To measure for a cross-body bottle sling, use a soft cloth measuring tape:

1. Hold one end of the tape at the top of your hip where the bottle will sit.
2. Bring the tape up across your chest, over your opposite shoulder, and
3. Bring it back down to the same hip, meeting the end you’re holding.

The number you get is your total desired sling length. To determine the correct braided paracord length, subtract the added length of your chosen hardware, then round up or down to the nearest inch depending on your preference:

• Two #4 SlideLock® carabiners → subtract ≈ 6.2 inches (6-7 inches)
• Two #3 SlideLock® carabiners → subtract ≈ 4.8 inches (4-5 inches)

Note about bottle openers: Ahhh…™ bottle openers are not recommended for most bottle slings because the gate opening is smaller than standard carabiners. They work well for keychains or bottles with smaller loops (such as Owala), but #3 or #4 carabiners are a better choice for most sling setups.

Custom lengths are also great for small carry items such as keychains, bag pull loops, belt-loop drop lines, and small gear handles.

Most keychain-style builds use 4–6 inches of braided length, but you can choose any length that fits your setup. Bottle openers are an excellent choice here, since the smaller gate opening works well with key rings and small attachment points.

Custom paracord straps also work well for bags and outdoor gear. You can measure in two ways:

Determine the desired strap length: Because there are several carabiner size choices, the custom length you order is measured by the paracord strap itself. Remember to subtract the hardware length to get the appropriate size.

See the Lengths & Hardware section for further information. Paracord straps are handmade, so final length may vary slightly (about ¼–½ inch).

Example: You want to buy a strap that is approximately 46" long to replace a gear bag strap.

You also want to use Large (#4) carabiners which are 3.1 inches long each. You will need to subtract 6.2 inches (total hardware length) to determine the paracord strap length that you will order.

Round your number up or down to the nearest inch depending on your preference. In this case you would select a 39" or 40" strap.

Summary: Choose the braided paracord length that fits your setup, subtracting hardware length where needed. Carabiners (#3 or #4) are best for bottle slings, while bottle openers work well for keychains and small gear attachments.