1. Home
  2. Sports
  3. Climbing

The 6 Most Important Knots
All the Climbing Knots You Need to Know

By Stewart Green, About.com

Brian and Bana high on "What's My Line" at Cochise Stronghold, Arizona.

Climbers tied into anchors with clove hitches at Cochise Stronghold in southern Arizona.

Photo © Stewart M. Green

You don’t need to know a lot of knots to go climbing, but those you need to know, you need to know well. While there are almost 4,000 recorded knots, you can safely climb by knowing the six simple but important knots below. As your climbing career progresses you will undoubtedly learn many other specialized knots but these everyday knots are the ones you need to know backwards, forwards, and in the dark.

They’re the best knots for climbing for three reasons:

  1. Easy to tie.
  2. Hard to forget.
  3. Easy to check visually.

Practice tying these knots with a length of rope before going to the cliff so you’ll be competent and able to look after your own safety. You need to know how to tie them all, why they’re important, and how to use each one.

  1. Figure-8 Follow-Through finished with Fisherman’s Backup Knot
    This is your standard tie-in knot, connecting the rope to your harness. It’s the strongest climbing knot used.

  2. Clove Hitch
    The clove hitch is an easy-to-tie knot for connecting the rope to anchors. It’s good because it doesn’t take a lot of rope and it’s easily adjusted.

  3. Figure-8-on-a-Bight
    The best loop knot for tying your rope into belay anchors because it’s strong and easy to untie. Also useful for clipping someone in the middle of the rope.

  4. Double Figure-8 Fisherman's Knot
    The best and strongest knot for tying two ropes together for rappelling or top-roping.

  5. Prusik Knot
    An easily-tied self-rescue knot for ascending the rope in emergency situations. Learn how to tie a Prusik Knot here.

  6. Münter Hitch
    An emergency belay and rappel knot that is tied onto a locking carabiner. Useful if you drop your belay device.

Explore Climbing
About.com Special Features

Strike out the competition with these step-by-step pictorials. More >

Learning Pilates fundamentals can help you get the most out of your exercise regime. More >

  1. Home
  2. Sports
  3. Climbing
  4. Climbing Skills
  5. The 6 Most Important Knots -- Learn the Best Knots to Climb Safely

©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.