Pace counting with Ranger Beads (aka Pace Count Beads)

The skill of being able to navigate yourself to safety is sorely overlooked. It can literally mean the difference between life and death. Although many survivalists rely on compasses and maps to find their way, there is another option that may be a little easier for a person to use, no matter if they have a map of an area or not. Ranger beads, which are actually pace count beads, are another option. Army Rangers are experts at land navigation, which is why these beads are often referred to as Ranger Beads.

Pace counting with Ranger Beads (aka Pace Count Beads)

Using the beads to determine how much ground you have covered is fairly basic. If you can count to 10, you are good to go. You can make your own beads or buy them to hang from your pack. To “calibrate” your beads so to speak, you need to find a flat surface about 100 meters long. Walk the distance while counting how many footsteps it takes you to get from one end to the other.

Let’s say it took you 50 steps. While you are out in nature, hopefully on flat terrain, every 50 steps you take you are going to pull one bead down to represent 100 meters. Continue to do this throughout your hike and you will know how far you have walked away from your starting point. You can watch this video to learn more about using the beads.

While it is a great idea to keep your Ranger Beads attached to your pack at all times, you may find they get a little obnoxious when you are simply out for a hike and don’t need the things. If they bother you, wrap them around a strap or tuck them into an upper pocket to keep from bouncing around.

Craig Caudill is an outdoors instructor who teaches about tent camping equipment on Dan’s Depot and also at his Nature Reliance School.

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