How to Tie a Parachute Cord 550 Cord Belt

Paracord, especially 550 grade cord, is strong and versatile. It features a flexible, fibrous cord covered in a woven nylon outer coating. Many hikers and wilderness explorers carry lengths of it because of its light weight and strength. Paracord works well as a ridgeline for a tarp tent, fishing line, emergency shoelaces, to tie food away from bears and to make shelters and secure equipment.

Things You'll Need

  • Scissors
  • 1-inch metal rings (2)
  • Lighter
  • Plastic side-release buckle
Show More

Instructions

  1. Six String Belt

    • 1

      Cut three lengths of paracord about 30 feet long. Fold all of them in half.

    • 2

      Place your two metal rings together and wrap the fold of one paracord length around the rings. Open the fold into a small loop and pass the ends of the paracord through the loop. Pull tight into a lark's head knot. Repeat with the other two paracords. The result should be six cords hanging from your two rings.

    • 3

      Arrange your cords so they lay side by side. They are cords 1 through 6 from left to right. Bring cord 6 over cord 5 and under cord 4. Bring cord 1 over cord 2 and under cord 3. Bring cord 5 over cord 4 and under cord 6. Bring cord 2 over cord 3 and under cord 1. Continue until you reach the ends of your cords.

    • 4

      Melt the ends of the cords with a lighter to prevent fraying. Knot cord 1 together with cord 3, cord 2 with cord 5 and cord 6 with cord 4 to keep the belt together. Put it on by slipping the end of the belt through both rings, folding back over the top ring and slipping it under the bottom ring.

    Cobra Stitch Belts

    • 5

      Cut a length of cord about 2½ times as long as your waist measurement. For a 36-inch waist, cut 7 feet of cord. Fold the cord in half and pinch the ends together. Slip the ends through the loop on one side of your side-release buckle. Fold the ends down across the cord to form a loop. Push the ends through the loop and pull tight. This secures the cord in the buckle.

    • 6

      Pinch the folded end of the cord to form a loop. Slip the loop through the other side of your side-release buckle. Open the loop a little and pass the opposite side of the cord and buckle through the loop. Pull tight to make a lark's head knot.

    • 7

      Lay your paracord and buckles down on a table, stretching it so it's taut and vertical. Cut another piece of paracord about six times longer than your waist measurement. In this case, it would be about 18 feet of cord. Slide the center of the cord under your paracord buckle loop just below the top buckle. The left side of the cord is cord A and the right is cord B.

    • 8

      Bring cord A under the central cords and over cord B. Bring cord B over the central cords and up through the loop created by cord A. Pull tight to make a half knot. Continue this way to the other side of your buckle.

    • 9

      Slip the ends of the cord through the loop on the bottom buckle. Tie the cords off as close to the buckle as possible and snip away the excess. Melt the ends of the cord with a lighter to prevent fraying.