Simple Modifications to Gear or Improvisation of Gear

[cajunlady87]

Well it's been a short while since anything was added to this thread. My goal is to fill it up with whatever gear we have and using it in as many different ways as we can think of like we've been doing to help others who may not think of it.

My new item is 100' of 550 paracord which you probably have stuffed in that BOB. Come on y'all this one's easy so let's hear those ideas.

[Cwi555]

With the proliferation of paracord items, I think it would be a good ixea to qualify it with 'outthan of the box' uses.

[offtrail]

My idea was to gut some paracord and replace it with cotton. Then use it as a lanyard for your firesteel, this way you always have some emergency tinder with your firesteel. The paracord is hard to load unless you use cotton cord and use a wire to pull the cotton through the sheath of the paracord.

[cajunlady87]

Dec 14, 2013 14:53:48 GMT -7 Cwi555 said:

With the proliferation of paracord items, I think it would be a good ixea to qualify it with 'outthan of the box' uses.

Your idea of "out of the box" uses is good, does this mean you're gonna dig deep and post some.

[angelhelp]

OT, I'd just take some cotton yarn and a small rug hook to load the paracord sheath.

[cajunlady87]

My biggest idea was to use it to build me a Huck Finn raft then float it to Wallyworld to get me some rope.

[Cwi555]

Dec 14, 2013 15:32:14 GMT -7 cajunlady87 said:

Dec 14, 2013 14:53:48 GMT -7 Cwi555 said:

With the proliferation of paracord items, I think it would be a good ixea to qualify it with 'outthan of the box' uses.

Your idea of "out of the box" uses is good, does this mean you're gonna dig deep and post some.

Thinking on it

[Ceorlmann]

100' of paracord?
Off the top of my head:

Shoelace replacement
Trap rigging/trip wire
Rope to hold up tent
Make a monkeyball or two
Rigging to hoist game or gear
Tie to heavy object: ready made anchor
Attach to arrow or bolt and shoot it across to a thick tree and use it to help cross a body of water
Use to help make an improvised cot
Use to help make an improvised stretcher
Weave into a net: apply local vegetation for might good camo
Garrotting device
Bind up a baddie so he/she goes nowhere
Wrap around metal handle of tool so your hand doesn't suffer in cold or hot weather
Help to compact something in your BOB like your sleeping system; creating space in the BOB
Toy to amuse your housecat
Use as improvised carry handle to suitcase
Improvised sling for rifle/shotgun
Secure your OC pistol to your belt ) improvised pistol lanyard)

[angelhelp]

Ah yes... the watch-cat amusement device...

Add: improvised jumprope for the amusement of one or more children

mapmaking ("drawing" with string) when it's impossible for one reason or another to even scratch a map in the dirt and pen & paper are unavailable

an improvised bridge for crossing moving water (although the first person has to cross unaided to affix the paracord on the other side)

a clothesline-type system or a "rope swing" system for sending goods across the aforementioned moving water

a coded signal device depending on knots, amount of cordage used, location, etc.

with enough was available, it could be hand-crocheted (without a hook) into "clothing" that could cover excessively worn "real" clothing

an inner strand could serve as the string part of an improvised string telephone

[offtrail]

Dec 14, 2013 15:42:38 GMT -7 angelhelp said:

OT, I'd just take some cotton yarn and a small rug hook to load the paracord sheath.

Great idea as I do have some crochet hooks,have to see if they are small enough.

[Cwi555]

After some research, I find paracord is apparently the little brother of duct tape. Below is just one of many list for it's uses.

Secure a tent
Secure a tarp between trees
Hang tools from your belt
Hang tools from around your neck
Secure things to the outside of your backpack
Make a tourniquet
Secure a splint
Make a sling for your arm
Make an emergency belt to hold your pants up
Make emergency suspenders
Replace a broken bra strap (it happens)
Replace broken or missing shoe laces
Repair a zipper pull
Secure your boat or skiff to a tree
Make a tow line; double or triple up for extra strength
Create a makeshift lanyard
String a clothesline
Hang something up off the ground
Rig a pulley system
Make traps and snares
Replace damaged or missing draw strings in packs, bags and sweat pants
Keep rolled up items secure
Create a neckerchief slide
Tie objects together for easier transport
Make a rope
Make a hammock
Make a sack for carrying groceries or gear
Bundle stuff together
Tie tall garden vegetable plants to stakes
Make a pet leash
Make a pet collar
Secure a garbage-bag rain poncho around your body to keep you dry
Hang food in trees to keep the bears away
Tie stuff down so it will not blow away in a storm
Create a trip wire
Create makeshift hand cuffs
Tie bad guys or intruders to a tree or chair
Tie people together on a trail so that they keep together
Identify members of a group using different colored armbands or bracelets
Use as sewing thread (inner threads)
Use as fishing line (inner threads)
Emergency dental floss (inner threads)
Emergency suture material (inner threads) when there is nothing else available
Make arts and crafts to stave off boredom

Some of ya'll have already posted some of the above. Then there are the ones here replete with pictures.
101 uses
In fact, the idea of stuffing the sheathing with cotton as per OT, is the only one I found not to repeat outside of this forum, so it would appear OT has figured out a rare bird.

[cajunlady87]

OT here are two methods to get cotton rope through. Use a sewing needle with a small amount of thread, sew through one end of cotton thread, and gradually slide it through, or use a baby safety pin, attach one end of rope to it and worm it through like is done with piping or elastic. Just some thoughts.

[cajunlady87]

Thanks guys, those are some awesome lists of great ideas. CWI the link with pics you provided is the ultimate and I hope others check it out. Thanks for posting it.


OT pick another BOB item for us to brainstorm or anyone else for that matter. I'm sure you all have items in your BOB which have multiple uses or could be used to make something else.

[angelhelp]

Dec 15, 2013 3:48:49 GMT -7 Cwi555 said:

After some research, I find paracord is apparently the little brother of duct tape. Below is just one of many list for it's uses.

Secure a tent
Secure a tarp between trees
Hang tools from your belt
Hang tools from around your neck
Secure things to the outside of your backpack
Make a tourniquet
Secure a splint
Make a sling for your arm
Make an emergency belt to hold your pants up
Make emergency suspenders
Replace a broken bra strap (it happens)
Replace broken or missing shoe laces
Repair a zipper pull
Secure your boat or skiff to a tree
Make a tow line; double or triple up for extra strength
Create a makeshift lanyard
String a clothesline
Hang something up off the ground
Rig a pulley system
Make traps and snares
Replace damaged or missing draw strings in packs, bags and sweat pants
Keep rolled up items secure
Create a neckerchief slide
Tie objects together for easier transport
Make a rope
Make a hammock
Make a sack for carrying groceries or gear
Bundle stuff together
Tie tall garden vegetable plants to stakes
Make a pet leash
Make a pet collar
Secure a garbage-bag rain poncho around your body to keep you dry
Hang food in trees to keep the bears away
Tie stuff down so it will not blow away in a storm
Create a trip wire
Create makeshift hand cuffs
Tie bad guys or intruders to a tree or chair
Tie people together on a trail so that they keep together
Identify members of a group using different colored armbands or bracelets
Use as sewing thread (inner threads)
Use as fishing line (inner threads)
Emergency dental floss (inner threads)
Emergency suture material (inner threads) when there is nothing else available
Make arts and crafts to stave off boredom

Some of ya'll have already posted some of the above. Then there are the ones here replete with pictures.
101 uses
In fact, the idea of stuffing the sheathing with cotton as per OT, is the only one I found not to repeat outside of this forum, so it would appear OT has figured out a rare bird.

It DOES indeed happen... and the situations involving others in my past just about made me choke from laughing.

[angelhelp]

Dec 14, 2013 21:06:19 GMT -7 offtrail said:

Dec 14, 2013 15:42:38 GMT -7 angelhelp said:

OT, I'd just take some cotton yarn and a small rug hook to load the paracord sheath.

Great idea as I do have some crochet hooks,have to see if they are small enough.

Crochet hooks made for tatting work well. Baby safety pins are too short to get much slide distance with the paracord sheath, but there are plastic blunt (the sharp ones will catch on the sheath) needles for various craft purposes that would do the trick too.