In our last post, we talked about how to make a paracord koozie. In this post, you’ll learn how to make a DIY Paracord backpack handle wrap. This is one of many beneficial paracord projects for preppers to learn.
Wrapping the handle of your backpack in paracord makes it more sturdy. The handle becomes easier to grasp. Also, the paracord backpack handle wrap keeps some of the dust and dirt from accumulating on the strap.
Creating a basic paracord handle is simple. You can finish the project in about 10 minutes if familiar with a Soloman Bar/ Cobra stitch. If not, expect it to take a little longer. Your time frame will depend on your learning curve, but it will not take a novice long to pick up this weave.
Supplies
For this project, you will need the following:
- 8 feet of paracord (550 recommended)
- 1 backpack
- 1 lighter
- 1 scissors / pocket knife
Overview of Steps
- Attach paracord to handle
- Begin your Cobra weave
- Cut off the excess
Step 1: Attach the Paracord to The Handle
First, take your 8 feet of paracord and fold it in half. Second, inspect your backpack’s handle design. Does it have a simple handle design, or does it include some webbed areas?
If the handle has webbing, you will want to start your first knot by going under the webbing. If not, you will begin by running the paracord underneath the handle.
Begin by placing the center part of the 8-foot paracord under the webbing/ handle. Make sure you have an equal length of paracord on both sides.
Step 2: Begin Your Cobra weave.
The Cobra/ Soloman Bar weave becomes easier after you have made a few knots. The hard part is remembering that you have to mirror the initial knot every other time.
To create a Cobra weave, you will wrap each end around the handle in a particular pattern.
Cobra Weave Directions
- Pull the left side of the paracord over top of the handle/webbing.
- Bring the right side down and over the left strand.
- Grab the left cord and weave it behind the handle/webbing and out through the created loop.
- Take both ends of the paracord and pull tight.
- Mirror the starting stitch by beginning with the right side of the paracord.
- Repeat the above steps until you come near the end of the handle.
Ideally, you will want to keep your weave snug. The tighter the weave, the stiffer the handle will become. Try a looser weave if you want a more flexible handle wrap.
If the webbing stops, continue wrapping the Cobra weave around the handle until you reach the webbing on the other side of the strap. When you get to the webbing, switch to running the paracord under the webbing instead of the handle. Changing back will make the backpack wrap more aesthetically pleasing.
Step 3: Cut Off The Excess
To complete the project, grab your scissors or pocket knife and cut off the ends. Leave a little tail on each side. The ends should be no more than an inch long.
You want to be careful not to cut the ends too close to the stitching because they could become loose before you have a chance to seal the ends.
To secure the ends, take your lighter and meltdown the paracord on each side. Press down the created bumps with your scissors or knife to make your work look neater.
DIY Quick-Release Handle Wrap
Alternatively, you could create a quick-release handle wrap instead of the above Cobra weave version. To do this, you will need 12-15 feet of paracord. The length required will depend on the size of the handle.
For this version, you will create a loop at one end of the handle. The curve should be the length of the handle. At the end of the paracord – where you started your coil – you want to have a small tail. Pinch the section where the loop meets while you work.
The working end of the paracord goes under the backpack handle. It travels around the coil but not around the handle. Tighten the knot, and continue bringing the strand under the handle.
Go around the first created loop with the free end and pull tight. Next, wrap your paracord under your handle. Continue this pattern alternating from side to side until you reach the end.
When you cannot make more loops, it is time to trim the paracord. Cut a 3-4 inch tail. Simultaneously, keep your work pinched. Next, wrap the free end under the handle and then through the initial loop.
Go to the side where you started and grab the other end of the rope. Gently tug until the loop at the end sinches around the paracord. At the end of the construction, you will have a small tail on each side. You can cut these or tuck them under your initial work.
Releasing the paracord
To release the paracord, pull the paracord out of the loop you tied last. Put your hand around the bottom of the handle, and tug on the tail at the opposite side. The cord will release. You will retrieve your unharmed paracord to use on different tasks.
A lighter is not necessary for this version of the paracord backpack wrap. Because of this, it takes only a few second to unravel your paracord when your need it.
Uses for a Paracord Backpack Handle Wrap
You can use the paracord wrap on more items than your backpack. Essentially, you can cover any handle on any item. For example, you could cover the handle on your luggage. By covering the handle in paracord, your luggage is easier to spot on an airport conveyer belt. Bright colors of paracord work best for this task.
Additionally, it is a good idea to wrap up the handle of the survival bag you keep. The extra paracord will not take up the storage room in your pack as it is contained neatly around the handle.
In an emergency, you could pull the unwrapped paracord from your backpack. There are several tasks that an 8-foot length of paracord would allow you to do. Situations a paracord would come in handy include the following:
- Tying large branches together to create a shelter
- Making a splint for broken or sprained limbs
- Fashioning a fishing line to find food
- Making a tripwire security system around your camp
- Tying up food in a tree out of the reach of smaller animals
Conclusion
A paracord backpack handle wrap makes it easier to grip your backpack. There is less chance that your bag will slip out of your hands when carrying it from the handle.
Additionally, paracord backpack handle wraps offer peace of mind in an emergent situation. Unraveling the paracord provides you with many options when you are in a survival situation.
I hope this guide on How To Make a DIY Paracord Backpack Handle Wrap helped you. If you liked this post, you may also want to read how to make a paracord bracelet or another one of the Paracord Projects for Preppers.
