TBS Ranger Beads / Pace Counter

TBS ranger beads are a great aid for navigation, there is not a lot that is more accurate than simply pacing out distance when walking. A good navigator takes every tool that is at their disposal and some sort of pace counter is an invaluable tool when navigating in really poor conditions or at night

If you know how many steps you take for 100 metres over different terrain then this is a great way of keeping track. I will happily use a GPS device or OS Phone App but you will also find that I will have a map, compass and pace counter at my disposal. As I said you use everything at your disposal.

For pace measurement the best thing to do is measure out 100m on flat and even terrain (if you can use a local running track even better), then walk normally for that 100m and count every double pace – you should average 60 - 70 double paces (120-140 paces depending on how long your legs are!).

When you have this figure you have a start point and you can experiment on different types of terrain, steep inclines or declines, rough boggy terrain, shale and scree and so on, simply make a note of these figures and you will never have a more accurate system for measuring distance.

I have been using this system for years and so has every good navigator and it has never failed, it is invaluable when the weather closes in and used in conjunction with a good compass will serve you for years.

It features 9 beads on one string and 4 on the other. This essentially allows you to pace count for 5km as each time you reach 100m you pull down one of the 9 and when you exceed the 9th pull down one of the 4. Then all you do is either, reverse the 9 or put them all to the top and start again.