Rocky Mountain Para Design gives parachute cord new looks, uses

SAGLE — The multi-use parachute cord that Michael Wells used regularly during his tours in Iraq is helping him set up a new life stateside.

The two-time veteran of the Iraq War returned from his duties as an operator of M1 Abrams tanks suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. After moving to Idaho to be near family, Wells needed to find an hobby to pass the time and take his mind off his experiences overseas.

That’s when he picked up a length of parachute cord and used it outside of military purposes for the first time. After his wife Amber discovered creative applications for the cord on the Internet, he began designing key fobs, bracelets and lanyards.

“It started out as just something that I could do to relax,” Wells said. “It wasn’t until later that someone told me I should think about turning it into a business.”

Initially, Wells spent an hour making a single key fob. He’s since reduced that time to 20 minutes and has advanced to more complicated projects like dog collars, belts, slings and custom items. For instance, he customized the holster for his handgun to clip to a specially-crafted leg band to keep the weapon in place.

“It’s great for when you’re out in the woods and you don’t want the gun flapping around,” Wells said.

That versatility and the ability to adapt to a customer’s needs are the core business concepts behind the newly-launched business, Rocky Mountain Para Design. Wells plans to operate the business primarily through the Internet, although he hopes to eventually bring his merchandise into local stores.

In the meantime, he uses his website — www.rockymountainpara-design.yolasite.com — to take custom orders. Customers can order any color combination for several different items straight from the Internet. For more unusual orders, Wells accepts requests for special items through his e-mail at RockyMountain-ParaDesign@gmail.com.

Wells makes all his merchandise from cord tested to hold 550 pounds of weight, making for very durable bracelets and lanyards. He said that outdoorsmen love the items not only for their practical or aesthetic value but also their usefulness in emergency situations. Individuals can unravel the items to produce handy lengths of cord in a pinch or remove the seven strands within the cord for fishing line or sewing thread.

“The double bracelet alone has 24 feet worth of cord in it,” Wells said. “You can do a lot with that.”

But Rocky Mountain Para Design will be helping more people than imperiled campers. Wells is donating 10 percent of every purchase to the Disabled American Veterans organization. He also wants to start making pink merchandise that will contribute to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

“We’re really hoping to help people out with this business,” Wells said. “Donations are definitely one of our focuses.”