Suggestions on how to tie and carry an awkward package?

[Gordias]

I recently bought a shoe rack at IKEA and had to carry it home (walking and bus).  The package is a cardboard box, securely taped shut, about 12kg, 130x60x10 cm (25 lb, 51x24x4 inches).  I didn't take anything with me to help me carry it, but IKEA provides free cord (2-3mm, cheap plastic) and scissors, so I wrapped some cord around it (at 1/3 and 2/3 of the long axis, wrapped several times around the second axis), make a handle for wrapping the cord many times between the two ties, and carried it home.

It worked, but I had plenty of time to reflect on the fact that it didn't work especially well

So my first question is "what's the best that can be done with free materials?".

Some of the things I wished I knew how to do:

- Make a better handle for carrying this kind of load with one hand - it was a bit heavy for me, and the handle I made didn't spread the load across my hand/fingers very well
- Make something that would work has a carrying strap (shoulder or even backpack-style)
- Make a decent harness around the package that could be used to carry it on my shoulder or on my back

My next attempt at a handle will use the "interlocking loops" you can use to make a rope easy to carry.  It's fast enough, and better than what I did, but I doubt it's the best answer.

I know how to braid straps, but that would take way too long for this.  So far no ideas on straps otherwise.

For a more stable harness, I was thinking a very coarse net (the cord diagonal to the lines of the box) might be better to wrap the parcel, or maybe just tying something around all three axes and linking them up?

A related question ... after this experience I'm thinking of getting some decent cord or tapes, plus some light rings, carabiners (sp?) or hooks to have always in my backpack, or to put in it when I'm shopping for something that might be bulky/heavy.  This would have to be both light and compact, but ofc wouldn't have to be very strong.

I can get light, compact tapes, rings, and hooks from my local gas station quite cheaply. Of course using tape means the answers to the first question won't apply exactly, and unlike the free string, I won't want to cut the tapes to fit the package ... so Q2 is "what might be done with 5 or 10 meters of 1 cm (a little under 1/2") tape and a (very) few D-rings, hooks, etc?".

I could also plan better and take a proper carrying system with me, but whilst this is a good answer in theory, it's not actually going to work for me  

[roo]

Try this:
http://notableknotindex.webs.com/boxsling.html

And to make a handle or shoulder strap that is more comfortable, try a Fat Sheepshank, shown here:
http://notableknotindex.webs.com/sheepshank.html

[knot4u]

Unless you practice this awkward application beforehand for whatever reason, this is one of those situations where your knowledge of a lot of different solutions (and knowing intimately how to use the solutions in various scenarios) comes in quite handy.

The first solution that came to mind for me was trying to strap the box onto my back.  This seems feasible because of the 4-inch dimension (i.e., the box doesn't stick out too far from your back).  So, I'd manufacture straps to keep the box on my back as I walk at a slight angle.  That may prove to be annoying after a long distance.  I'm not sure though.  It may not be too much more annoying than other options.

The other solution that came to mind was manufacturing a strap to carry the box on one shoulder.  I'd switch shoulders as fatigue sets in.  Roo's links to the Sheepshank options may be helpful here.  Here is where I'd get creative and incorporate into the handle a piece of scrap cardboard, towel, sock, or T-shirt, basically anything that would increase the surface area of the handle.