Abstract: Included is the preparation of high strength nylon staple fibers having a denier per filament of about 1.0 to 3.0, a tenacity T at break of at least about 6.0, and a load-bearing capacity, T7, of greater than about 2.5, including greater than 3.2. Such nylon staple fibers are produced by preparing tows of relatively high molecular weight nylon filaments (RV of 65 to 100), drawing and annealing such tows via a two-stage drawing and annealing operation and then cutting or otherwise converting the drawn and annealed tows into the desired high strength nylon staple fibers. The nylon staple fibers so prepared can be blended with a companion fiber such as cotton staple fibers to produce nylon/cotton (NYCO) yarns.