Page 17 - Backpacker Magazine's Outdoor Knots

climbing harness, it must always be backed up with
an overhand knot. Other knots, like the figure-8 loop,
do not require a backup because they are naturally
secure (but much harder to untie after a fall).

OverhAnd KnOT

A simple and useful stopper knot at the end of a rope
that also forms the basis for many intricate knots. As
the most fundamental knot, the overhand stands
alone as the knot first learned, often by accident, by
anyone who handles rope or cordage of any type. A
small stopper, it may not meet the demands of all
situations. The overhand is repeated time and time
again as part of other knots. It can be tied at regular
intervals along a line to make the line easier to grip. A
tight overhand knot, however, can be very difficult to
untie in lines of small diameter and/or wet lines.

1. Create a loop in the working end of a rope or cord.

Knot Basics 5

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