Wrist loops ideas

[Exploriment]

Wrist loops can sometimes be a handy thing. If you've ever made your way down a trail in the dark, somehow lost grip on your flashlight, and watched as it tumbled down the hill into some underbrush, you'll understand. I was recently taking some photos of packs at the edge of the Escarpment, and three staghorn sumac branches obscured a clear view across the valley. Lying on my belly, I reached down over the edge and cut them away with my knife. Having it slip from my hand then would have been a bad thing. (I guess it could be argued that hanging out over the edge of a precipice to cut away branches was both a dangerous and a bad thing to do, but hey.)

But a permanently attached wrist loop is a danger. It catches on things - door handles, cabinet knobs, branches, you name it.

So I made this....

...utilizing a piece of paracord, some beads and a McGizmo Clip.

When the skull bead is at the top, there is nothing much to catch on things. But sliding....

...it down to the bottom forms a loop.

Skulls are cool and all, but the main reason I used the skull bead is because it's fairly tactile - it gives my fingertips something to grasp.

And these little beads help act as stoppers at the bottom.

When using the terrific Fenix L1D flashlight...

...I can clip the McGizmo Clip to the fob....

...and feel secure knowing I can let go of it if I need my hands for something else, or for whatever reason I lose my grip on it, and it will still remain close at hand.

Simple and elegant solution. I can use it for keys, knife, camera, multi-tool, compass, any number of things really. As long as it has a lanyard hole, or a fob, I can attach it. I can't recall the number of times I've had my camera out over a big drop or a body of water. Perfect place for it. I've been in a canoe, reaching forward to saw at an obstruction blocking our path. Perfect place for it. And yet when I don't need it, it doesn't form a big loop that will catch on everything I pass by. I can either leave it on the item and slide the skull bead back up to the top, leave it on my wrist as a bracelet, or I can remove it and clip it back onto my key ring, or on a D-ring on my pack.

And when I have keys on it, it also makes a pretty good flail to serve as a self defense tool. 

And this is another approach. This isn't my idea, but rather that of a mister John Frederick. He posted it on the wonderful EDCForums and I had to make one for myself.


I made two, one out of 550 cord and one out of 2mm kernmantle cord, and two sizes of McGizmo clips. The sewing is a bit rough, but I just did it quickly to try the idea out. I want to whip the ends yet, but I'll get around to that. At some point. Soon.


Slide the running end through the ring to open it up enough to slip over the hand, then bring it round and clip it onto the ring.






And if whatever I have clipped in slips from my hand, it only goes as far as the length of the leash.

What at first glance appears to be just a bracelet, also serves a useful purpose.

Two drawbacks to it that I've found are that the clip and ring sit right at the point where my wrist rests on the desktop as I use my mouse. Not so comfortable. The other issue, (and this is a far reach) is that it's a snare. If something was to catch and pull, it would tighten more and more. The probability of that is remote, but it is something to think about. The sort of wrist loop that comes with a digital camera, I can still slip my hand out of if it was ever to snag on something.

[Highlife]

Cool idea, I may try that! Welcome to the forum, btw.

[Wounded Thumb]

I'll be making one of each of these.

[kanukkarhu]

Interesting concept... Thanks!

[PetrifiedWood]

Nice lanyards!

I could see using something like that on a camera, phone or GPS.

[Red]

Nice lanyards!

I could see using something like that on a camera, phone or GPS.

yeah, i could use one of those for my camera.. i dont think it can handle being dropped one more time

[Jeffzx9]

Pretty neat!  I think Bailey's and Sherrill Tree sell some breakaway chainsaw lanyards which would probably work as well.  Lanyards never seem to be on my wrist when I need them, and get in the way when I don't...

[Remo007]

Cool Idea! Where do you get the McGizmo Clips???...

[Exploriment]

There should be a link in there some where I think.

Any way, I got them at Lighthound.
http://www.lighthound.com/McGizmo-Mini-Clip--35mm-tall_p_1235.html

[easy_rider75]

Cool  idea like it  for a  torch myself. May have to rig up  one

[Angerland]

Very good tutorial! Awesome tips!

[MATT CHAOS]

I missed this one!  I think that first lanyard with the sliding skull bead tightener is awesome!
Thanks for the post!