Useful Knots
Safety Note
In any knot the shank (the end of the rope sticking out of the knot) can slip back through the knot under load, untying the knot; this is especially likely in ropes made of artificial fibre, such as climbing ropes.
- Leave a shank at least 10cm long on your knots
- Tie a stopper knot in the shank
- Check your knots regularly in use
The Figure of Eight Knot
Useful only as a stopper knot (eg, to stop a halyard running through
a pulley, or to stop the shank slipping through a knot); stronger than a thumb knot and much easier to undo,
especially in wet rope.
End of the rope is required.
The Figure of Eight on the Bight
The essential climbing knot (stronger than a bowline and easier to tie), it is the strongest, safest
loop for all purposes, especially belaying and tieing on. Take a bight (or loop) of rope and tie a
Figure of Eight Knot with it.
End of the rope is not required.
The Thumb Knot
Useful as a stopper knot (but liable to jam badly, especially in wet rope) but more important
for its role in the Tape and Fisherman's Knots.
End of the rope is required.
The Fisherman's Knot
An excellent knot for joining ropes of equal thickness. Tends to jam under heavy load
End of the rope is required.
Tie a Thumb Knot in the end of rope A; pass rope B through the Thumb Knot in A; tie a Thumb
Knot in B around A. Tighten the knots gently and pull the ropes so that the knots slide and
lock together.
The Tape Knot
An essential knot for joining webbing tapes and fishing line; other knots slip or are much weaker
under load.
Do not use this knot on rope - it is designed for webbing tape.
End of the rope is required.
Tie a Thumb Knot in the end of tape A; pass tape B through the Thumb Knot in A and follow tape A
back through the knot. Tighten the knot gently so that the tapes lie flat and untwisted.
The Sheet Bend
Essential for joining ropes of unequal thickness. The Double Sheet Bend is more reliable.
End of the rope is required.
The Clove Hitch
A safe, quick-to-tie, easy-to-untie hitch.
End of the rope is not required (if you can put the knot over the end of the post).
The Round Turn and Two Half Hitches
An easy hitch for belaying, most often seen with a boat or horse attached. Notice that the half
hitches form a clove hitch on the rope.
End of the rope is required.