While the U.S. military has no overall diameter requirements in its specifications, in the field 550 cord typically measures 5⁄32 inches (4 mm) in diameter.
Hikers and other outdoor sports enthusiasts sometimes use "survival bracelets" made of several feet of paracord which is woven into a compact and wearable form. Such bracelets are meant to be unraveled when one needs rope for whatever purpose—securing cargo, lashing together poles, fixing broken straps or belts, assisting with water rescues, controlling bleeding with a tourniquet, etc.Paracord can be braided and knotted into chunky, striking belts, cuffs and lanyards. In place of a buckle, a plastic clip or metal carbine can be added. As well as being hard-wearing and good-looking, these items have a further practical purpose. In a survival situation they can be unknotted and their paracord used.