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How To Tie Knots For Climbing

By: Jason Brick

Break Studios Contributing Writer

Before even thinking about an unguided rock climbing expedition, it's vital that you know how to tie knots for climbing. Climbing safety relies on a strong belay, which depends on strong anchors. Strong anchors are impossible without quality knots. The three most common rock climbing knots are the figure eight, the tape knot and the harness anchor.

Things you'll need:

  • Rope

Tying a figure eight knot:

  1. Hold the rope in your fist and twist it 180 degrees. This will form a loop.
  2. Pass one end of the rope through the loop.
  3. Pull both ends of the rope to tighten. As it closes, the knot should resemble a figure eight. Hence the name.

Tying a tape knot:

  1. Tie the rope into a square knot near one end. Keep the knot loose at this stage.
  2. Take one end of the other rope or the opposite end of the same rope. Pass it through the square knot, following the rope through the first square knot.
  3. Pull the knot closed. Pull hard on each of the rope lengths to tighten the knots further.

Tying a harness anchor:

  1. Put on your harness or have the person you plan to anchor put on his harness.
  2. Grip the rope approximately three feet from one end. Tie a figure eight knot.
  3. Pass the free end of the rope through the loop in the harness.
  4. Pass the end of the rope back through the figure eight.
  5. Pull the knot tight. Tighten further by pulling all four of the rope lengths leaving the knot.
  6. Tie the loose rope end around the rope with a square knot.
Posted on: Jul. 01, 2010