Questions tagged [knots]

Questions relating to the use of knots in performing activities in the great outdoors such as climbing and fishing.

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12 votes
2 answers
6k views

Adjustable mid-line knot?

I'm looking for a knot similar to a sheepshank but adjustable and stable under load on both ends. Think of two poles that have the two ends of a rope permanently attached to them but you want to ...
smossum's user avatar
  • 123
12 votes
2 answers
6k views

Fixed line: Prusik vs mechanical ascender

The standard mountaineering textbook Freedom of the Hills has a long discussion of fixed lines, and they state simply that you use a mechanical ascender on them. This seems odd to me, since for most ...
user avatar
4 votes
4 answers
3k views

How to lock a trucker's hitch without losing any tension?

What is the best technique to lock a trucker's hitch in a strong way that's also easy to release, but most important, that doesn't loose any (or the least amount of) tension in the line, when I lock ...
Dakatine's user avatar
  • 4,595
10 votes
1 answer
2k views

water knot vs figure 8 follow through vs X for rock climbing anchor - What is easiest to untie?

I've recently been using figure 8 follow through on anchor webbing, and although it takes more time to dress properly and setup than a water knot, it's easier to untie at the end of the day and I feel ...
SwimBikeRun's user avatar
7 votes
2 answers
359 views

What knot is this one? What are its purposes?

I stumbled across it and I saw it in a showcase. I couldn't recognize it. It looks like it's a way to tie fixed loops in the middle of a rope.
Dakatine's user avatar
  • 4,595
10 votes
3 answers
4k views

Hitch with no ends

Is there a knot that can be used to hitch a rope to a pole without access to any of the rope's ends OR the pole's ends? I know of hitches that work in the one case or the other but not both.
Zeke's user avatar
  • 203
11 votes
2 answers
752 views

Belay with a broken arm

I follow Andy Kirkpatrick(Hull's second best climber) on instagram. He rencently posted this photo: with the comment: Teaching self rescue...(how to belay with a broken arm) It looks like a ...
user avatar
6 votes
2 answers
7k views

Winter Slackline solutions

We recently purchased a slackline to take on family camping trips. Does anyone have a good do it yourself indoor solution for the winter? How can I tell if the poles in my basement can support a ...
Joseph Lippens's user avatar
14 votes
1 answer
7k views

Which is better, a single fisherman's knot or a double?

I ask this question based on the fact that tensile strength tests show that putting a double fisherman's knot in kernmantle rope makes it more likely for the rope to snap than a rope tied with a ...
ShemSeger's user avatar
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8 votes
1 answer
122 views

What are the things I need to know when fashioning a sling?

I was trying to make a sling the other day to entertain my kids (yes this is a terrible idea) and although the finished product worked (sort of) it occurred to me that this, like all ancient handi-...
paperstreet's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
670 views

What is the name of this knot for tying into a "confidence" rope?

I came across this tutorial. But I don't recognise the knot. Can anyone tell me the name of this knot? Is this the correct knot for this use? Any alternatives techniques for this or am I good with ...
user avatar
7 votes
1 answer
1k views

Securing things to spars with a wire Cocky's Hitch

I remember about a decade ago, my grandfather taught me a particular wire "knot". He called it a Cocky's Hitch. I remember the first step was to take a length of thick fencing wire and fold it in half....
Frames Catherine White's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
2k views

Shortening a shoulder-length sling to half-length?

For trad climbing, I normally carry shoulder-length slings racked on my harness, set up in Alpine draws at 1/3 their full length. When I'm leading and need to extend my protection, I either use them ...
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7 votes
3 answers
1k views

Applications of a slip knot in climbing?

I'm joining a rock climbing club that requires an evaluation test in order to become a member. (I think this is a great idea.) They have a detailed handout listing exactly what you need to know for ...
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17 votes
2 answers
16k views

Making a Make-Shift harness from Tape-Slings

I have some common knowledge about knots used for Climbing and Rope-care. There was an incident last week, where I needed a Seat-Harness which I didn't have with me. I needed one for tying up a ...
WedaPashi's user avatar
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7 votes
3 answers
2k views

An adjustable length knot for 2 lines and a carabiner for easy suspension

I have made myself a pair of wrecking balls from a cricket ball and 6mm accessory cord for pinch grip pullups and I am currently debating what is the best way to create a knot to hang them. Currently ...
Fiztban's user avatar
  • 245
17 votes
5 answers
6k views

Knot to turn cord into loop (load bearing)

What's the best knot for turning a piece of cord into a loop? The cord would then be used for a prusik so needs to be very secure and load bearing.
user avatar
7 votes
3 answers
632 views

When climbing, how far should the tie-in knot be from the harness?

Recently I heard as a general rule of thumb that one should leave at most the width of your hand as space between the knot (a figure eight for instance) and the harness. Its quite obvious that one ...
ftiaronsem's user avatar
15 votes
5 answers
9k views

Which mid-line knot is best suited for a trucker's hitch?

I've been using a trucker's hitch knot for a very long time (camping, strapping stuff down, line length adjustment, pulley system) I've always switched my mid-line loop when I've come to not trust ...
g19fanatic's user avatar
7 votes
1 answer
1k views

Can you use a loop-to-loop going braid to mono/fluoro?

I have been using a double uni knot to go from braid to a fluoro leader, and just recently learned a perfection loop, and accompanying loop-to-loop for fly line to fly leader. For spinning gear with a ...
taylorwc's user avatar
  • 131
5 votes
0 answers
154 views

What is a good knot to tie a short loop around a bracelet? [closed]

I want to tie a hair band around a bracelet, so it's easy to store and remove. It's too short to put it around my wrist, so I tried a cow hitch, but I'd like something more compact/secure. Any ideas?
nachocab's user avatar
  • 151
4 votes
1 answer
620 views

How do I tie a figure of 8 knot

How would I tie a double figure of eight knot for attaching to a rock climbing harness?
user avatar
11 votes
3 answers
5k views

Knot for Joining the ropes of different thicknesses

As, I have been using a Double Fisherman's knot to join the two ropes. With some physics that I know, in Double Fisherman's knot the same amount of pressure (stress) is applied over the two turns of ...
WedaPashi's user avatar
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10 votes
1 answer
2k views

Tie in to harness, top to bottom or bottom to top

When tying into a harness with a figure eight follow through knot, does it matter if the running end comes up through the tie in points or goes down through them? From the figure it is hard to see ...
AM_Hawk's user avatar
  • 4,475
11 votes
3 answers
284 views

Fly fishing rig knots

I have been fly fishing with my dad for a number of years but recently I went on my own and hit quite the stumbling block... I didn't know how to set the kit properly, normally I drive the boat while ...
rg255's user avatar
  • 383
24 votes
5 answers
10k views

How safe is the bowline knot in different situations?

The bowline knot (picture below, source) has a great reputation as a very safe knot. Is it really completely safe in all situations and loads, or are there use cases where it may fail?
zoul's user avatar
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18 votes
2 answers
10k views

How do I tie a slackline with only carabiners and webbing?

Commercial slackline solutions seem bulky, heavy, overpriced, and a little too industrial for my liking. I have 6 carabiners and 50m of tubular webbing. What knots do you recommend for building, ...
Lost's user avatar
  • 19k
9 votes
2 answers
1k views

What are different knots named in English?

As English isn't my first language, I don't know the English words for different knots. Any translator fails on this part too. Can someone point me to a source? edit: Please also describe synonyms ...
user avatar
29 votes
4 answers
15k views

Bowline knot, end at the inside or outside?

Why is it advised (here at Outdoors) to tie a bowline knot with its ending on the inside ("Standard Bowline") and not at the outside ("Cowboy Bowline")? See pictures below. If you're unlucky the end ...
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20 votes
4 answers
3k views

Using a Girth Hitch in Alpine Draws

I've recently started making my alpine (or "trad") draws by girth hitching one end of a sling to the gear side carabiner and then clipping and passing the rope side through as usual. The girth hitch ...
crasic's user avatar
  • 1,323
8 votes
1 answer
2k views

Making own Hammock

I have been looking but unable to find a good video or step by step with photos to make my own Hammock. I have a ton of paracord lying around and plan on using that, but I'd really like a guide and/or ...
MaskedPlant's user avatar
  • 6,232
8 votes
1 answer
1k views

Is it normal for an Evenk/Siberian hitch knot to become loose?

Is it normal for the Evenk/Siberian hitch knot to open out in use, particularly when tied to a large diameter object (think tree) where the rope enters the knot close to right angles from the load? ...
Sirex's user avatar
  • 555
33 votes
7 answers
12k views

Which knot for climbing: figure eight, yosemite bowline, bowline on a bight?

This is a topic often discussed online, but all I could find so far was people sharing their opinions (including numbers) on what tie-in knot is the best. Here's what I've found out from different ...
David's user avatar
  • 1,037
13 votes
3 answers
2k views

How can I tie a bowline knot with one hand?

A bowline knot is an excellent rescue knot as it tightens when under load. However, its very use as a rescue knot may make it hard to tie - for example, if a person fell and damaged one arm to the ...
Edward Thomson's user avatar
13 votes
1 answer
2k views

What is the preferred knot for cinching a hard item to your car rack?

Let's say I want to tie a hard object to the top of my car, like a kayak. What is the preferred knot for cinching it down tightly? I often run into this problem with boats, lumber, and the like. In ...
Mike M. Lin's user avatar
8 votes
2 answers
646 views

How do I tie a stopper knot?

A stopper knot is often used to prevent rope from unexpectedly going throu some hole, such as a belay device. How would I tie a stopper knot?
Reverend Gonzo's user avatar
7 votes
1 answer
3k views

How do I tie a bowline knot?

Bowline knots are among the most commonly used knots across many different outdoor activities. It is used to create a fixed loop at the end of a line, while still being easy to tie and untie. How ...
Reverend Gonzo's user avatar
8 votes
3 answers
2k views

How do I tie a double fisherman's knot?

In climbing, a double fisherman's knot is used to tie together two separate pieces of rope. How would I tie such a knot?
Reverend Gonzo's user avatar
14 votes
1 answer
1k views

How do I tie a Prusik knot?

Prusik knots are useful in emergency situations as they can be used for both climbing up a rope (out of a canyon) or down a rope (rappelling) without someone else providing a fireman's belay. How ...
Reverend Gonzo's user avatar
66 votes
8 answers
25k views

What are good knots to know for camping and backpacking?

I once tied a bear bag with a haphazard bundle of knots, and despite being seemingly impossible to untie, it came loose when lowering the bear bag and nearly smoked my friend standing under it. What ...
whatsisname's user avatar
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