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How to Tie a Figure Eight Follow Through
The figure eight follow through is the standard method for tying a climbing rope directly to a harness — it's the most important knot for every rock climber to master.
How to Tie a Figure Eight Follow Through Step by Step
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Written Instructions — Figure Eight Follow Through
- Tie figure eight in rope Tie a loose figure eight leaving 18+ inches of tail for rethreading.
- Thread through harness Pass the tail through both tie-in points of your harness per the harness manufacturer's instructions.
- Rethread — follow exact path Starting at the harness, thread the tail back through the figure eight following the exact same path as the original rope.
- Complete rethread — no gaps Every section of the original knot must have a parallel tail strand alongside it — no single-strand sections.
- Tighten and inspect Pull all four strands tight. Verify two parallel strands run through every part of the knot.
Tips for Tying a Figure Eight Follow Through
- The rethread must follow EXACTLY the same path — not a mirror image. Go slowly and check each pass.
- A finished knot should have two parallel strands visible in every section — this is the go/no-go check.
- Have a partner check your knot before every climb — two sets of eyes catch errors.
- Leave a tail of at least 2 inches after tying — a very short tail can work back through the knot.
- After tying, the knot should sit 2–4 inches from your harness tie-in point.
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