Survival bracelets are a pretty essential tool for any adventure into the great outdoors. They’re lightweight, durable, and can be used in a huge variety of ways, and as any experienced outdoorsman or survivalist would tell you, lightweight-ness and versatility are two of the most important factors when deciding what to bring with you on any trek or journey.
The best survival bracelets are so lightweight and can be used in so many ways that there’s really no reason not to have one with you at all times.
Best Overall
The Friendly Swede Trilobite Extra Beefy Paracord Survival Bracelet
What makes them so great? Most survival bracelets are made from the same super-strong lightweight nylon which has been used for parachute cords for many years (very imaginatively, they decided to call this material “paracord“).
The use cases of the best survival bracelets are endless. Most of the time, having one with you will help make your venture into the wilderness a little bit easier and a little bit more stress free. In other situations, having a survival bracelet could actually mean the difference between life and death. To see some of the ways that you can put your survival bracelet to good use, click here.
The reason you want to have a survival bracelet with you is the same reason you want a survival knife or multitool with you. Just like having a multitool can prove useful in a range of situations, having a long stretch of paracord could end up being a lifesaver in the wilderness.
Now that you know why you want to have a survival bracelet with you on any excursion, here are the best survival bracelets on the market:
The Best Survival Bracelets
Features:
- Made of 11 feet (3.5 meters) of patented SurvivorCord
- Waxed jute, fishing line, and conductive utility wire (for trapping) inside core
- Trilobite weave pattern
- Stainless steel bow shackle
- Minimal tensile strength of 550 lbs
- 100% satisfaction no-hassle lifetime guarantee
This bracelet from Titan measures in at over 11ft, meaning you’ll get plenty of cord for your outdoor expedition. It’s made of Titan’s patented SurvivorCord, which is an improved version of the typical paracord survivor bracelets you’ll see available. It’s patented, so no other company has access to this material.
Inside the core of the cord are three additional types of thread – a waxed jute for starting fires, a fishing line, and a utility wire that can be used for electrical conduction, building traps, tripwires, and so forth.
You’re paying a little bit extra for the SurvivorCord, which is why this is our premium choice survival bracelet – but every extra dollar is worth it. Titan uses only the finest materials and pays special attention to construction. The result is an ultra strong survival bracelet – you can rest assured your bracelet isn’t going to fall apart while you’re out in the wild. It’s ultra durable and the best in its class.
It’s our #1 choice for the best survival bracelet and we highly recommend it. However if you end up buying it and not liking it for whatever reason – well, just return it. Titan offers a lifetime guarantee that allows you hassle free return and refund.
Titan also happens to be an American, veteran-owned company. We know many of our readers are vets and thought this might type the scales in their favor if you’re not already convinced.
If you’re looking for the best quality, there’s no other choice. It doesn’t necessarily have the bells and whistles some of the other best survival bracelets have, but it does what survival bracelet is supposed to do, and it does it extremely well. For all these reasons, we highly recommend the Titan Survival Bracelet.
Check price of the Titan Paracord Survival Bracelet
- Made of patented superstrong SurvivorCord
- Waxed jute, fishing line, and utility wire allow for amazing versatility
- 11 feet of cord provides plenty of length
- Comes in four (flexible) sizes so it works for everyone
- Lifetime guarantee and hassle-free return policy
- Made by a veteran owned, American company
- Doesn’t have additional features (compass, firestarter, etc)
- Slightly more expensive, which is why it’s our premium choice
Features:
- Extra beefy trilobite weave
- 13.1 ft (4 meters) of paracord
- 550 lbs tensile strength
- Spare bolt pin included
- Polyester material designed to perform well in wet conditions
- Comes in three sizes (with adjustable shackle)
- Lifetime warranty
This survival bracelet from The Friendly Swede is our favorite of all their paracord bracelet products because it’s the toughest and provides you with the most cord. The trilobyte weave and amount of cord (13.1 ft or 4 meters) means you get a bit more bang for your buck in terms of the thing you actually want – the paracord itself. The polyester material is designed to perform better in wet conditions, which is great for the outdoors.
We also think this is probably the most comfortable survival bracelet out there – even the best survival bracelets can sometimes be a little uncomfortable on your wrist as paracord is quite tough, durable material which has some stiffness to it. This discomfort is usually particularly noticeable on initial use. This Extra Beefy Bracelet from The Friendly Swede however sits comfortably on the wrist, making it extremely suitable for EDC (every day carry). The additional bolt pin is a nice added touch.
This paracord bracelet also comes with a lifetime warranty, which effectively makes it a risk free purchase. While we slightly prefer our pick for premium choice survival bracelet (Titan Survivor Bracelet), the The Friendly Swede’s Extra Beefy Bracelet is a no-frills option that does the thing it’s supposed to very well, and it comes at a great price, which is why it’s our pick for best survival bracelet overall.
Check price of the TFS Extra Beefy Survival Bracelet
- Excellent amount of cordage at 13.1 feet / 4 meters
- Extra beefy trilobite weave
- Polyester paracord material designed to do well even in wet conditions
- Super comfortable
- Comes in three adjustable sizes, and a spare bolt pin is included
- Lifetime warranty
- Good value, our choice for best survivor bracelet overall.
- Low on features – compass, firestarter, no additional threads/wires. You’re just getting the cord here
- Some users reported difficulty using the bolt pin to secure the bracelet
Features:
- 5-in-1 feature-rich survival bracelet
- Includes compass, flint fire starter, fire scraper, and emergency whistle
- 550lbs tensile strength
- 12 feet of cord (3.6 m)
- 7 internal strands to use as fishing line, sewing thread, etc.
- Multiple colors and sizes
Stylish, and built with survival in mind, this paracord bracelet from A2S Protection is unique because of its multiple additional emergency-ready features. On top of the cord itself, it includes a compass, a firestarting magnesium rod, a fire ‘scrapper’ for scraping against this rod that also can serve as a knife in a pinch, and an emergency whistle.
This survival bracelet also includes 7 internal strands that can be used as a fishing line, sewing thread, etc. There’s 12 feet of cord in total, and comes in multiple colors and sizes.
The A2S K2-Peak is basically 5 tools in one, which makes it great value – even better, for roughly the same price, you get two survival bracelets rather than one. That’s why it’s our choice for the best value survival bracelet. All of the included features are useful and practical, and it’s clear that the manufactures have put thought into what to include into the K2-Peak.
If you’re looking for a excellent value survival bracelet that comes with a bunch of extra bells and whistles, this is the right choice for you.
Check price of the A2S Protection Paracord Bracelet K2-Peak
- Feature rich in comparison to our top two picks
- Well thought out, all the included tools are useful
- 7 internal strands allows for extra versatility
- Excellent value – comes with two bracelets.
- Comes in multiple colors
- Multiple sizes (some are adjustable)
- Some buyers complained about quality and size of the compass
- Placement of the “fire scraper” not ideal
- Construction quality can vary
Features:
- 9-in-1 multifunctional survival bracelet
- Comes with tinder, fire starter, fishing hooks and fishing line
- Also comes with safety pins, eye knife, weights, swivel, and floats
- Slim design
- Lifetime warranty
This multifunctional paracord survival bracelet is The Friendly Swede’s answer to all the ‘X-in-1’ competitors that have sprang up in the survival bracelet space. It features an astonishing 9-in-1 feature set, including some of the common ones like fire starter, tinder and mini-knife, but also comes with multiple fishing features, safety pins, and swivel.
This appears to be a relatively new addition to TFS’s product line, but it appears to be a success. They’ve managed to combine the thing we like most about their other survival bracelets (high quality, high strength paracord) with some of the features that their competitors are offering.
The only drawbacks are that it only comes in one size (as of right now) and only one color. If it fits you though, this is an excellent choice for a survival bracelet, and if we start to see more feedback from other users, it’s likely that this offering from The Friendly Swede will rise in this list.
Check price of the TFS Multi Functional Paracord Bracelet
- 9-in-1 features are best in class
- Comes with: firestarter, tinder, fish hook, fishing line, eye knife, weights, safety pins, floats, and swivel
- Paracord is as good as always with The Friendly Swede
- Lifetime warranty
- Only comes in one color and size
- Not suitable for children due to sharp objects in features
- Doesn’t include compass
Features:
- 4-in-1 survival bracelet
- Comes with flint firestarter + scraper, compass, and whistle
- 7 strand paracord
- Comes in a set of twos
- Multiple colors and sizes
This survival bracelet from X-Plore Gear is a very tempting proposition, due to the very reasonable pricing(currently under $10) and the number of features it includes. It comes with a flint fire starter, a fire scraper, compass, and whistle. It many respects it is extremely similar to the A2S K2-Peak above. Just like the K2-Peak, it also comes in a pack of two.
It comes in multiple colors and sizes, and is another great value pick if you’re looking for a less expensive survival bracelet. The paracord itself is also very durable, so you can use it in a variety of situations comfortably without worrying about fraying or snapping.
There were some concerns about the sizing of the bracelets – some users reported that they didn’t fit as expected, so if you choose the X-Plore Gear Emergency Bracelet, make sure you read some of the reviews to find the right size for you. Also, some users found the firestarter too small to be effective, and the compass quality seems to be inconsistent.
Check price of the X-Plore Gear Emergency Paracord Bracelets
- Multiple useful features included
- Firestarter, fire scraper, compass, and whistle would all be useful in an emergency
- Great value
- Multiple colors and sizes
- Stylish design
- Some users complained about the accuracy of the stated sizing
- Inconsistent quality compass
- Firestarter too small
Features:
- 5-in-1 feature set
- Includes fire starter, compass, emergency knife, and whistle
- Adjustable one-size-fits-all sizing
- 12 feet (3.6 meters) of paracord
- Comes in a 2 pack
The Atomic Bear Paracord Bracelet bears some similarities to the other feature-rich options on the list, with one exception – this bracelet is one-size fits all, and is fully adjustable to fit any wrist. Some of the other bracelets on the market have had complaints about the sizing being off, so with the Atomic Bear, you know that whatever size your wrist is, it will fit well and be comfortable, which is a plus.
With good durability, good cord length, and multiple useful features, the Atomic Bear is a solid choice if you’re looking for a good all-around survival bracelet.
Check price of the Atomic Bear Paracord Bracelet
- Multiple features included
- One-size-fits-all adjustable sizing
- Firestarter, knife, compass, whistle (and the cord itself)
- Comes in a pack of two
- Only one color option – one black, and one orange/black hybrid.
- Both compass and firestarter seem to be inconsistent
Features:
- Unique fish tail design
- High quality Friendly Swede paracord
- Adjustable sizing
- 5.25 feet (1.6 meters)
- Multiple colors available
- Lifetime warranty
The Friendly Swede’s Fish Tail Paracord Survival Bracelet is simple, straightforward, and affordable. It comes as a bundle of 2, and doesn’t have any particular extra features – just 5.25 feet of paracord. The key things we like about TFS’s Fish Tail bracelets are that they look great, they comes in a pack of two (so per-bracelet it works out cheaper than their other offerings), and their the same high quality paracord that we loved about the their Extra Beefy Trilobite Survival Bracelet. It’s also backed by the same lifetime warranty.
The Fish Tails are perfect for a couple who go hiking on the weekends, or for a family camping trip. If you’re doing longer, more dangerous, or more difficult outdoor excursions/treks, then you’d probably want to go for something heftier (and longer) so you have more paracord to work with in a true emergency. For less “hardcore” outdoor folks, these survival bracelets from TFS are a great choice thanks to their affordability and quality.
Check price of the Friendly Swede Fish Tail Survival Bracelets
- Unique & stylish fish tail design
- High quality paracord
- Semi-adjustable size
- Comes in a pack of two (perfect for couples)
- More affordable than other TFS bracelets
- Lifetime warranty
- No extra features
- Length of cord per-bracelet is only 5.25 feet
Features:
- 500 lb tensile strength
- Unique knife design
- Multiple colors available
The RNS Star Knife survival bracelet is the only paracord bracelet on the list that has a good sized knife built into it. Other multi-feature bracelets have tiny ‘scrapers’ that can act as small knives in a pinch, but this bracelet from RNS Star comes with a larger knife that, well, actually feels like a knife.
It’s not the best bracelet on the list, and the company that manufactures it is very clearly not American, but we like the unique design so we’ve decided to include it.
Check price of the RNS STAR Paracord Knife Survival Bracelet
- Unique knife design
- Comes in multiple colors
- Comfortable and durable
- 500 lbs strength is lower than most other paracord
- Only one size available
- Some users have mentioned the knife doesn’t easily come free
Buying Guide To Choose The Best Survival Bracelet
There are a few key factors to bear in mind when choosing the best survival bracelet for your specific situation and needs.
Cord Strength
One of the key variables with paracord survival bracelets is the paracord material itself. In some cases, companies have proprietary materials (such as Titan’s SurvivorCord). In other cases, they’ll use the same material that’s typically referred to as paracord. These materials also have different tensile strengths – we’ve included this number when it’s mentioned by the manufacturers. Tensile strength tends to be between 500 and 550 lbs.
Cord Length
The key thing you’re buying when you pick up a survival bracelet is the paracord material, so you really want as much of it as possible (for the same price). Different bracelets work out to different lengths of cord, ranging from 5 feet to about 13 feet. We recommend going with longer cordage. We’ve tried to include total cord length where that information is available. In cases where this information isn’t available, you should assume cord length is probably between 7 and 10 feet, and if the survival bracelet comes in a two pack, you’re probably looking at closer to 7 feet rather than 10.
Sizing
Some survival bracelets come in different sizes, some don’t. Some are adjustable is size, and some aren’t. Make sure you know roughly what size your wrist is an purchase accordingly – you don’t want to buy bracelets and have none of them fit. Keep an eye on the measurements given for each product size, and make sure you know how adjustable (or not) the product you’re buying is.
Features
When considering which survival bracelet to buy, you should take into account what features you’re looking for. Our personal preference are survival products that do the thing they’re supposed to really well – this is reflected in our rankings, where our top two choices aren’t that feature rich, but feature higher quality construction and materials.
On the other hand, some people prefer products with more features – in the case of the best survival bracelets, you can get anything from compasses to knives to emergency whistles. One thing we will note is that in reviewing the various survival bracelets available on the market, we’ve found that the extra features can be hit or miss from a consistency stand point, so if you’re looking at one of these multi-functional survival bracelets, make sure you take this into account.
Price
Of course, the price is important for obvious reasons, but it’s worth considering how many bracelets you will want to take with you.
If you’re on a budget, then maybe a pack of two bracelets for under $15 is what you should invest in. That way, you will have more than enough paracord for whatever your survival needs. Conversely, if you want to buy the best survival bracelet in terms of quality of material and construction, and you don’t particularly care about the cost, then there’s an obvious choice (the #1 on this list). It all depends on the duration of time you’ll be outdoors, and how much paracord you anticipate needing, plus how much you care that you’re getting absolutely the best materials, construction, and service (some of these products have great guarantees/warranties and some don’t).
Designs/Colors
Some brands and products only offer a single color, whereas others provide multiple colors (and color combos in the case of the 2-packs). Designs also vary between each bracelet, with some offering bulkier bracelets, and some offering more aesthetically pleasing designs. Obviously how something looks is very much subjective, so just go with a design and a color that you feel looks good.
Ways to Use a Survival Bracelet
Set up camp
One of the most important uses of the survival bracelet, and one that is nearly always going to be a priority, is setting up camp. You’re out in the woods, nightfall is rapidly approaching and you need somewhere to sleep. Yet, there’s no shelter in sight. Luckily, you have your survival bracelet on hand to make your own shelter.
If you’re crafty enough to assemble a lean-to shelter structure out of wood that you find, then the survival bracelet can be the glue that keeps it all together. The cord of a survival bracelet is more than capable of tying up branches and twigs to ensure your homemade shelter lasts the night. If you’re building a lean to or other kind of improvised shelter, you need something that will be strong enough to hold pieces of wood together tightly. That’s where your paracord bracelet comes in.
With any luck, you’ll make a shelter that even Bear Grylls would be proud of. Definitely a worthy use of a survival bracelet and perhaps even reason alone to invest in one.
Catch your next meal
There are multiple ways of self-sustaining while you’re out in the woods, and setting snares and traps for wild animals is one of them (for pre-built traps, we have an article about the best coyote traps here). If you’re someone who wants to be prepared for all eventualities, or you’re just an avid outdoorsman who likes to practice your survival skills regularly, then knowing trap small game is a key skill. It’s a way that you can sustain yourself in the wild with minimal equipment.
Funnily enough, one of those pieces of equipment is your paracord survival bracelet. Without a survival bracelet, would you be able to find some kind of improvised rope or string in the wild to use in a trap? Vines and other possibilities come with a big drawback – they fray and break. That won’t happen to your paracord survival bracelet unless whatever your trapping weighs more than 500 lbs and is somehow hanging from a single cord.
Use it as fishing line
Another way to feed yourself in the wild that can also be a lot of fun is fishing.
But fishing for fun is different from fishing for food. If you’re fishing for food (and you’re not a professional who works on a boat) then you probably didn’t expect to have to fish for food. That means you don’t have a rod, you don’t have a line, bait, or anything else. It’s not practical to take all your fishing gear out with you every time you go into the wild.
A small survival bracelet, on the other hand, is definitely something you can have with you every time you venture out into the wilderness. From the threads in your paracord bracelet, you can improvise a fishing line. You just need any half-decent stick as a rod and some bait and you can start fishing. Some survival bracelets even come with fish hooks and weights built in, which makes fishing even easier.
If you don’t know how to fish, you could also improvise a net to catch fish provided you have enough total cordage.
Here are some other things you can do with the best survival bracelets:
- Tying up loose gear
- Use threads for sutures or sewing
- Improvise a splint for a broken bone
- Hang an animal (or clothing) for drying
- Create a trip wire around your camp to alert you of animals (or people)
- Use as an improvised tourniquet to stop bleeding
- Start a fire with the bow-drill method
- Improvised bow and arrow
- Marking a trail for navigation
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