How to Attach and Wear a Lanyard With Pins and Charms
By EXPULSE SHOP | Published: 2026-10-13
Category: How-to Guides
A step-by-step guide to building a pin lanyard setup that holds charms securely, stays balanced, and keeps your collectibles from scratching each other.
Quick answer
Choose a lanyard rated for the total weight you plan to carry, attach heavier pins and charms closest to the clip so they stop swinging, and secure every charm with a locking clasp or double loop. If your lanyard has a breakaway clasp, keep the load light enough that the clasp does not pop open while you walk.
Weigh your setup before you attach anything
Lanyard capacity is not usually printed on the strap, so test it yourself: clip the lanyard on, add your items one at a time, and walk around for a minute. If the strap starts to twist or the clip pulls sideways, you have exceeded a comfortable load. Metal pins and enamel charms are the heaviest items, so they belong near the top where the strap has the most support.
Pick a lanyard style that matches how you carry it
Flat woven lanyards sit smoothly against a shirt but show pin backs and can snag on knit fabrics. Tubular or cord lanyards hide the hardware better and tend to twist less under weight. If you plan to swap charms often, look for a lanyard with a metal clip or a row of small loops rather than one you have to pierce.
Where to place charms so they do not tangle
Charms swing, and two charms at the same height will collide. Stagger them vertically and keep a gap of at least one finger width between hanging pieces. Charms with a red phone strap or cord attachment, like the Z7: Devils & Valentines Phone Charm, can be looped onto a lanyard clip rather than pierced through fabric, which reduces wear on the strap.
Daily care that prevents most damage
Take the lanyard off before you put on a backpack, coat, or seatbelt, since those are the moments when pins bend and charms scratch. Wipe vinyl or matte stickers with a dry cloth rather than alcohol, which can dull the finish. Store the whole setup flat in a pouch instead of hanging it on a hook, where gravity slowly stretches the strap.
Your lanyard setup, step by step
- 1. Load-test the empty lanyard: Put the lanyard on with nothing attached and walk for a minute. Check that the strap lies flat and the clasp stays closed. If the clasp pops open with no weight, it will not hold pins.
- 2. Attach the heaviest piece first: Clip your heaviest pin or charm closest to the top clip, then work downward in order of weight. Common mistake: starting at the bottom, which makes the strap twist.
- 3. Secure each charm with a locking clasp: Use a lobster clasp or a double loop for cord-attached charms instead of an open jump ring. Tug each charm gently to confirm it cannot slide off.
- 4. Space items so they cannot collide: Leave at least one finger width between hanging pieces and stagger them vertically. Two charms at the same height will scratch each other within a day.
- 5. Do a mirror check before you leave: Look at the lanyard from the front and side. Adjust any item that hangs past your waist or swings into your arm. If it swings freely, it will catch on doors and bag straps.
- 6. Remove the lanyard for high-risk moments: Take it off before putting on a coat, backpack, or seatbelt, and before leaning over a counter. Most pin and charm damage happens in these few seconds.
- 7. Store it flat overnight: Lay the lanyard in a pouch or drawer rather than hanging it, so the strap does not stretch. Check monthly for loose clasps or bent pin backs.
Product facts
- Z7: Devils & Valentines Phone Charm: 1.5in / 4cm charm on a red phone strap. The cord attachment lets you loop it onto a lanyard clip without piercing the strap, so it works as a hanging charm rather than a pinned item.
- Z7: Zenith Goth Maid Sticker: Matte vinyl dye cut sticker, 5 inches, UV and weather resistant. Sized for a notebook or case rather than a lanyard, so keep it off the strap and use it on a surface where the matte finish will not rub against hardware.
- Z7 PROJECT: Valentine Angel x Devils - Set #18: Full set includes 1 collector card, 3 regular stickers, 1 alt sticker, and 1 mini sticker; full-sized stickers are 5 inches and mini size is smaller. The mini sticker is the only piece small enough to sit on a lanyard card sleeve without overwhelming the strap, so the rest of the set is better displayed separately.
