How to Wrap a Parachute Cord

Whether skydiving for leisure or parachuting into a remote wilderness area, properly packing your parachute is of the utmost importance for a safe chute deployment and landing. Knowing how to properly wrap your parachute cord corresponds to packing the parachute itself. Twisted or overlapped parachute cord lines will ultimately tangle, knot or twist during deployment. This must be avoided at all costs as it will result in a parachute failure, and the impact will most likely cause death or serious injury.

Instructions

1. Open your parachute and lay it out flat in a mushroom shape with the opening at the top. Fan the sides of the parachute out.

2. Grab the parachute cord and lines all together and straighten them out bundled together. Pull them to the right of the chute in a straight line.

3. Fold the outer gores (sides) of the chute towards the center of the chute. Fold the chute towards the center and ensure that the chute, as folded, is 15 percent of the actual chute size.

4. Perform a Z pattern fold with the shoot by folding it into thirds. Hold your hand on the folded chute near the area where the cords connect to the shoot. Fold once over your hand, remove your hand then fold the third portion down.

5. Fold the chute fabric from the underside of the chute towards the top on both sides. The bottom of the chute should be smooth, without creases or folds, then make a crease in the center of the top of the folded chute.

6. Bring the bundled cord up along the crease and stop 1/3 from the end of the folded chute. Pull the cord down away from the chute. Fold the chute over onto the initial cord wrap at the crease. This will resemble a sandwich with the bundled cord protruding from the center.

7. Roll the cord lines onto the chute. At this point the chute will be wrapped into a cylinder shape. Wrap the cords around the chute while laying them out evenly next to one another. Stop wrapping when you reach the end of the chute. Do not overlap the cords. They should be wrapped side by side along the length of the chute.

Tips & Warnings

• Consult an experienced parachuter or skydiver for proper instruction on how to wrap your parachute cord around the parachute. All parachutes are manufactured with different styles and designs, with different lengths of cord.

• Do not attempt to parachute without proper instruction and supervision.

References

• fruitychutes.com: How to Pack a Parachute
• askleona.com: Paracord Uses
• countycomm.com: 550 Paracord/Parachute Cord