Climbing Knots for Beginners

The Climbing Rope is a key tool in Climbing. You will not be able to use your rope effectively if you do not know how to tie knots and what situation calls for a specific knot. These purposes and more are more than enough for beginners to learn how to tie knots commonly used in Rock Climbing. In this section, know several knots that you should know and learn when they are used.

If you need to attach a Carabiner or any piece of gear to a loop in the rope then you need to tie a Single Loop Knot. Examples of this knot classification are Alpine Butterfly, Bowline, and Figure Eight Knots.


Double Loop Knots are usually tied for more security or if you want to have a double hold when hauling up or lowering load. A Double Alpine Butterfly is a good example of a Double Loop Knot.

To control the descent when belaying, or apply friction on the rope and your Carabiner or other piece of equipment, tie a Hitch. This is a type of knot wherein the rope is tied or looped to an object such as a Carabiner or post. You can also tie a Hitch to anchor yourself immediately without a sling. Prusik Knot, Clove Hitch, and Italian Hitch are common examples of this classification.

Meanwhile, another classification is the Stopper Knot. As the name suggests, the knots under this category are usually tied at the end of the rope to prevent it from fraying or unraveling. The Overhand, Double Overhand, and Figure Eight Knots are all part of the Stopper Knot family.


If you need a long rope but you do not have one, you can tie two ropes through Bends. The Water Knot and Fisherman's Knot are good examples of Bends.


These are the different basic knots used in Rock Climbing. Know when and how they are used and learn how to tie them. You will learn other Climbing Knots as you gain experience.

Single Loop Knots

	Alpine Butterfly Knot The Alpine Butterfly is also considered to be one of the best and most secure Single Loop Knots that can be tied in the middle of a rope when you don't have access to the ends.
	Bowline The Bowline has been called the "King of Knots" and it is used around the world in one form or another. Learn how and where the Bowline is used in this section.
	Figure Eight Loop The Figure Eight Loop is generally considered to be 10-15% stronger than the basic Bowline. This loop is very easy to remember. Learn how to tie this knot with the help of our animation and easy-to-follow steps.

Double Loop Knots

	Double Figure Eight Loop Also known as bunny ears, the Double Figure Eight Loop is a strong and secure knot which is tied to equalize the load on two anchors clipped to the 'ears'.
	Double Alpine Butterfly If you want to make two loops in the middle of a rope and you do not have access to the two ends of it, tie a Double Alpine Butterfly Knot. Learn how in this section.

Hitches

	Prusik Knot Tying a Prusik Knot will enable you to ascend a rope or haul up load. Learn how to tie this knot with the help of our animation and easy-to-follow steps.
	Clove Hitch The clove hitch knot is popular because it is easy to do. It is one of the most frequently used knots which is essential for both summer and winter climbing.
	Italian Hitch The Italian Hitch is an extremely useful knot as it can be used for Belaying, Abseiling, and rigging. Learn how to tie the Italian Hitch in this section.

Stopper Knots

	Overhand Knot This is a fundamental knot which forms the basis of other essential knots. It is usually tied at the end of the rope or line. Learn how to tie an Overhand Knot in this section.
	Double Overhand Knot This knot is more preferable to be used as a stopper knot because it is harder to untie and is less likely to pull through. Learn how to tie a Double Overhand Knot with the help of our animation.
	Figure Eight Knot If you need to learn one knot, then it should be the Figure of Eight knot. There are generally two methods to use the Figure of Eight Knot. Learn how to tie the Figure of Eight Knot in this section.

Bends

	Water Knot The Water Knot is used for joining the ends of a webbing waistline or a sling. It is also known as Ring Bend or Tape Knot. Learn how to tie this knot in this section.
	Fisherman's Knot The Fisherman's Knot is usually used to tie two ropes or lines with roughly the same diameter such as Fishing Lines, hence the name. Learn more about this knot in this section.
	Double Fisherman's Knot As the name suggests, the Double Fisherman's Knot involves tying two Fisherman's Knots. This is commonly used to tie the ends of two ropes of different diameters.

If you are an advanced climber, you might want to learn about alternatives for certain types of knots. Learning more knots will allow you to possess alternative techniques you can use as and when required. When is it better to use the Figure Eight Knot rather than the Clove Hitch in creating a belay? Which is the best to use when tying two ropes together to abseil off and why?