How to make a Paracord Rescue Belt

This is my first Instructable and i would appreciate your votes in the Paracord Contest!

I will be showing you how to create a Paracord Rescue Belt. While bracelets can be useful they simply do not contain enough cord for a real emergency. 8-12 feet can certainly be handy in some situations but think of what you can do with 50 feet!


The belt essentially has two main functions. 
1. The buckle is a high decibel whistle for attracting attention
2. The Belt section itself is a single length of 550 Paracord which can be unravelled literally in seconds for a whole manner of rescue techniques. 

In my opinion speed is what makes the difference in a survival situation. You can unravel the entire belt with one pull, there is no need to undo a whole series of knots or weaves.

Depending on the method you use to weave and the size of your waist, the belt can supply you with a length upwards of 70 feet of cord, This particular belt used 50 feet for my 32" waist  however i will explain how to increase or decrease the amount of cord you can carry while maintaining the same length of belt. 
Although the side release buckle means that the belt is not adjustable, there is about 15% elasticity in the belt so you need not worry if you put on a little holiday weght, your belt should be able to acommodate you.  The elasticity also means it will remain tight but flexible if you are wearing it during  outdoor pursuits.

Its worth noting that this same technique can also be used to make a bracelet which i have pictured at the end of the instructable.

Step 1: Materials

For best results use genuine 550 Paracord. I purchase mine from supplycaptain.
As with anything in life you get what you pay for, if you are intending on using this as a rescue belt you want to have the best cord available and with suplycaptain they guarantee the quality and authenticity of their cord. Many online retailers sell similar looking but poor quality cord with no guarantees on the breaking strains.

1. 550 Paracord 
    You can use any colour you like. You will need approximately 50 feet of cord for the belt shown.

2. Fastener
    Im using an emergency whistle side release buckle which can be picked up online or in any good outdoors store.

3. Scissors 
    To cut the cord

4. Lighter
    To seal the ends of the cord so they dont fray.

5. Forceps (optional)
    Depending on your dexterity you may benefit from using forceps or needle nose pliers to help pull through the cord, i managed the whole belt without.
   

Comments

[nomooremr.niceguy]

The method of the loops used in this belt are very similar to the way knitting works, except that you are starting on the left for each row, whereas for knitting you would start on alternating sides for each row. If someone knows how to knit, it might be a little faster for them, once they figure a way to anchor the weave to the buckle. I like the idea. I just made a strap for a messenger bag, using 50 feet of 8mm paracord. Good job on the instruct able.

OneMooreGuy

[Suzanne in Orting]

I keep thinking that it looks like Tunisian Crochet.

[searp2]

I thought that myself and will be trying a knitted one next.

[pendragon1104]

How well do you think this would work for using a standard belt buckle? I'd think that if you made it over length, in the same style as a normal belt, it could function quite well, but I'm not sure how well the weave would hold up to being tugged at by the pin. Any clues?

[chadr77]

This is by far my favorite belt weave! I have only been working with paracord for a couple months but I picked this one up in no time. Idk if anyone has put thought into a two color version, but i think i figured it out.

I stopped here due to lack of paracord, and well i don't like these colors together. The process doesn't really change, but I do think that it is more tedious. This is the back side; on the front the colors are more balanced.

[gbmaster137]

where can i buy good paracord on the internet that ships worldwide, and where can i buy that buckle?

[searp2]

I found mine on Amazon, £5.95 plus £2.70 postage UK for 100ft of 550 paracord type III 7 strand camo, also bought 5 clips (22mm x 57mm) £1.25 plus £2.70 postage UK. Both sold by wild elk. Seems like good quality and great delivery and service.

[rlagill]

I've found a great, inexpensive source of Type I and Type III paracord on ebay.com. Search for a seller named 5staredc, who has many solid, camo and neon paracord available.

[stuwegie]

For anyone looking for cord i have about 90 colours available in a variety of lengths as well as side release buckles, shackles, belt buckles etc. . Just drop me an email.

[frazeeg]

I just finished my first one. I used 5 loops instead of the 4 in the Instructable because I had a 1" buckle and also wanted more cordage on the belt. For those of you wondering some specifics, here's the statistics:

Waist Size: 32"
Actual Belt Length: 37"
Total Construction Time: ~4 hours
Paracord Used: ~70 feet, woodland camo

[gmadman]

I used 50 feet like the dude said but (not thinking!) did 5 loops with a 1" buckle and mine was only 28" long. I have a 32" waist and if I suck in my gut I can get it on. So much for 2.5 hours work! Next time I"ll start with more paracord. Don't make my mistake!

[rosesewsall]

make another short belt (bracelet size) with same type clip... then attach both together and you will have a full size belt. If you make the bracelet part another color or weave or wider it will make a great center design.

[searp2]

That is great idea, will definitely be using that idea, thanks.

[craftyv]

What a great idea. I was wondering how to ADD more cord. Please where can I find a formula for calculating how much cord to use?

[denns]

how long did it take you to finish the whole thing

[frazeeg]

Try reading my comment again.

[tnridge]

does that have any where you can adjust the size?

[frazeeg]

Unfortunately, no. This design doesn't lend to being adjustable.

[tnridge]

thanks

[searp2]

I made one tonight, thought it was a great tutorial and mine made a belt of 34" using approx. 50' of para-cord and took me approx. 2 hours, will definitely be of great use when needed.

[earltroske]

I thought that was a well detailed instruction. The pictures were complete and had useful explanations. Great instructions. I actually feel confident that I could repeat this.

[CaseBoy]

if you don't want another clip on the end, how would you terminate the end of the belt?

[dspencer9]

Man, this is a really cool weave! Mine is still in progress, desert camo style.

[dspencer9]

the strings on the inside keep coming out of the rope wall, though. It's making things really hard.

[hozoe]

Made one! Thanks!

[pprimed682]

How did you terminate the end of the belt?

[hotmetalmel]

I like that it's adjustable... great color.

[Ali8bongo]

How thick should the paracord be? Would 4mm be thick enough?
Thanks in advance

[Huluk]

I made an adjustable belt using this technique:
Length (weave only): 75cm
Paracord: ~70 feet, black, 6 loops
Construction Time: All episodes of "The Walking Dead", Season 2

[IRSisSIR]

i just started mine, i also used D rings, but the D ring at the end/ middle of the belt is an interesting idea. was the paracord not flexable enough to go through the rings, or did you not have enough?

[Huluk]

Neither, I just thought it would look better this way. The material is a bit thin though; it doesn't keep the belt tight over time (only an issue when attaching weight). If you want to make something similar, I recommend a stronger ribbon.

[walter7971]

very nice belt man. im also a firefighter. im trying to do this belt for a rifle sling but when im weaving this, the belt doesnt stay straight. can u help? but very nice work man.

[cart562]

there we go

[cart562]

As you might notice, somehow i messed up on one of the loops and i don't really want to go back and fix it

[cart562]

I started from 100 ft and used 54 with the 4 weave and it took me probably less than 2 hours, it was quite enjoyable. I copied my old belt by using some old brass rings as the clasp. It's too big but you never know, I might get fat. I'd like to post the picture I took, but it won't let me 0.o

[PieterDC]

does anyona know wher to buy at least 30m=100ft of black paracord, for a small price, I live in Belgium.

[yoherbiemo]

can I use two car benner hooks or clips to make this belt

[13wareagle]

Ihave a 34 jeans size and need to know ho to calculate size vs. cord length.

[cortchops]

what size buckle did you use?

[punkhead58]

Well done. However, I've seen other designs on this site where people wrap the paracord around a thin nylon belt, so that they would still have something to hold their pants up if they have to use the cordage.