How to Make Paracord Ranger Beads

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: November 12, 2020

Ranger beads are used to count paces while hiking and trekking. While you can always buy pace counters, it is easy to make your own using paracord. Based around a Celtic knot, paracord ranger beads are a neat alternative to the typical plastic beads. If you are feeling particularly crafty before your next trip (or if you are already at your hiking spot but don't have a pace counter), why not make your own ranger bead counter?

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Making the Beads

1
Fold a length of paracord into a loop. You are making a shape that sort of looks like a tilted "4." The looped part should be pointing upward. The top cord should be pointing to the right, and the bottom cord to the left. Most of the cord should be on the right side.^{[1]
X
Research source}
- Try to use 550 paracord, if you can.^{[2]
  X
  Research source}
- You will need about 12 inches (30.48 centimeters) of paracord to make one bead.
2
Make a second, smaller loop to the right of the first loop. Fold and twist the right-hand cord into another loop. It should be overlapping the first one. Again, the front cord should be pointing to the right.^{[3]
X
Research source}

Advertisement
3
Weave the end of the cord through the two loops. Hold the two loops so that the right edge of the first one is in the middle of the second one. Thread the right end of the cord down through the second loop and up through the first one. Weave it back down through the first loop. You will now have three loops.^{[4]
X
Research source}
4
Push the end of the cord back down through the third loop. You will now have four loops with a hole in the center.^{[5]
X
Research source}
5
Thread the cord up through the center hole. Pull the end of the cord upward so that it is parallel to the edge of the second loop. Twist and adjust the looped cord until you have a ring shape.^{[6]
X
Research source}

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Assembling the Counter

1
Fold a second cord in half. Cut 30-inch (76.2-centimeter) length of paracord in a contrasting color.^{[7]
X
Research source} If you can, try to use 550 paracord.
2
Slide the second cord through the ring you just made. Make sure that you are pushing it through the folded end first. Stop when you have about 1 inch (2.54 centimeters) sticking out of the top of the ring.^{[8]
X
Research source}
3
Tighten the bead. Gently tug on both ends of the bead's cord. Then, tug on the loop, one by one, until the bead tightens. Keep pulling here and tugging there, until the bead is snug around the folded cord. It needs to be loose enough so that you can still slide it up and down.^{[9]
X
Research source}
4
Cut the ends of the bead. The bead will have two long cords sticking out of it. Cut these off as close to the bead as you can. Some types of paracord are white inside, which will show. If you want a nicer finish, color the white part in with a marker. Use a color that matches the paracord.^{[10]
X
Research source}
5
Seal the cut ends of the bead with heat. The cut ends of the cords will fray if you don't. Using a heating rod, press the end of the tool against the cut end of the bead. Roll it back and forth, then left it away. The cut end of the cord will have melted and sealed itself.^{[11]
X
Research source}
- You can also seal the beads with a lighter.^{[12]
  X
  Research source}
6
Make more beads. Paracord ranger beads are used for counting paces. You will need a total of 14 beads for your counter. You want 9 beads at the bottom of your counter, followed by a knot, then 5 more beads.^{[13]
X
Research source}
- Leave enough space between the knots so that you can slide the beads apart.
7
Tie a knot at both ends of the base cord. Hook it onto a clip or keychain ring.^{[14]
X
Research source} You can also skip the knot at the top (looped) part of the cord, and feed it through a keychain ring in a slipknot instead.