LB-/270846633137?pt=Outdoor_Toys_Structures_US&hash=item3f0fb7a4b1
It is super strong but not coated like the small spools I've seen on EDC/Survival sites.
Have you seen the Technora Cord? it has a 450lb breaking strain, Ru Titley over on British Blades used so to cut through quite a thick branch
I've seen last ditch kits in Go-Tube set up for neck carry using Technora with break away fasteners...



EDIT...Image added

[ironraven]

It has it's place, but I don't keep any around.

Upside: Very strong for the diameter and fire and friction resistant.

Downside: Expensive, and it's often problematic because it's so much stronger than the material it's being used on so it cuts through the cloth under strain.

Honestly, for the money, I use Spiderwire, which is a a braided fishing line made of spectra fibers. Doesn't have quite the UV resistance, and it's not much more heat resistant than nylon, but I think on balance it works nearly as well for a third the cost. And I can get it at any big box store with a sporting goods department.

If you're looking for some, look for it as kite string, not as "survival thread" or that kind of thing. You'll save yourself enough to pay for shipping.

[dmanuel]

Technora is what I use on my winches for my 4x4's and is some amazing stuff. You should also check into Amsteel, it's used a lot in hammock camping and is quite amazing. You can get it as small as 7/64" with a 1600 lb breaking limit!

Edit:

You also might look into Dynaglide. That stuff has a 1000 lb limit and is 1.8mm in size.

[av8r1]

Amsteel Blue isn't really a "keep a hank of it around for whatever" utility cord because of it's properties.  It's slippery and it doesn't like having it's fibers crushed, so it doesn't take too kindly to knots. Instead, it's made for splicing.  Amsteel is best used for very specific, intentional uses, like hammock suspensions.  I've got a couple 7/16" whoopie slings around here somewhere, and they work surprisingly well.  They also make great tow ropes and winch cables because they're lighter in weight and more flexible than steel. They make it in huge diameters for the marine industry.  It's as strong as steel, but it floats. It just isn't as versatile in an everyday situation as paracord.

[dmanuel]

Amsteel Blue isn't really a "keep a hank of it around for whatever" utility cord because of it's properties.  It's slippery and it doesn't like having it's fibers crushed, so it doesn't take too kindly to knots. Instead, it's made for splicing.  Amsteel is best used for very specific, intentional uses, like hammock suspensions.  I've got a couple 7/16" whoopie slings around here somewhere, and they work surprisingly well.  They also make great tow ropes and winch cables because they're lighter in weight and more flexible than steel. They make it in huge diameters for the marine industry.  It's as strong as steel, but it floats. It just isn't as versatile in an everyday situation as paracord.

  Good point av8r1. I was just trying to throw some other slightly unusual items out there

[Aloha]

^^^

Who knew all this stuff existed  .  I'm now off to utube to watch some vids on this interesting "cordage" "string" "rope" stuff. 

[av8r1]

Amsteel Blue isn't really a "keep a hank of it around for whatever" utility cord because of it's properties.  It's slippery and it doesn't like having it's fibers crushed, so it doesn't take too kindly to knots. Instead, it's made for splicing.  Amsteel is best used for very specific, intentional uses, like hammock suspensions.  I've got a couple 7/16" whoopie slings around here somewhere, and they work surprisingly well.  They also make great tow ropes and winch cables because they're lighter in weight and more flexible than steel. They make it in huge diameters for the marine industry.  It's as strong as steel, but it floats. It just isn't as versatile in an everyday situation as paracord.

  Good point av8r1. I was just trying to throw some other slightly unusual items out there

One other thing I'd like to mention:  There is a difference between "Amsteel" and "Amsteel blue." They are different products.  Get on hammockforums.com and when they say "Amsteel" they mean "Amsteel blue."  I have no experience with plain amsteel, just the single-braid blue variety (which, confusingly, comes in several colors). There is a thin static (no stretch) rope that I think is made of dyneema or spectra or something wrapped in a nylon sheath for abrasion resistance and enough friction for knots.

[NKlamerus]

I'm surprised I found this thread.

I have 4" Amsteel Blue for a tow strap. I keep it in the bed of my truck. The little black thing you see is a Playstation 2 Controller