Over the years you’ve more than likely come to the conclusion that different tools you have around the house can be used for more than one purpose. Sometimes, we figure this out by necessity in an urgent situation and other times a light bulb goes off in our heads as we look at something and think up a new idea. The latter is what happened to me one day while I was looking at coiled Type 3 Paracord sitting on my desk.
As I looked at the loose paracord and a tool I had within reach, I pondered a way that would help me make a better use of the unused cord. Tools and rope have gone hand-in-hand for a long time. Rope work can require the use of tools, like marlinspikes and fids, when it comes to rope manufacturing, splicing or repair. Even though paracord isn’t quite the same as rope, I wondered if the this idea would transmogrify. [Read More…]
For this week’s Knot of the Week, we’ll be showing you how to create your own Pace Count Beads. This simple device will enable you to accurately keep track of your distance traveled by using a time-tested technique.
We were recently contacted by one of our readers, Nick, who had a great idea to utilize a small nail fused onto the the working end of a length of paracord.
This not only provides a better tip than fused paracord alone, but will give you a helping hand to weave paracord, somewhat similar to a fid or a marlinspike in traditional ropework. [Read More…]
In this week’s Knot of the Week we’ll show you how to coil a climbing rope so that you can easily carry it on your back. Not only is this method quick, but it will also allow you to easily deploy the rope for use.
While we use the term coiling, the real definition of this method is called flaking. Flaking allows the rope to be gathered in the natural way it lies and doesn’t add any unnecessary twists to the rope. Twists can kink over time reducing the life of the rope fibers, as well as lead to knotting when undoing the rope.
Carrying a rope in this configuration will allow a climber to move with the least amount of weight possible to reach their destination. Carrying the rope like this also helps a climber maintain a good center of gravity. Trying to free-climb with a backpack full of rope adds unnecessary risk to an already dangerous task. [Read More…]
On today’s latest Knot of the Week, I’ll be explaining a method I’ve found for not only storing paracord on a boonie hat, but to weave it using a Chain Sinnet. This will allow you to quickly remove it if and when you need it.
If you remember previous knots we’ve taught here on ITS, we’ve gone over a Paracord Storage Sinnet and a Chain Sinnet in the past. With the storage sinnet we created you wind up with a donut looking paracord spool that can quickly unravel as you need the cordage. While this is a great method for storage, the downside is the time it takes you to create it.
You’re certainly not saving yourself any time with the method below, but you’re also not spooling 50 or 100 feet into a storage sinnet either, which can take up to an hour and a half. With the Boonie Hat Paracord Storage Sinnet, you can take a 20-30 ft. section of paracord and weave it on in about 30-45 minutes.
This may seem like a long time, but think of it as an investment. If you wear a boonie hat and have seen other methods for storing paracord on one, you’ve probably seen it all like I have. My issue with other methods is that they may look great, or have an awesome pattern, but how long is it going to take you to untie that when you need it?
I feel that this method I’ll show you today will solve that issue. Again, investing the time now to weave in this sinnet fashion will save you time in the long run when you most need it. [Read More…]
Picking back up with our Knot of the Week series, today I’d like to show everyone how to build a Knot Tying Station to either practice your knots or race your friends.
This Knot Tying Station is modeled after one I saw at Boy Scout Summer Camp this year when I attended with my son as an adult volunteer. I’ve been involved in his troop for a few years now as an Assistant Scoutmaster and it’s been very rewarding to help teach the next generation what I know.
One of the events this year at camp was a knot tying race, where two competitions took place, one on the scouts side and one on the adult leader side. The objective was to tie the six Boy Scout knots in the fastest time. We utilized one of these Knot Tying Stations to compete on and I loved it so much I constructed one for our troop the next weekend.
Making notes on how I put one together, I thought it would be excellent to share with everyone at ITS, so let’s get into how to build your own! [Read More…]
We’re doing something different today with our Knot of the Week series and taking a look at five knots that you should know how to tie at all times. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been out with friends and had to tie something or someone down and everyone just looks at me.
No matter how often I remind them they need to read our KOTW articles and watch the videos here on ITS, I thought I’d put together an article on what I consider to be the knots I use the most on a regular basis and why you should have them at your disposal. Below you’ll find links to our original articles on ITS with tying instructions, as well as embedded videos that take you step-by-step through each of them.
Let’s face it, it’s hard to remember all the knots we teach here on ITS and knot tying is a depreciable skill that needs to be practiced. So let’s look at five, in no particular order, that you should know how to tie with your eyes closed or even underwater. [Read More…]
You might have recently seen our Knot of the Week video for the Quick Release Paracord Bracelet that can be used for emergency deployment. While we’re all about usability here at ITS, sometimes you might just want a paracord bracelet to wear, without a need for a secondary use.
For today’s KOTW, I’ll show you how to use Type I Paracord to make a micro version of the Soloman Bar Paracord Bracelet to make for yourself, give as a gift, or keep in mind for a future project.
While you’ll see me weaving this bracelet to fit my wrist, these are great for men, kids and women alike. Our friend Raquel Rusing of Triple Aught Design was wearing one of these at SHOT Show this year and we talked about not only how easy the smaller sized paracord bracelet is to wear on a regular basis, but also about how there are more people out there looking for an alternative.
Type III bracelets can be clunky and make writing and typing uncomfortable, so for anyone like me who’s at a desk most of the day and still wants to wear a paracord bracelet, the micro version is a much more utilitarian option. [Read More…]
How many of you have either purchased or made your own Paracord Bracelet and ever had to unravel it to actually use the paracord? If so, you’ve probably realized how much of a pain it is to untie each part of the Solomon Bar Knot that’s used to tie these bracelets.
Today on our latest Knot of the Week, we’ll show you how to use a Chain Sinnet knot concept to tie a Paracord Bracelet that will allow you to quickly pull apart your bracelet for immediate access to your continuous 10 feet of paracord for emergency use.
This method will take a bit longer to tie than a normal Solomon Bar Paracord Bracelet, but if quick access is what you need out of your bracelet’s paracord, then this is the answer.
In our newest Knot of the Week, we’ll be taking a look at a way to add a leash to the lid from your Liberty Bottle so it doesn’t grow legs and walk away.
One thing that I felt was missing from the US made ITS Liberty Bottles that we sell in our store, was a way to lanyard in the lid so it didn’t get lost. As I started taking Liberty Bottles with me while hiking and climbing, I quickly missed the ability to drink one-handed after removing the lid; which can be done with Nalgenes.
With a couple of easy knots and some Type 1 Paracord or the guts from standard Type III Paracord, you’ll be able to create your own Liberty Bottle Leash in no time! [Read More…]
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