[kevin]

ranger pacing beads are great for old-school navigation (dead reckoning, pace counting, compass work). I learned about it here:

The RuckSack

I've made tons of sets of beads the cheap craft store way. my favorites, however are my hand made sets, all from cord including the beads. the one in the pic is the one that took the longest to make, because of the detail in each bead. it's a little too big and not what I use regularly, but works out great for winter since big beads are easier to slide w/ gloved hands.

[Mac]

i've personally used pacing beads before and still have a set.

The ones kevin has here are spot on and gorgeous! I hope to get a kevin-made-one one of these days to add to my gear so i have more than one!

Great work my friend

[Dick]

I think they are a must for navigation...yet I don’t have any! Not so necessary if you are navigating to a road or something, but if you are rendezvousing with someone or are searching for something based on a coordinate someone gave you they are a must. You could just put pebbles in your pocket I suppose, but that’s not nearly as elegant.

[kevin]

Originally Posted by Dick

I think they are a must for navigation...yet I don’t have any! Not so necessary if you are navigating to a road or something, but if you are rendezvousing with someone or are searching for something based on a coordinate someone gave you they are a must. You could just put pebbles in your pocket I suppose, but that’s not nearly as elegant.

well you know who to contact if you ever want a set

[snowshoe67]

Hey Kevin Nice Avator yes people I've got a set of Kevin's pace Beads! GREAT WORK

[AlteredMentalStatus]

looks good man, keep up the good work

[JMJKD]

hey Kev I have a set I use, one question? what distance do you equate per bead. I use 1/8 of a mile per bead.

[kevin]

Originally Posted by JMJKD

hey Kev I have a set I use, one question? what distance do you equate per bead. I use 1/8 of a mile per bead.

because most of my trips, or "legs" of a trip are short, I use 1/20th of a mile (since I've got 1/10 mile gradations on my 1:24000 scale edge of the compass). I've got a little laminated card of my own personal pace counts for varying terrain. for example, on a roadway or perfect path 1/20 mile is 51 paces (double steps). carrying a heavy pack maybe 55. decent trail 60 paces; rough trail, looking down often to check footing 70 paces; steep and/or bushwack 80-85 paces. I check my self when reaching known points or baselines and adjust counts accordingly for that hike. I also know the times it take me on average, like 3mins per 1/10 mile average hiking speed for reality check.

[dezertdude]

Originally Posted by JMJKD

hey Kev I have a set I use, one question? what distance do you equate per bead. I use 1/8 of a mile per bead.

I use 100 meter and kilometer since military grid squares are based on 1000 meter (kilometer) and 1:24000 civilian topos are 1500 meter sector squares and UTM is metric as well.

[Pat/Rick]

Generally 65 paces per 100 meters just about covers it for varying terrain. Thats about all I used to use in the military,(way back when). It was close enough.We would readjust and start new pace count at known landmarks. For competative orienteering courses it pays to know exact paces on which terrain. General use, 65 paces per 100 meters will get you where you need to go.