Free Sample
The Complete Handbook of Lanyards
A Practical Reference for Buyers, Users, and Resellers
by Alumigogo Books
Chapter 1: Understanding Lanyards
A lanyard is a length of cord or webbing worn around the neck, wrist, or shoulder, with a connector at one end that holds an object - usually an identification badge, key, or small tool. That simple description understates what a lanyard actually is in a working environment. It is a security device, a safety device, and a low-cost branding surface, all in a package that most people stop thinking about after they put it on.
To understand lanyards properly, you have to separate the product from the gesture. The gesture is familiar: a conference registration desk, a staff member handing you a plastic card on a strip of fabric, and you slip it over your head. The product is a piece of mechanical equipment with specifications, tolerances, and failure modes. It holds items worth significantly more than itself. It also sits against your skin for eight or more hours a day, which means materials and construction directly affect comfort and, in some environments, safety.
Anatomy of the System
Every lanyard, regardless of cost, consists of the same basic components. The main body is the strap itself, the long section that loops around the neck or wrist. Attached to the ends of the strap are findings - the hardware that connects the strap to itself or to the item being carried. A typical neck lanyard has a loop or ring at the top of the strap, a decorative or informational print on the webbing, and a