Pace bead (ranger bead)

This is a 3d printable pace bead. Pace beads (also called ranger beads) are an old school way of keeping track of your distance while hiking. Supposedly this method is accurate to within 10% of the actual distance.

The main features of this bead is it doesn't need a brim or support, and it has a nice lip to make it easier to slide a single bead down without having to look at the beads.

To print:

• No brim or support
• I used 0.15mm layer height and a 0.6mm nozzle, but it should print with just about any layer height or nozzle size
• Print 13 beads

To assemble:

• Cut a piece of paracord 75cm in length (30 inches)
• Cut both ends off (in case one is sealed) and remove the inner strands, save one inner strand.
• Tie the two ends together using a two strand overhand knot
• Tie the inner strand you saved before in the middle of the loop you just made.
• Slide 9 beads one at a time over the inner strand onto the loop of paracord
• Tie another overhand knot 4 centimeters (1.5 inches) away from the 9 beads you added.
• Add the remaining 4 beads in the same manner.
• Tie another overhand knot above those 4 beads about 2cm (0.75 inches) away.

Before you use them you must measure your pace count

• Measure a distance of 100 meters.
• Walk that distance 3 times counting your paces. A pace is a double step - that is your count increases ever time the same foot hits the ground. I use my left foot. Which you use doesn't matter.
• Add up the pace counts from each attempt and divide by 3. This is your pace count for walking 100 meters.
• Your pace count will vary depending on how tired you are and how much you're carrying, so overtime you might refine this to take that into account.

To use pace beads:

• Attach them to your backpack or waistbelt.
• Push all beads up to the top of the section they're in
• Count your paces until you reach your count for 100m, then slide one of the 9 bottom beads down.
• Repeat sliding beads down until you've done it 9 times.
• On the 10th time slide down an upper bead and reset the 9 beads to the top.
• If done correctly this can count out 5km (3 ish miles). You may reset all the beads a few times on longer walks.