To make a simple wearable lanyard for a USB flash drive, join the ends of a 36-inch shoelace and secure a small loop of fishing line or heavy-duty thread through the drive’s lanyard hole. The Make project below covers the joint with heat-shrink tubing—or duct tape—and estimates about an hour for the build. Check that your drive has a usable attachment hole before you begin.
Materials and tools
This build follows the shoelace method described by Make. Choose a lace length that suits how you plan to wear it; the project uses 36 inches and says the length can be adjusted.
- Shoelace or bootlace, at least 36 inches
- 20 lb fishing line or heavy-duty thread; the instructions use a 10-inch piece
- Liquid stitch
- 3/4-inch piece of heat-shrink tubing, or a small piece of duct tape
- Awl or large needle, hot glue gun, scissors, tape measure, and a long-handled lighter
The project lists a one-hour time requirement; that is the author’s estimate, not an independently timed result. Use a heat gun for the tubing as directed, rather than the lighter used to singe the lace ends.
How to make the shoelace USB lanyard
- Cut and seal the lace. Measure 36 inches, cut it, and gently singe both cut ends to help limit fraying. Take care around the flame and let the ends cool before handling.
- Join the lace ends. Fold the lace in half with the ends even. Apply liquid stitch inside roughly the last 1/2 inch of the ends, clamp them together, and let the adhesive dry.
- Make the attachment loop. Cut 10 inches of fishing line or heavy-duty thread and fold it in half. Tie a double knot about 2 inches from the folded loop end, then trim the loose ends close to the knot.
- Secure the loop in the lace joint. Make two small holes in the glued lace end with an awl or large needle: one 1/4 inch from the end and the other 1/8 inch from the end. Pass the line loop through the first hole and back through the second, positioning the knot flush against the lace. Add hot glue over the knot and the back where the line passes through.
- Cover the joint. Slide a 3/4-inch piece of heat-shrink tubing over the glued knot and shrink it carefully with a heat gun. Make sure excess heat does not melt the fishing line. The project names a small piece of duct tape as an alternative covering.
- Attach the drive. Pass the line loop through the USB drive’s lanyard hoop, then pass the shoelace back through the line loop. This connects the drive to the lanyard.
Check the fit before wearing it
Inspect the drive’s attachment point before making the loop: the method depends on a lanyard hoop or hole that will accept the fishing-line loop. Check that the connection does not interfere with a cap or enclosure, and that the lace length and appearance work for you. The project gives construction instructions but does not report durability testing, so it does not establish how much wear or force this attachment will withstand.
#1 Best Overall
- 【Multiple Application】: Hand Wrist Strap Lanyard offers a secure attachment to your electronic devices. Compatible with any electronic accessories(GoPro, Camera, Keys, Keychain, Phone, USB Flash Drive, Joy-Con, Wallet, ID Name Tag Badge and other portable items).
- 【Adjustable Wrist Strap】: Straps measure 7.5 inches in total length, 1.5 inches in loop length. With a movable buckle, it's long enough to adjust for different sizes of hands.
- 【High Quality Material】: Adopts the first-class nylon material which undergoes several quality checks, to ensure the quality you can rely on. Braided material is more comfortable, durable and fashionable
- 【Mixing Color 】: 10Pcs mixed color hand wrist strap lanyards, 10 colors, to meet your various needs on different devices.
- 【Easy to use】: Just attach and detach with items by its lanyard port or hole.Mini quick disconnect offers added versatility and convenience
Other ways to attach a USB drive
Jewelry-style locket and chain
Adafruit’s USB Locket guide describes a jewelry-style design using a tiny flash drive, a suitably sized locket, jewelry chain, clasp, jump rings, and two pairs of fine-tip pliers. Its assembly guide explains attaching the clasp to the chain, threading the bare end through the locket, and connecting it to the drive with a jump ring: Adafruit’s assembly instructions. The guide notes that the featured drive came with a small cord and gold lanyard with clasp, and that the locket sometimes had trouble closing around the soft cord. This is a different design, not a tested version of the shoelace build.
Detachable loop adapter for a small hole
Specialist ID’s SPID-CPA detachable loop-string adapter is described as having a thin loop for passing through small device holes and an eyelet side for attaching to a lanyard, key ring, or strap clip. The product description does not establish fit for any particular USB drive, so compare its dimensions with your device’s opening before choosing it.
Rank #2
- Simple but Versatile - Avorast Hand Wrist Strap Lanyard offers a secure attachment to your electronic devices, such as cellphone, camera, as well as other portable gadget, like USB flash drive, wallet, ID name tag badge and etc.
- High Quality with Excellent Durability - Avorast adopt the first-class nylon material which undergoes several quality checks, to ensure the quality you can rely on.
- Multi Color, Multi Option - One black color and four mixed colors in a set for your various needs in different devices.
- Long Strap with a Movable Buckle - The straps measure 9.5'' in total length, 7.18'' in loop length; With a movable buckle, it's long enough to adjust for different size of hands.
- Easy to use - Just attach and detach with items by its lanyard port or hole.
Choose among these approaches based on the size of the drive’s attachment opening, the style you want, available materials and tools, and whether the connection clears the cap or enclosure. The cited guides do not provide comparative durability results, so they do not support a claim that one option is stronger or safer than another.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Various Applications: A simple design but suitable for lightweight items such as USB Flash Thumb Drives/Memory Sticks/Pen Drives, Keys/Keychain, Whistles, ID Badge Holder, Name tag, MP3 player and other portable items. (Note: It's NOT recommended to use them on cell phones or cameras)
- Material: Made of high quality nylon fabric, lightweight but durable, it's comfortable and soft to wear.
- Easy to use: You can attach and detach items with lanyard port or hole easily.
- A 10-Colour combination (Black, Blue, Orange, Gray, Navy Blue, Purple, Yellow, Red, Green, Pink) also provides various identifiers for different items.
- 1 Piece Free Wisdompro Microfiber 4x4" Cleaning Cloth
Rank #4
- Durable Polyester Lanyards/Neck Straps with Swivel Metal Oval Clasp for mobile cell phones, cameras, USB flash drives, keys, keychains, ID name tag badge holders, video game and other portable stuff
- Lightweight, comfortable and soft to wear
- Easy to attach and detach for stuff with lanyard port/hole
- 23" long, 0.78'' wide, designed to fit most people
- A set of 5 lanyards in pure color
Rank #3
- 【Multiple Application】: Hand Wrist Strap Lanyard offers a secure attachment to your electronic devices. Compatible with any electronic accessories(GoPro, Camera, Keys, Keychain, Phone, USB Flash Drive, Joy-Con, Wallet, ID Name Tag Badge and other portable items).
- 【Adjustable Wrist Strap】: straps measure 7.5 inches in total length, 1.5 inches in loop length. With a movable buckle, it's long enough to adjust for different sizes of hands.
- 【High Quality Material】: adopts the first-class nylon material which undergoes several quality checks, to ensure the quality you can rely on. Braided material is more comfortable, durable and fashionable
- 【Mixing Color 】: 9pcs double color mixing hand wrist strap lanyards in a set for your various needs in different devices.
- 【Easy to use】: Just attach and detach with items by its lanyard port or hole.Mini quick disconnect offers added versatility and convenience
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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