If something is going to be sold in the ADR Store then we want to ensure that it’s amazing. There’s nothing worse than being disappointed as a customer (we know from experience) so we do our best to ensure everything we sell is tested by us.
I was fortunate enough to be able to test out one of the Fishtail handles at a recent GORUCK Halloween Light in Seattle. These handles are handmade by a fellow GRT by USA made paracord, so it is truly made in the USA. When it shows up it’s got black ties on both sides so that there’s no chance that it can come undone. When you’re ready to attach it to your ruck you take the black pieces out and slide the paracord openings through some carabiners. Once attached the handle will stay there securely until removed by the user… it’s awesome.
These handles are made using 550 paracord which is incredibly durable. 550 paracord actually receives its name because the minimum breaking strength of it is at 550 lbs. If you’re putting more than 550 pounds into your pack then you’re going to need a lot more help than a simple handle to get that thing off the ground. For normal people who carry a reasonable amount of weight these 550 paracord handles will be perfect.
One frequent question I receive is why would someone want a second handle on their ruck? This style of handle is very helpful for overhead work. If you’re doing overhead ruck presses then these not only allow you to hold your ruck overhead in a semi-normal position but they also assist in getting that heavy pack up there. After being in an event for hours any sort of assistance will be appreciated.
In addition, if you have the unfortunate experience of losing strap privileges then these handles can come in handy. Not all Cadre deal with loss of strap privileges the same… some say you can’t use any handles what-so-ever and others say that you just can’t use the shoulder straps. If the Cadre you have just takes away shoulder straps then having one of these will allow you to distribute the weight between both your arms instead of just holding the pack by the top handle.
Finally, I’ve never had to unravel one of these handles but knowing that there is some spare paracord around is always reassuring. These handles get a solid 5/5 in our books and are definitely something that we’ll continue to use. If you’d like to pick one up you can check out both the Fishtail and Cobra handles in the ADR Store.
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