How To Make Your Own Pace Count Beads for Land Navigation

In this video, we'll show you how to make your own Pace Count Beads for Land Navigation. For more information on the steps to create yours and how to determine your Pace Count, check out the following article on ITS: bit.ly/U1AKsG

[@MeyersCTR]

Bonus points for explaining not only HOW, but WHY

[@jaredneaves7007]

Damnit I knew I was doing something wrong. Gutting the paracord was the most important part, also that last trick was useful too... Thank you

[@bon2198]

The girth hitch is actually called a lark head knot, or more popularly know as a snake bite. Great video, straight and to the point!

[@grievingsage1899]

Thank You! I'm not sure I'd ever have gotten these made without this trick! Thanks again!

[@woodrowbrimm2805]

When I was in Germany in the late 1980's guys used to pass the loop through a BDU top breast pocket Button Hole and around the Button so they could stow their Beads in the pocket when not being used.

[@Burps___]

The perfect materials are Pony 9mm beads and 550 paracord. Amazon, Michaels, Hobby Lobby, etc.

[@gammondog]

Thanks!

[@datamasked623]

Don't ever shop at Hobby Lobby. They're Christian fanatics.

[@stacymarkham6812]

@@datamasked623 that is why i support them cause they are Christians just like me

[@datamasked623]

@@stacymarkham6812 You know they actually are just saying they're Christians to make money off you, right? Abortion is in the Bible. Lol

[@mdamon7031]

ditto

[@MrCyberdoguk]

Glad I came across this channel it's awesome ,simple instructions perfect for me.

[@USNERDOC]

Excellent video! I sure do appreciate all your work. Thank you for sharing with all of us!

[@1houndgal]

Thanks. I am going to use this idea to make a lap counter for my lap swimming workouts.

[@k9r100]

Another brilliant video! Thank You!

[@the22ndCJ]

Thank you! Excellent video! I need to make one of these. :)

[@d-rex6969]

I don't have any craft beads in my house because I am a man... But I did use small hex nuts that work perfectly with non gutted paracord. Great tutorial, and thanks for showing me how!

[@sFaAiRdO8U3K]

Great video! Thanks for sharing. 👍🏽

[@pesarirooni62]

A great video and demo. thank you very much

[@ShadowScoutSwede]

Thanks for a great video and keep up the good work.

[@ytubeerr]

great video i will have to make a set for myself .....thanks

[@nahumpineda5440]

I love your videos

[@skeetersaurus6249]

Cool toys, lots of fun...now a word from an old retired U.S. Marine (0311 - Infantry, originally)...'Ranger Beads' or 'Count Beads' will get you lost really quick! You know why? Because if you are orienteering with them, chances are you have gone 'field tactical'...and you are going to be low-light, in the bush, and possibly crawling. You are going to bump them, drag them, and worst, MOVE THEM! So, when you think you've been 300-yards, you've actually traveled 800 yards, and your orienteering is shot! You want the way actual 'experts' used to use, when trying to 'go' (this is before GPS)? You took a 2-ft piece of paracord through a beltloop (or around your belt) doubled so that there were 'two tails' hanging down. Knot the end of ONE tail. This is your 'tens' line. The un-knotted tail is your 'ones'. Now, instead of 'beads', simply tie a half-knot in your ones as you need to...(best way is to keep small counts in your mind, use a 'tens' and 'hundreds' method instead). Yes, you are tying and untying instead of sliding those neat, convenient little beads around...but then again, no bush or tree has ever untied a half-knot...can't say the same thing for sliding a plastic bead on a cord...

[@WJ6FRadio]

Great Video!

[@tubeisace]

Very interesting!

[@MObetta64]

Great video. Suggestion; I wetted my 30" cord gutted. Used very small amount of wax on top 1" at loop and last 1" of gutted strand. Made bead loading 1000 times easier to load. Great. Boy Scout project to teach land navigation then send to troops. Thanks again.

[@francoisbelangerboisclair]

I made 3 of them today. But in the middle of the build I asked myself: why they don't add a different color bead at the middle of the 9 beads section? Like 4 whites, 1 purple and 4 whites. When the purple one is lowered you know you have lowered 5 beads at that point. And you are at 500m.

[@videoslovetimmy]

+François Bélanger Boisclair It's you own design what keeps you on track of your own mileage. You can even add a water bottle counter every liter of water you fill up. It's all up to you.

[@heideggerist]

e puedes dar los nombres de os materiales?

[@aron8999]

You can't count five beads?

[@aron8999]

@@porkchopperiwinkle8587 Joke's on you, I've never done EITHER of those!

[@EC-dz4bq]

@@aron8999 That is exactly what he said...

[@CreachterZ]

Why only 4 beads at the top? That seems to be the standard, but why not have more to keep track of more distance?

[@kellydollinger3403]

Great Vid. Just made my new set of Ranger Beads. Thanks! They turned out awesome! The one thing I did was used larger sized beads for the count and smaller different colored beads for the distance.

[@prepperquebecois403]

Hi ! What are the size of the holes that you took for your beads ? Me i purchased $8 of 6mm beads and they look too small. Nobody talk about size on YT. The only thing i heard was that they often break.

[@Ghatbkk]

@@prepperquebecois403 8mm is the size I used during my service time.

[@timobrien2738]

"used larger sized beads for the count and smaller different colored beads for the distance" What did you mean by this? Isn't the count also distance?

[@SavageVoyageur]

Thanks for the video. One correction is cut the paracord to 32” long pieces.

[@fuckyourface4314]

Awesome

[@Jordy_01]

Non related sorry, but where do you think I can find a Suunto Clipper now a days or something of the like? Thanks always for the great vids guys.

[@TheCoolwhipped]

4 is just easier to keep track of. that way you reset when you get to 5000 meters

[@MrCoors68]

30 years ago, we just threw a handful of gravel in our mouths and spit out one at every 100M .............. hahahahaha nice video though, i might make one ~

[@Montyfiable]

You can use any length unit of measurement.

[@krukabman]

Everyone wanting to know how what why. Because that's the way the U.S. Army RANGERS do it is good enough for me!!!! but if you just want to make a 5/10 or 6/10 stack and it works for you do it!!! Alls good main point of the video was HOW to make them. And the video was very informative i thought.

[@rluxon]

Thanks for the video. I’m building kits for these, can I include a QR code to your video for instructions?

[@bvmheart]

what size holes in beads? 4mm ?

[@AD-bx5fm]

Honest question, why are the beads done as 4 x 9 instead of 5 x 9? The latter would seem to keep things more metric and it's easier to keep count of multiples of 5. Thanks in advance

[@wildboyboy]

can i make 1 more knot to use this as a bracelet?

[@Cous1nJack]

If you’re going to this effort use a Matthew walker in place of the overhand. Much neater.

[@KayosWONER]

can you do more than 4 on the upper part if you wanted to track longer distances?

[@timmuto7824]

The answer is yes

[@macg1313]

what is the inside diameter of any given beed needed to suite standard sized paracord? so as not to be to loose on the para cord.

[@1houndgal]

The MacDaddy It is 9mm pony bead / 550 paracord.

[@warlockcommandcenter]

I make these using Walmart supplies, then use them to hold luggage tag on my suit cases they are better then the cheap crap that fails after one trip that come with the luggage tags they go on every travel bag and backpack and help to ID bags at a distance.

[@edgartovar2061]

Im going to make some

[@pappy451]

i didn't have beads . what i did have was some 2cm wide /4mm thick wooden wheels . ( wheels have 4mm hole ) i use them for making wooden trains , planes and automobiles . ( toys ) . worked great once i gutted the paracord .

[@expertpc2007]

Where are you getting the beads from? I have been to a number of crafts stores and the beads they have have only been drilled for a fishing line. Thanks.

[@wildboy7652]

Got mine at Michaels Craft Stores, 6x9mm "Pony" Beads, Perfect size hole.

[@NinjaBros219]

@ITStactical Can you use this for yards?

[@NinjaBros219]

@rob jones I like that you replied to this comment after 8 years have passed by. Since then I’ve joined the military, got out, and still wonder if I can make this work for yards😂 all jokes aside, I still use these pace count beads to this day lol

[@wjf213]

Good video. I haven't read your article about aquiring your pace count, but a 100 meter known distance is not very good. You have have a known distance of at least 500 meters and over various terrain, up, down, thick brush, thin brush, mud, sand, the whole thing, count your right or left foot steps, and then divide by 5 to get your 100 meter average. Like I said, I didn't read your article you were talking about in this video, and I'm sure you covered that already, so I'm just saying it here.

[@Tech467]

what kind of watch does he have?

[@johnwilson1094]

The beads used look like pony beads. What size are they?

[@3nertia]

It's probably not still relevant lol but that's pretty much exactly what they are - they have about a 4mm hole (measured with digital calipers)

[@Lars1540]

What size are the beads?

[@3nertia]

Probably not still relevant but they're basically just "pony" beads; hope that helps :)

[@rjrgjr]

26″ length of Paracord and 13 beads

[@MrSilver261]

thanks you i have finally managed to make my own pace counting beads thanks to your video rather than buy a pair

[@nunesbarry1]

ha im gonna try that

[@timsimmons9995]

Omitted KEY detail. What is the inside diameter and size bead??

[@Montyfiable]

I recently made one of these, but I made beads out of para cord instead.

[@bobseipp6170]

What is the longest length of paracord that can be tied into a single bracelet?

[@MrCyberdoguk]

I usually use a meter of para cord. But depending on the size of your wrist u may want more. Go to rock para cord channel on here you'll find it all

[@chrisengle2935]

what kind of watch are you wearing in the video?

[@Jacrispy0351]

It’s a Casio G-Shock.

[@Montyfiable]

I can't find one anywhere. Just try the other cheap ones.

[@CChrisL]

Why is it 4 beads on the top? Why not 5 or 10 even? Is there a specific reason to mark off only 4 kilometers?

[@flosch5444]

+Christian L 4km + 1000m = 5km. the ideal distance to check the map and compass

[@davehogg63]

Christian L Naismiths rule = 4 km per hour for most adults, 3 km per hour if you have under 14 yo kids with you.

[@RayKickButts]

WTF !!! how many M in a KM ??? 1 Bottom bead =100m, 1000m = 1KM so if you pull your 9 beads down, on next 100 count and then pull the first one of the 4 down thats 1KM ... the way you've explained it they would have walked 5KM!!! So pull 9 beads down = 900M on next count of 100 you then pull 1 top bead down that is 1KM or 1000m, when you have 4 beads down (4KM or 4000M) on top section you then count another 9 bottom beads and reset the top section making 5KM on the last count of 100 paces ... simple for some

[@lawrencespies8674]

And 10 beads would equal 1000 meters, then pull down one from the top 5 to count each 1000 meters when the 5th is pulled 5km. i guess what ever works. I see some with 4/9, 5/9 and 5/10.

[@Martyntd5]

Lawrence Spies ///I see some with 4/9, 5/9 and 5/10./// The 4/9 combination makes the stack reset the 5k marker point. A 5/9 makes the stack reset 6K and 5/10 makes the stack reset 6.1K. At least that's how it works if you count in base 10 ...like everybody does. The 4/9 combination makes the most sense, since you can just use the stack reset to roll over to your next 5K. I dont know why you would want to mark your distance in multiples of 6k or 6.1k? Also 5K/hour is the walking speed of the average human, so breaking your walk into 5K or 1 hour segments makes sense. Also 5K converts to 3.1 miles. If you like to 'think' in miles, then the 4/9 stack is going to give you easy approximate conversions without having to break out the calculator. Finally, counting 9 then over to the next 'pile' to mark the '10' is the convention for an abacus ...and in fact all 'base' logic gates, whether it's binary base 2 or the more common base 10 calculators. Go with 4/9.

[@nutmegger1957]

SInce Terrain, Environmental conditions, and Fatigue become factors in determining how to get back to my truck with the deer I just shot.......how do I use Pace Count effectively, given those potential issues?

[@kellydollinger3403]

When you obtain your pace count, don't do it on a flat surface w/ no obstructions. Throw a pack on and do it through the terrain you hunt in. fatigue yourself and get as close to the environment as possible. Good Luck!

[@nutmegger1957]

I made my own pace counting bead set last night, with 550 cord and black beads my wife had. Came out nice! I used my preferred "15 & 5 set up. That way, one bead is moved for every 100 meters, and after the fifteenth bead is moved, I move one of the above five. Good for roughtly five Kilometers.

[@Martyntd5]

nutmegger 1957 you are absolutely right to point this out. What you are supposed to do, is calculate your average pace count across a variety of conditions and then use the one that most closely matches your circumstances. But you are right, it's only ever an average and has a high error factor built in. The solution is to account for that high error factor in your navigation technique. In your example, you wouldn't aim for your truck, instead you would deliberately aim off to the left or right of the truck, aiming to hit the track. The reason is it's much easier to bisect a line, than it is to hit a point. So when you hit the track you know your truck is somewhere on it, right? What you need to figure out is left or right? If you have deliberately aimed off to one side or the other, then you know which way to go. It's called navigating with handrails - anything can be a handrail, a track, a river, a contour line (if you have an altimeter) etc. Just some physical feature that you know you can hit and then walk along to get where you need to be. It adds time and distance to your trek, but it's the only way to be 100% sure you will hit your mark when navigating with compass and pace beads.

[@bobotea1234]

"hey you guys making bracelets?" ROFL!

[@egulbrand28]

That's a killer watch you're wearing in the video. Who makes that?

[@paulinemcleggan7585]

This might be a stupid question, however, do you need to count 100 steps each time?? That seems to me to snuff out the joy of hiking

[@graftedinforever971]

The idea is to use this when you are in unknown territory and need to measure the distance you have traveled. A map and compass are also important in orienteering.

[@luishenriquealmeidarocha7007]

Não entendi o que é que significa, mais tudo bem.

[@aikido10]

it lookes like a casio G-shock

[@mexicanjumpingbear]

How do you make it into a bracelet

[@jaredneaves7007]

Attach both ends together. Tada

[@nunesbarry1]

i couldnt get the paracord through the beads i ended up using shoe lace

[@edwardvandecar4880]

the bottom count is 9 beads and 4 on the top

[@sarys73]

FInger width, not length.

[@dksallak]

you failed to mention the difference in the gut cord. some brands unravel leaving you with a ball of fuzz at the end.

[@CreachterZ]

That’s why you always melt the ends.

[@skookum_87]

looks like a casio

[@DamienNeverwinter]

I wanted to make these, but I have Triskaidekaphobia

[@edwardward5481]

Having thought about it, 5 top beads seem to make more sense for the 5 K mark.

[@Martyntd5]

No, 5 top beads would give you 6K on the stack reset. It's like an abacus. We use base 10 numbering system. The number 99 means you have 9 units and 9 10's. When you hit 100, you reset the units column and the 10's column to 0 and put a 1 in the hundreds column. Pace beads work in exactly the same way. The 9/4 combination is a 5K counter, it's the reset/roll over of the stacks that marks the 5K point.

[@skrillmau]

Can you show us how to make earrings next?

[@wolfgangbuck841]

Bracelets

[@TheDunestrider]

The instructions start at 2:30... before that he rambles on off-topic.

[@ronaldwhite6476]

That’s not a finger length you’re doing finger width.

[@ScottyM1959]

Dude could you have maybe given us a diameter of the bead my family thought I lost my mind screaming in terrettes tongues yelling "Why don't you fit you farkin bastages!" to be nice on KZbin

[@RodStewart_Geek]

Man that's a lot of motion for a still camera shot, almost got motion sick.

[@bityote]

Have you ever thought about making another one, depicting how to do the same with Rangers Beads? In Jesus' name you're healed. Ask the Holy Spirit into your heart and walk a new with a Loving, Divine Father.

[@RobGrognerd]

"hey" "what's up" "guys" youtuber uses any combination of the 3 in an intro to a video, stop the video, never watch their content again if that's as original an introduction you can come up with, I doubt your content can be original.

[@madcat1007]

If you need a video to show you how to string beads you really need to find a different hobby.