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Paracord Lanyards
Have you noticed? Lanyards are everywhere. You see them holding employee badges, keys, flashlights, even computer jump drives or flash drives. And among the most popular of these amazing holders of our "stuff" is the paracord lanyard.
You can even use a shorter version as a zipper pull for your backpacks, pockets on messenger backs, even keys to attach to these items. A paracord lanyard is versatile because they can help you keep track of so many items that tend to get lost far too often.
The amazing popularity of this accessory didn't occur by happenstance or coincidence. Good reasons exist for this popularity. For starters, the durability of these utilitarian objects is amazing. That's because the paracord lanyard is created from the same material from which parachute suspension cords were originally made.
Developed by the DuPont Company, this tough cord soon became military standard issue for a variety of other reasons. Aided by the ingenious thinking of service men and women, it soon gained a growing popularity. Its versatility, some like to joke is second only to duct tape.
But durability isn't the only reason individuals buy paracord lanyards. For starters, they're attractive to a wide variety of people because of the amazing variations of lanyards available. Some people lean towards the "cute" types, others like those that imitate the military and "survivalist" types.
There are several ways you can enjoy a paracord lanyard. The first, of course, is to buy one. There certainly are enough sites on the web and probably stores in your area where you can do that.
When you purchase a paracord lanyard, consider buying a paracord bracelet to accent. Not only will you make a cool fashion statement, but you'll be doubling your ability to survive.
Each of these items can also be unraveled to be used as a cord for a variety of "emergency" reasons. Break a shoelace? Use the 550 paracord to replace it. Gone fishin' but your line broke? Simply unravel your paracord lanyard or bracelet, cut it width-wise, and take the inner threads apart. You may only need to use a portion of it. Use one of the seven threads inside as very strong fishing line.
How do you attach it to your keys or zipper?
Once you purchase a paracord lanyard or made your own, you might be puzzled how to attach it to the zipper or other items. There's a simple trick to remember and it involves the use of a paperclip.Bend the paperclip so it's shaped like a "U." You'll then slide the loop of the lanyard into the "U" of the clip. Push the end of the clip into the hole of the object you're attaching it to. Next, you'll pull the loop through the object still using the paper clip. Once it's through, you can remove the clip, then feed the body of the lanyard through the loop. Be sure to pull this tight.
Make Your Own Custom Lanyard
Lanyards are so easy to make there's no reason why you can't create a custom paracord lanyard of your own. And with the abundance of material available, in part thanks to the internet, you'll have no problem finding material with which to work.A paracord lanyard can be made from a rainbow of colors, including such beautiful ones as hunter's green, light blue . . . and even neon shades of your favorite colors. But you need to know that many of the paracord lanyards made for civilian use -- and this would include the custom lanyards as well -- may not meet the stringent requirements that is required if it's sold to the U.S. military. But then, do your keys really weigh 550 pounds?
Whether you decide to buy a paracord lanyard or make your own (and this is a great project for the entire family) you'll discover that they are both decorative and quite practical.