Climbing Knots

Climbing knots are life-safety knots — they must be tied correctly every single time. These are the essential knots for rock climbing, mountaineering, and alpine travel, with detailed instructions for each.

Figure Eight Follow Through

Intermediate

Standard harness attachment for rock climbing. Must be rethreaded correctly — two parallel strands throughout the knot.

Bowline

Intermediate

Alternative harness attachment — easier to untie after loading. Always back up with a stopper knot.

Munter Hitch

Intermediate

Emergency belay device requiring only a locking carabiner. Every climber's essential backup.

Prusik Knot

Intermediate

Friction hitch for ascending a fixed rope and escaping a belay. Grips under load, slides freely when released.

Alpine Butterfly

Advanced

Fixed mid-rope loop for clipping middle climbers or isolating damaged rope sections. Holds load from either direction.

Double Fisherman's Knot

Intermediate

Permanent extremely strong join for making prusik loops and joining rappel ropes.

Clove Hitch

Easy

Fast carabiner attachment for anchors. Adjustable under load — essential for multi-point equalized anchors.

Girth Hitch

Easy

Attaches a sling to a harness loop or anchor point. Fast but reduces sling strength by ~50%.

Figure Eight Stopper

Easy

Standard stopper knot used in climbing and rappelling to back up other knots.