Every prepper loves paracord. It has many lifesaving and utilitarian applications, and one of the crucial common, and least appreciated, is for zipper pulls.
If you’ve ever handled a broken pull, you recognize that that aggravation will add up fast. Paracord is powerful enough that you simply won’t need to worry about your pull snapping off or coming undone.
And your backpacks, clothing and other gear doesn’t need to be equipped with it from the factory, either.
It is simple to make your personal DIY paracord zipper pulls and a wide range of styles using just just a few cents price of cord.
Today I’m bringing you five of my favorite zipper pull designs with intricate, step-by-step photographs for every.
Grab your lighter, scissors and rope, and let’s get going!
1. Cobra Knot Zipper Pull
One of the most well-liked, and fairly complex, paracord knots. This one’s a mainstay of belts, bracelets, key fobs, and in fact zipper pulls.
It has even been used to make rifle slings! Nonetheless, it’s easy enough to make to any length you desire.
Just do not forget that the length of the knot will climb closer and closer towards the closed end of the loop, not away from it.
Step 1: Create a loop out of a length of a paracord with the free ends pointing away from you in your hand.
Step 2: Taking the precise strand, create a clockwise loop and pass the free end of the strand behind the left strand.
Step 3: Now take your left strand and create a counterclockwise loop passing that behind and beneath the free end of the precise strand.
The free end of the left strand should cross in front of the standing strands. Look closely at the image for reference.
Step 4: Continuing on with the left-hand strand, pass it through the loop you formed with the precise strand before from above.
Step 5: Pull on each working ends of the left and right strands to tighten this initial knot. This is the primary link within the cobra knot.
We will repeat the method, continuing downward towards the bend in our cordage to finish it.
Step 6: Now take the free end on the precise and curl it back towards the left side, keeping it in front of the standing a part of the knot.
Step 7: Holding the precise end in place, curl the left end beneath after which behind the knot you formed previously, putting that end through the loop you simply formed.
Step 8: You should now have two mirror image knots on either side. Look at the image for details and this may make more sense.
Step 9: Stabilize the central structure of the knot after which pull on each working ends to tighten these loops down and form the subsequent link within the cobra knot.
Step 10: Now repeat the method, starting with the working end on the left this time and crossing it in front of the standing a part of the cord.
Curl the precise side working side over top after which beneath into the opposite side through the loop as before. See picture for detail.
Step 11: Tighten each of those loops as before. Repeat this process, alternating which side goes in front every time until you might have reached your required length of zipper pull.
Step 12: When you might be comfortable with the length of the cobra knot, you’ll finish and finalize it by tucking the loop that goes in front back under itself in a kind of half-knot or lashing before tightening down.
Step 13: Take the time to totally tighten and dress the knot. Once done, it is best to have two leftover tails (the working ends) protruding on the identical side.
Step 14: Trim off each working ends with sharp scissors, leaving about an eighth of an inch protruding from the cobra knot.
Step 15: Melt the ends of the paracord to forestall fraying and flatten them with a metal object to lock the knot down and forestall loosening. You’re finished!
The cobra knot is flexible, attractive and sturdy and provides an awesome gripping surface in case you wear gloves recurrently.
However, you may have to tie it in situ in your zipper unless you wish a really long loop since it is difficult to hitch it on once it has been tied owing to its bulk.
2. Cross Knot Zipper Pull
The cross knot is small, durable and stylish, and is an awesome all-purpose zipper pull that’s perfect on backpacks or clothing.
It’s also quite easy to tie quickly with just a bit of little bit of practice, making it an awesome, improved field expedient knot in case you lose certainly one of your pulls.
Step 1: Start with a single strand of paracord with the working end pointing away from you in your hand.
Make a clockwise loop to the precise passing the working end beneath for the standing end after which make one other loop crossing excessive back to the precise.
Step 2: Make one other clockwise loop passing the working end underneath the standing part and back to the left.
You must have a roughly proportional s-shape with a loop at the highest at this point. See picture for details.
Step 3: Now bring the other free end of the cord beneath the loops you made and pass it through the primary loop at the highest from beneath.
Take care to maintain the prevailing structure of the knot intact and stable by pinching the opposite working end in place where it crosses.
Step 4: Continuing on, bring the working end through the loop at the underside on the precise side of the standing part from above.
Step 5: Now holding each free ends between your thumb and forefinger, pull on the uppermost loop in the wrong way. This will begin to collapse and tighten the knot.
Step 6: Your knot is now formed with a loop that’s able to attach. You must have two lengthy tails left over protruding opposite the knot.
Step 7: Cut off the tails near the knot with sharp scissors, leaving about an eighth of an inch of cord protruding.
Step 8: Melt the ends to forestall fraying, after which press them flat with any convenient metal tool to lock and secure the knot.
Once you get good at tying the cross knot zipper pull quickly, it almost comes together like a magic trick.
This is the most effective knots in case you like a bigger open loop for any application, though you may have to practice tying it a few times so you’ll be able to higher anticipate how large your loop might be.
3. Matthew Walker Knot Zipper Pull
The Matthew Walker knot is tidy, compact and attractive, and is an awesome alternative to the cobra knot above in case you prefer a sturdy but tactile knot that isn’t as bulky and vulnerable to snag.
It looks a bit of intimidating at first glance, however it’s surprisingly easy and chic to tie because you’re just making multiple passes through the identical set of loops.
Step 1: Make a loop together with your cord, each working ends pointing directly away from you.
Step 2: With the precise side, make a clockwise loop passing the working end beneath each standing parts, pointing to the left.
Step 3: Now take the left side and make a counterclockwise loop, passing it beneath the working end you simply finished with and crossing over each standing parts on top.
Step 4: Continuing on, pass the working end through the precise hand loop from above. Check the image, as each side should principally be mirror images of one another.
Step 5: Continuing on with the working end you simply finished with, pass it through the loop on the left from beneath. Look closely at the image for reference.
Step 6: Now take the working end on the other side and curl it in front of the knot passing it through the loop on the precise from above.
Step 7: Holding the loop at the underside, pull on each working ends steadily to start out setting the knot. Take your time, and dress the night if needed to maintain it symmetrical.
Step 8: You are finished. If desired you’ll be able to cut off or shorten the tails but with this knot they don’t really get in the way in which. Remember to melt and flatten your ends in case you do shorten.
This is certainly one of my favorite zipper pull knots around, as I believe it offers a great combination of tactility, security and strength without being vulnerable to snagging.
It can also be easy to hitch on if you wish to tie a batch and put them on later. Something else to have in mind is you can repeat this knot similarly to the cobra knot above if you wish to lengthen the pull.
4. Overhand Knot Zipper Pull
Probably the best knot around, and positively the best zipper pole you’ll be able to make with paracord, the overhand knot is nonetheless useful and surprisingly strong.
Step 1: Make a loop with a length of paracord.
Step 2: Keeping each working ends together, make a clockwise loop over the standing parts of the cord.
Step 3: Now simply turn each working ends beneath the standing parts and thru the loop you simply made out of below.
Step 4: Pull each working ends and the loop formed by the standing parts to tighten the knot.
You can cut down the tails and melt the ends in case you want, but watch out to lock the knot down if you wish to cut it close.
And that’s all there may be to it. I told you it was easy. This is an awesome pull to tie in a rush or in case you just don’t care about aesthetics.
However, it doesn’t offer much security in case you are working with numbed fingers or gloved hands, so it’s price making a more intricate knot in case you think you’ll be coping with either of those conditions…
5. Snake Knot Zipper Pull
The snake knot is certainly one of my very favorite zipper pull knots, and ornamental knots normally.
Like the name suggests, it resembles the body of a snake, or perhaps another scaled pattern.
It’s low profile, proof against snagging, and offers good traction. You may repeat the knot again and again to make a pull of any length that you simply desire.
Step 1: Make a clockwise loop together with your cord, facing away from you. Pass the precise side to the left on top of the standing part.
Step 2: Continuing on, make a smaller loop bringing the working end back around beneath the standing part you simply passed. The working end must be parallel with the standing end.
Step 3: Now take the standing end and convey it around to the precise beneath the top that you simply just finished with.
Step 4: Continuing on, bring that working find yourself over top and pass it through the loop on the left from above.
Step 5: Both ends must be parallel as you tighten the knot which resembles a figure eight beneath the loop you formed to start with.
Step 6: Now all it is advisable do is repeat the method many times to elongate your pull. Pass the precise side over the left on top.
Step 7: Continuing on, form a loop by bringing it back around beneath the standing part leaving it parallel with the other side.
Step 8: Taking the standing part now bring it to the precise beneath the a part of the cord you simply finished with.
Step 9: Bring it over top after which through the loop on the left from above as before.
Step 10: Dress and tighten these loops to form one other link within the snake knot.
Step 11: If you wish to stop here, you’re finished. Trim the free ends as desired. Otherwise repeat steps 6 through 10 many times until you might have reached the specified length.
And that’s it. The snake knot is a bit of deceptive since it really isn’t as difficult because it looks, and the one place you’re going to get tripped up is when it’s time to modify the working ends.
It is certainly one of my favorite knots as I discussed, due to its ideal combination of low profile and grip. Give it a attempt to I’m sure you’ll prefer it.
