Tie a Rethreaded Figure of 8 Climbing Knot
A re-threaded figure-of-eight, (also called a figure-of-eight follow-through) knot is used by climbers to tie in to a Put on a Climbing Harness. It's safe, strong, and easy to tie. You make a figure-of-eight with a single rope, loop through the harness, and then follow the rope back through the figure-of-eight. With these instructions, you'll learn how to do it properly.
Steps
- Make a loop in the rope with about five feet (1.5 meters) of working end.
- Go over the long end and through the hole.
- Put the working end through your harness.
- Take the working end and follow the knot back around, retracing the original figure-of-eight knot end (varies by person and rope diameter).
- Double over the section of rope.
- While holding the section together, use that section to create a loop.
- With the end of the loop created by the bend of where the rope was doubled over, go around the new loop and through it.
- Pull tight, and dress the knot!
- Be sure to leave enough room for a tail to create the safety knot.
Before You Climb
- Dress the knot. Make sure that the rope is not twisted in any place in the knot.
- Have your belayer check the knot before you climb--you should also check his or her set-up for extra safety.
Tips
- A pretty knot is a safe knot. If your knot does not look uniform and symmetrical or, if after you retrace the knot, each curve does not fit together well, untie your knot and start again.
- Always check that the knot is tied in through both hard points before climbing.
- If you anticipate a fall, thread the rope through your harness twice. It should form a complete loop around the tie in points before threading the rope back through itself. This will make the knot easier to un-tie when you finish climbing.
Warnings
- You should never climb alone.
- Always double check your knots, then have someone else check them, no matter how experienced you are.
- Remember, the world's best-tied knot won't help you if your harness isn't fastened properly and doubled back.
- Rock climbing is an inherently dangerous activity that can result in serious injury or death. Seek proper training and equipment before attempting this activity.
- Don't leave the ground until you have checked that your knot, your harness, and your belayers harness are secure. Additionally, make sure that your belayer's technique is appropriate.
