The ParaPull is an ingenious block and tackle pulley system scaled down to work with common 550 paracord. It fits in your pocket and gives you a 6:1 mechanical advantage over any heavy object.

Correction: I state in the video that the ParaPull provides a 7:1 mechanical advantage; in actual fact it's a 6:1. Sorry.

Paracord is one of those ubiquitous things you'll find in the supply closet of any avid outdoorsman. Parachute Cord is a lightweight, nylon rope first employed to rig parachutes during World War II. "550" or "Type 3" cord encloses seven strands of nylon string inside a braided outer shell and can hold up to 550 lbs of weight. It does stretch though, so never use it to climb or suspend a person by their body.

You can use it to rig a hammock, tie down a tent, lash things to your car or truck or in about a million other incredibly useful ways around vehicles, boats, the campsite or even your home. This is all probably a little remedial; you likely already have some paracord in your truck, pack or boat.

And now, you can use paracord to lift heavier objects than you'd be capable of lifting on your own. Block and tackles employ pulleys to leverage simple mechanical advantage to reduce the input force required to achieve lift. When you pull the parapull, the end of the rope you pull moves six times the distance of the lifting action taking place, making it that many times easier.

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The parapull carries a max load rating of 450 lbs, which is a lot of capability for 5-inch x 8-inch device which weighs only 1.8 lbs, including the 100 feet of paracord it ships with, along with a couple of high-capacity straps you can use to attach a load.

You could use it to load heavy logs into your truck; to recover a motorcycle or ATV crashed into a ravine, off-road; during the maintenance of remote trails or in building a remote, difficult-to-access structure out in the woods. Around the house, you could use it to lift the top off your jeep or to pull heavy DIY goods up to a second story. Hunters will be able to use it to hang, drain and process large game.

Made from billet aluminum and incorporating three carabiners which are each rated to 5,000 lbs, the ParaPull feels much more capable than its 450lbs rating suggests. That limitation likely comes from the paracord and is also likely conservative.

I'll be throwing the ParaPull into the bottom of my panniers for an adventure motorcycle ride through British Colombia next month. I hope I don't have to use it, but knowing I'll be able to recover a big, heavy bike from a difficult spot without seeking out help is very reassuring.

Photos and Video: Chris Brinlee Jr.

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