Questions tagged [knots]
Questions relating to the use of knots in performing activities in the great outdoors such as climbing and fishing.
124
questions
5
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2answers
131 views
Alternative to midshipman's / taut-line hitch for modern ropes
A taut-line hitch is used to tying tent ropes to a stake. It can be manually slid up/down the standing part of the rope, so as to adjust the tightness in the line, but it holds well under tension.
...
4
votes
1answer
149 views
What is this knot?
My 6 year old daughter was playing with ropes today and tied a knot of her own creation. I tried to demonstrate to her the importance of learning to tie good knots that don't slip, but when I went to ...
4
votes
3answers
181 views
How to make it easier to untie a figure-8 knot after finishing a climb?
If you tie a figure-8 knot while rock climbing and fall a few times (especially if they're dynamic lead falls), the knots will become so difficult to untie that you sometimes have to use a carabiner ...
3
votes
3answers
295 views
What knot was used by my mountain guide to tie me in to the middle of a rope?
Twice now I have been out winter hiking with a guide and another person and I'm trying to work out what knot they used to tie the middle person onto the rope.
Let's say the guide is in front, my ...
7
votes
3answers
970 views
How to tension rope between two trees? [duplicate]
I often need to tension a rope between two trees, usually 20-30 ft apart. I am not skilled with knots so it is often sloppy and the tension doesn't hold even very modest weight (such as clothes or ...
7
votes
4answers
386 views
Most practical knots for a bend (tying two ropes together) while pulling to create tension?
My personal favorite for tying two ends of a rope together is the Flemish Bend. It's simple, strong, does not slide, does not require stopper knots (unless used for life-critical applications), allows ...
29
votes
6answers
4k views
Most practical knots for hitching a line to an object while keeping the bitter end as tight as possible, without sag?
Say, I want to tie a rope between two trees, and I want it to have as little sag as possible. I have attached the rope to one tree and I'm trying to tie it to the other tree while pulling it to create ...
3
votes
1answer
103 views
Knot to tie handle of a bag
If you have full stuffed bag full of laundry with two handles, how would you tie the handles?
4
votes
1answer
108 views
Tradeoffs between different stopper knots
Because a number of accidents have occurred when a climber was lowered or rappelled off the end of a rope, it is wise to tie a stopper knot in the end(s) of the rope. My question is what stopper knot ...
3
votes
5answers
160 views
What's an easy way to fasten/unfasten to bind two horizontal poles?
I need a knot that can be fastened and unfastened as quickly as possible (like a toggle on a jacket; twist and release). I also need to be able to tighten or loosen the rope easily. Basically, I want ...
8
votes
2answers
3k views
What is the strongest knot using a steel-thimble to make a steel-eyelet at the end of the line?
(to be clear, I know I can just check knot-strengths for a general end-of-line attachment, it's the inclusion of the steel thimble - I'll find a link to add to end of post - it's that inclusion that ...
1
vote
1answer
218 views
Climbing-line “rope-thimbles”, unsure how to utilize these (got several 1/2" 'steel rope thimbles' with my climb-rope!)
I got some 1/2" steel-thimbles for my climbing-rope but sadly I'm not sure how to safely use them, I'd thought "I can just tie a knot at just the right spot so that the thimble is securely nested in ...
1
vote
0answers
105 views
Have a couple basic Q's on climbing-line (1 on safely descending/rappelling, another on using multiple lines and/or hardware to achieve “1+1=2”?)
Hoping to ask a couple basic Q's before my order arrives, I suspect I may've gotten insufficient gear..
1 - Is doubling-up ropes, or hardware, ever acceptable in climbing? IE, my 8mm prusik cord is ...
5
votes
1answer
540 views
What is a “Post Eye Tiable” (PET) knot?
In an answer on a question about bowlines the following statement is made by @MarkG:
All 'Bowlines' have the advantage of being Post Eye Tiable (PET) and totally jam resistant.
https://outdoors....
1
vote
0answers
45 views
How to do a prussik with end of cordellete only? [duplicate]
Doing a Prussik with a small cordellete that is tied together in a O is relatively easy. Now some maneuvers require to do a Prussik/blocking knot with only one side of a long cordelete... how do you ...
3
votes
2answers
283 views
What are the four climbing knots used by Jim Bridwell?
Long & Gaines Climbing Anchors says:
Jim Bridwell, one of the most experienced climbers in the
history of the sport, uses only four knots for any and all climbing situations. Better
to ...
6
votes
2answers
343 views
Knot for pulling two branches of a tree together
I need to bring two branches of a palm tree/bush together. So I need a knot that is secure under tension but can also be progressively tightened. What knot would you recommend?
8
votes
3answers
362 views
Does anyone recognise this knot?
I came across this knot when it was used to tie a guy wire to a newly purchased light weight tent. I am reasonably knot savvy but have never come across it. It forms a non-slip loop when pulled up ...
4
votes
2answers
129 views
Knots for bases of equipment
I have a few items: FireSteel, Hatchet, etc. that have a small paracord size hole at the base. I was looking to add a length of paracord so I can easily loop it over branches, tentpoles, etc. Do any ...
5
votes
2answers
428 views
Can an overhand loop be used to shorten nylon webbing as a personal anchor?
Is it safe to girth-hitch nylon webbing through my harness tie-in points and then shorten the webbing via an overhand loop (assume it is too long) and clipping the non-bight part to the bolt in the ...
4
votes
2answers
157 views
How to tie nylon straps to trees of unknown diameter
When outdoors with my hammock, I prefer to set everything up with a pair of nylon tree straps. It gives things a more secure feeling and I've heard it's better for the trees too since the cordage won'...
4
votes
1answer
354 views
How to join 2 cables together with fishing line without putting knot in cable?
I want to tie both cables together, but without a knot, kind of "join" them as if glued together side by side, no knot in the cable.
The cable is quite thin, and I'm using fishing line, the knot has ...
7
votes
1answer
199 views
Figure-8 Followthrough Question
Is it still considered a 'figure 8' knot when you dress it so the loop is perpendicular to the rest of the loop?
8
votes
2answers
980 views
When making an anchor with static rope around a boulder, what knot should I use
If I'm using a natural feature such as a boulder or a lump of rock as part of an anchor by tying a static rope around it, what are the best knots to use? I'm thinking that there would be different ...
8
votes
2answers
866 views
Why does my flurocarbon leader keep breaking when tied with a double uni-knot?
I am trying to connect 12lb leadline (lead removed for knot) to a 6lb flurocarbon leader but when I tie them with a double uni knot the flurocarbon breaks when pulling it tight.
I have tried a couple ...
0
votes
1answer
470 views
How to tie a Purcell Prusik from a single end?
There is the regular Purcell Prusik, which can be used for adjustable tethers or create foot loops for ascending a rope, but it is also useful to know how to tie it with only one end of the rope ...
4
votes
1answer
389 views
How use a nylon cordelette as an adjustable tether for rock climbing?
Sometimes when clipping in people who are rappelling, or setting up anchors in some places from above or showing people how to get onto a fixed line, I need an adjustable tether.
I often carry a ...
7
votes
1answer
761 views
How to tie a Purcell prusik?
One of the more useful knots for climbing is the Purcell prusik (related to but not a regular prussik), which can be used as an adjustable tether or for ascending a rope among other things.
How would ...
7
votes
1answer
398 views
How to tie a bull hitch using end(s)?
I have found the bull hitch really great for tying my paracord to secure to an object, like a stick, branch or other long object. The reason I like it is that compared to other hitches like the girth ...
5
votes
2answers
274 views
What knot is this that starts off like a taut line hitch but ends differently?
I thought that Les Stroud was about to make a taut line hitch. But at the end he did a couple of things a little different. What is this knot? Does it hold better than a taut line hitch?
3
votes
1answer
231 views
Knots when abseiling with single rope
I have a rope of 10 m which supports 3 kN (300 kg) strength. I will abseil with it as a single rope.
I want to know what is the recommended knot to use when attaching the top with my anchor's ...
9
votes
2answers
351 views
Knot for adjusting the length of a loop using both ends of a cord
I have a requirement where I want to tie a knot with the two ends of a cord where the length of the loop can be adjusted using either of the ends. (The knot has to be present on both the ends of the ...
3
votes
3answers
292 views
What's a good resource for learning to tie knots for climbing?
If I wanted to learn how to tie certain knots, or learn about new knots and what they're used for, what are some good resources to look up?
3
votes
2answers
952 views
How to tie a super eight / double figure eight / bunny ear knot?
Note, I am not asking how to tie three different types of knots, but rather one knot that goes by three different names.
Its a knot that can be useful in building anchors especially at the top of ...
1
vote
1answer
189 views
How to tie a figure eight on a bight?
One of the more common knots in climbing is the figure eight on a bight (being tied on a bight means that it is tied without using the ends.
How exactly would one tie this knot?
18
votes
2answers
2k views
Crevasse rescue with knots in the rope
This has been bugging me for a while. A party is traveling on a glacier and adds braking knots evenly to the length of the rope as seen in this answer. The person leading the rope falls into a ...
-1
votes
2answers
178 views
What the name of the knot that is used for tying something to a pole? [closed]
Whats are some simple knots to attach a rope to a pole?
It involves simply looping around the pole, and then running through one of the ends through the loop and tightening
6
votes
1answer
2k views
How to tie a one-piece webbing harness for dogs?
We have a new puppy and can't wait to take him to TGO.
Since he's still growing he'll grow out of any harness that fits at the moment. I'm considering tying a harness out of webbing, but all ...
4
votes
2answers
112 views
How to compactify the long straps on a tent or tarp when not in use?
Tents and tarps have these long straps (sketch here), which may be used to tie them to distant trees. When unused, they can look untidy and become tangled. This can happen both when the tent is in use ...
7
votes
2answers
263 views
Which knot to tie bulky objects together for transport
I am looking for a knot that can be used to tie bulky objects together.
Usually I would use compression straps to tightly strap a tent to a bike handlebars, but I only have paracord at the moment.
I ...
9
votes
4answers
6k views
Which type of rope is to be used to practice knots?
I am a complete noob when it comes to ropes and knots. It's high time I start practicing.
Which rope, most preferably easily available and portable, should I use for practice?
Should it be of ...
5
votes
2answers
177 views
Stopper with Toggle for Blake's Hitch
I'm a knot novice and I was thinking about using a Blake's hitch while camping. The hitch is finished with a stopper knot, which appears pretty critical to me. I thought it would make sense to insert ...
5
votes
2answers
1k views
Double half hitch, versus two half hitches?
In the 70s, while learning sailing, I was taught to use a double half hitch, where the two hitches are tied in opposite directions. However, in the 90s, I took a USCG course, where in the same ...
9
votes
6answers
2k views
What would be a good knot to tie a clothesline to a tree?
I like the smell of sun-dried clothes/blankets/etc, and I got some line to make a clothesline. I've got a device that you pull the line through and it stays where you pulled it, which will be on the ...
7
votes
1answer
2k views
How to tie an EBSB bowline?
According to the most comprehensive reference ever written on bowlines, the EBSB bowline (which is a variation of another variation, called the EBDB bowline, together with a sort of Yosemite finish) ...
8
votes
2answers
703 views
Is a clove hitch to be distrusted in climbing?
Reading the description for a clove hitch on animated knots by Grog (the go to bible of knots IMO) I was surprised to read:
Caution: The Clove Hitch was, originally, included here with the
...
4
votes
2answers
376 views
Undoing an over tight Clove Hitch?
The weather has been really nice this weekend in North wales so over the weekend I set up a slack line in my back garden to have a play about on!
On Sun I went to take it all down. Problem is I ...
20
votes
8answers
7k views
How do you tie in to the centre of a rope?
Suppose you're leading a short pitch (20-30m) and you have two followers, or you want to double rope the route, and want to simply half your rope and tie into the centre, pulling the two halves up ...
9
votes
2answers
345 views
How can you tie a clove hitch one handed?
I was watching a video this am where a guy tied a clove hitch and passed it though a carabiner one handed. This seemed a very handy technique to know.
I usually use both hands to tie this, make a ...
3
votes
1answer
508 views
Which knot is best for connecting loose ends and attaching carabiner?
I have a short climbing rope and two carabiners. I want to use it as a strap to carry something (it is not intended for climbing). As the rope is too long, I fold it once. At one "end" I make a figure ...
