Paracord Nerf Dart Bandolier

A project I started on back in the Spring after a friend suggested I collaborate with the world famous LordDraconical on a Nerf type project, which would turn out be a bandolier for the common Elite type Nerf darts.

I ordered some black and neon green paracord and also some black elastic webbing and shock cord to work on some ideas with loops for the darts.  After some tying and untying with different designs, I decided to keep it simple so others could easily duplicate it on their own and went with the Solomon bar/cobra stitch/Portuguese sinnet and doubled variation.

I tried to adjust the loops to where they weren't too tight on the darts, where a couple of previous versions I found the foam darts would easily compress and stay like that for a while, and I thought that might affect the aerodynamics when they get fired, going in any direction but straight, but I don't know since I do not own a Nerf gun to actually test that out.

The loop section is 60 inches long, first done with neon green paracord and finished with a 6" extension with an HK type clip at the end of the loop, then I went back over the whole thing with black paracord.  A little research turned up shotgun shell bandoliers that were 53 inch long loops, and single point slings usually run smaller, but I figured the more darts the merrier, and someone were wearing a jacket or heavier clothing, Nerf armor if that's a thing, it would fit over all that.

I had purchased 60 darts, and there's room for 72 on the bandolier. The extension at the end could be used to attach to a water bottle, another Nerf gun, bag/satchel/pouch of more darts, or secure to a belt loop or whatnot...

The elastic ends are secure with a little needle and thread, but the loops are held in place by friction with the knot work. As it sits, one could adjust the loops by moving slack from the loops to either side to make larger loops to hold bigger darts or magazines, didn't test it out though.

About 68 feet of neon green paracord was used and 73 of black, worked with single 100 foot long strands to tie the bandolier and I think I used around 15 feet of 3/8" elastic webbing for the loops.

The basic design has been used by many for rifle slings and even a few rifle ammo bandoliers too, but I didn't see anyone working with Nerf darts and using elastic that fit just right along the knot work.

A wide pattern with dual elastic loops for the darts would be cooler, I think, but also heavier and much more time and paracord involved, but I'm sure someone will run with it and share further ideas since this Nerf stuff is very popular.

Once Drac gets to try it out and see if it's even usable as it is or more deserving to be melted down for scrap, I'm sure he'll share his well respected opinion on it. ;)

For those that want to make a simple closed loop bandolier, without an added attachment end, think of making an upscaled slip-on type paracord bracelet, tied to desired size, then go back over it again with elastic and another layer of paracord. Or for making one with a side-release buckle, the old bracelet tutorial with adding in additional length for core strands will do.

You can get creative with any pattern that would allow you to work in the elastic webbing for dart retention, just remember not too tight or the foam darts get squeezed. ;)

If you need an edc backpack, check out the limited edition VENOM and VENOM RED mochi drawstring backpacks with Stormdrane logo, which I receive a percentage of sales from, each having a stitched paracord handle that I worked with Mochibrand on for the design.