How To Tie Figure Eight Knot

Learning how to tie a figure eight knot is one of the first techniques taught to new climbers. The figure eight knot is used in many applications, perhaps most commonly to tie-in and connect your harness. Learning how to tie a figure eight knot is as easy as remembering the name of the knot, as the knot is just as is sounds: shaped in a figure eight.

1. Locate your starting point. Stand up and hold one end of the rope. Feed the end of the rope to the ground, then grasp it at about waist level, creating one shorter end, the length from the ground to your waist, and one longer end, the remainder of the rope. This starting point will be where you will create your figure eight knot.
2. Make the first figure eight. Create a U-shaped loop near the starting point of the rope. Grasp the loop, with the ends upwards, using your right hand. Make sure the shorter end is on the left, then pass it up and over the right side of the rope, above the U-shaped loop. Feed the short end through the hole you created. The result should create a single figure eight knot.
3. Attach your harness. Feed the short end of the rope through your harness then back up toward the figure eight knot. Pull the knot toward you and your harness, leaving just a couple inches between the knot and harness. If you are not using a harness, simply make a U-shaped knot two-to-three inches in length.
   
4. Follow through on the figure eight. Using the shorter end of rope, feed the rope back through the knot a second time. Follow the reverse path created in the initial figure eight knot, feeding it up through the lower hole, around the other end of the rope, then under the harness end and through the upper hole.
5. Secure the figure eight knot. Pull the entire knot towards you and the harness to tighten the knot. Secure the remaining rope end by tucking it into the figure eight knot or create a stopper by tying it to the longer end of rope using a simple overhand knot.