Overview
This tutorial covers everything you need to wrap your Goruck handle in paracord with a Cobra Weave. There are several advantages and reasons you may want to do this:
- Extra padding on the handle making it easier and more comfortable to grip when heavy
- Reducing wear and dirt build-up on a regularly used part of the ruck
- Having 4 meters of extra paracord on your person for survival situations
- Adds rigidity to the top handle
- The aesthetics may be appealing to you
Very little knowledge of paracord and knots is required for this tutorial. It may look a bit daunting but trust us, it is very easy. This was our first attempt at creating something out of paracord knots and it took only 10 minutes to complete the first time.
What You Will Need
- Colour is personal preference, our choice was to match the colour of the ruck
- 4 meters (13 feet) will be the perfect amount to cover a GR1 21L and 26L handle (we have no other Goruck bags to check their lengths but if the handle is around 16cm (6.5 inches) you will be fine)
- Try to choose a good quality paracord as you may need to use it in a survival situation
- Any old lighter will do
Guide
Step 1
Pull half of the length of paracord through the top handle on the ruck.
Step 2
Loop the pice of cord that runs under the handle over the top of the upper length and back under. It should make it’s own loop around the upper piece of paracord.
Step 3
Once the first knot has been tied, tighten it up and slide all the way to the beginning of the handle. You have just tied your first Cobra weave paracord knot!
Step 4
As before, create a ‘bottom’ loop by partially sliding the lower piece of paracord back through the handle but don’t pull it all the way.
Step 5
Pull the top length of cordage through the loop made in previous step and tighten. If the knot from the step before has come loose, cinch that first before tightening this one. This is the second knot complete.
Step 6
Repeat step 4 by creating another lower loop with the bottom piece of paracord.
Step 7
Repeat step 5 by pulling the top length through the newly created lower loop. By now you should be comfortable with this knot. Repeat this process all the way up the handle.
Step 8
After every 4 or 5 knots, make sure they’re all nice and tight and shuffle them close together. Keep repeating and you should end up with the paracord handle looking something like the image here. If the cobra weaves are spaced too far apart, the wrap will end-up sliding around the handle on the ruck afterwards and look untidy.
Step 9
Once you cannot fit anymore paracord around the handle, pull the upper length over and under the handle to meet the lower length. When they are at the same side, tie an overhand knot (or something fancier if you like) to stop the wrap coming undone and try to slide the knot under the handle before tightening so that it can’t be seen.
Step 10
Trim off any excess cordage with scissors.
Step 11
Use a lighter to singe the ends of the paracord. In our example we cut the paracord very close to the knot so using a lighter wasn’t going to work without melting the entire wrap. As a work around, pre-heat a soldering iron and once at a hot temperature, turn off and use the tip to carefully singe the ends.
That’s It!
If you have more rucks that are in need of a paracord handle wrap repeat the process. It can be a great way to add bulk to a flimsier ruck handle.
Extra
For a little variation, try a two-tone paracord handle wrap. The process is exactly the same as above however you will want to melt two different coloured lengths or cord together in the centre. For example if you wanted a grey and black paracord handle wrap, with grey being the colour on the outside, melt a 2 meter length of black cord to a 2 meter length of grey cord and start with the grey cord at the bottom of the wrap.
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