How To Tie A Double Fisherman's Bend

Usage

The Double Fisherman’s Bend, also known as the Grapevine Knot, is one of the most trusted ways to securely join two ropes. This knot is essential for activities where safety is paramount, such as climbing, arboriculture, and search & rescue. Its structure provides both strength and shock absorption, making it ideal for high-stakes situations.

Why Learn the Double Fisherman's Bend?

If you’re serious about climbing or other rope-based activities, the Double Fisherman’s Bend is a must-know. Its reliability under tension and simplicity of inspection make it the go-to knot for joining ropes securely. Whether you're forming a Prusik loop or combining climbing ropes for a long abseil, this knot delivers confidence and durability.

Before you practice, it's worth stepping through the Knot IQ app, where this bend is rendered as a 3D animation you can rotate and replay step by step — handy here, because the second half has to be built pointing the opposite way from the first, and that mirror step is the one most people get backwards. A set of Knot Tying Cards is also handy to keep in your pack for a quick refresher once you're out on the trail. The Knot IQ Companion Kits add practice cord so you can drill the sequence at the kitchen table until it is automatic.

Common Uses

• Climbing: Joining two ropes for extended abseils or securing a Prusik loop.
• Arboriculture: Creating strong, adjustable connections for tree work.
• Search & Rescue: Combining ropes for technical rescue operations.
• General Use: Backing up critical knots like the Figure-of-Eight Loop.

ABOK Number (Ashley Book of Knots) #294, Page 50. Other Names Grapevine Bend Double Englishman’s Knot Double English Knot Waterman’s Knot Type Bend

Notable Features

• Incredible Strength: The knot’s structure ensures a secure connection under load.
• Compact and Reliable: Holds firm, even with thin or slippery ropes.
• Shock Absorption: Its coils provide extra security in dynamic or tense situations.
• Jamming Tendency: While secure, the knot can become nearly impossible to untie after being loaded heavily.

Similar Knots

Zeppelin Bend vs. Double Fisherman’s Bend

• Pros: The Zeppelin Bend is easier to untie and equally secure for joining ropes.
• Cons: Slightly bulkier and less intuitive to tie compared to the Double Fisherman’s Bend.

Figure-8 Bend vs. Double Fisherman’s Bend

• Pros: The Figure-8 Bend is easier to teach and inspect, making it beginner-friendly.
• Cons: Bulkier than the Double Fisherman’s Bend, especially with stopper knots added.

Triple Fisherman’s Knot vs. Double Fisherman’s Bend

• Pros: The Triple Fisherman’s Knot is more secure with high-lubricity ropes like Dyneema.
• Cons: Slightly more complex to tie and bulkier than the Double Fisherman’s.

Square Knot (Reef Knot) vs. Double Fisherman’s Bend

• Pros: The Square Knot (Reef Knot) is simple and quick to tie for non-critical tasks like securing bundles.
• Cons: Less secure under load and prone to slipping, making it unsuitable for critical applications.

Flat Overhand Bend vs. Double Fisherman’s Bend

• Pros: The Flat Overhand Bend is compact and easy to tie for joining ropes.
• Cons: Tends to jam under tension and may not handle dynamic loads as well.

Sheet Bend vs. Double Fisherman’s Bend

• Pros: The Sheet Bend is excellent for joining ropes of different sizes or materials.
• Cons: Less secure under heavy or dynamic loads compared to the Double Fisherman’s Bend.

Butterfly Bend vs. Double Fisherman’s Bend

• Pros: The Butterfly Bend is strong, stable, and well-suited for equalizing loads in climbing setups.
• Cons: Bulkier and more complex to tie than the Double Fisherman’s Bend.

Fisherman’s Knot vs. Double Fisherman’s Bend

• Pros: The single-turn Fisherman’s Knot is the un-doubled parent — one overhand per side instead of two, so it is quicker to tie and much easier to pick apart afterwards.
• Cons: Fewer gripping turns mean less strength and less security; doubling each side is exactly the upgrade that made this knot the one climbing and rescue work settled on.

Sliding Figure Eight Bend vs. Double Fisherman’s Bend

• Pros: The Sliding Figure Eight Bend still comes undone realistically after a load, which the Double Fisherman’s will not.
• Cons: Bear Essentials places it between the single and the double fisherman’s on the security ladder — a solid middle ground, but the top of that ladder is where the Double Fisherman’s Bend lives.

History

The Double Fisherman’s Bend has ancient origins, with its structure evolving over time to become a staple in modern climbing and arboriculture.

The single-turn parent runs remarkably deep: a fisherman’s-family knot excavated in Greenland has been carbon-dated to roughly 4,500 years old. The doubled form we tie today was first recorded by name in J. C. Wilcocks’ The Sea-Fisherman in 1865, and Clifford Ashley later catalogued the same structural knot three separate times in The Ashley Book of Knots (1944) — as the Grapevine Knot in the fishing-line section, again among the occupational knots, and again among the anglers’ bends. Its modern job arrived after the Second World War: once nylon replaced natural fibre, climbers adopted it as the standard bend for life-support rope, and it has been the default way to close accessory cord into a Prusik loop ever since. The US Army lists it in the same role — Field Manual 3-97.61, paragraph 4-9 specifies it for joining two ropes of the same or nearly the same diameter, with 4-inch (100 mm) pigtails and a visual check for four rope parts forming two X patterns on one face.

Security Level

The Double Fisherman’s Bend is among the most secure bends available. It’s highly resistant to slipping and excels in joining stiff, slippery, or thin ropes. However, its tight binding nature makes it difficult to untie after heavy loading.

Downsides

• Nearly impossible to untie after heavy loads.
• Requires precise tying technique to avoid mismatched coils.
• Not ideal for applications needing frequent adjustments.

Structure

1. Step 1: Place the ends of two ropes pointing in opposite directions. Start with one rope, wrapping it twice around the other.
2. Step 2: Pass the working end back through the two coils and pull to tighten. This creates the first X-shaped knot.
3. Step 3: Repeat the process on the other rope, wrapping in the opposite direction.
4. Step 4: Pull both ropes together to cinch the knots tightly. Inspect to ensure the tag ends face opposite directions.

FAQ

Q1: Why is the Double Fisherman’s Bend so secure?

The knot’s dual strangle knots create high friction and resistance, ensuring it won’t slip under load.

Q2: Can it be untied after heavy use?

While secure, the knot binds tightly under tension, making it very difficult to untie after heavy loading.

Q3: How does the Triple Fisherman’s Knot differ?

The Triple Fisherman’s Knot adds an extra wrap to each coil, increasing friction and security for high-lubricity ropes like Dyneema or Spectra.

Q4: What’s the best alternative for an easily untied knot?

The Zeppelin Bend is a great alternative, offering security and ease of untying after use.

Q5: Can I use this knot for dynamic loads?

Yes, the Double Fisherman’s Bend handles dynamic loads well due to its shock-absorbing coils.

Important Notes on Safety

The Double Fisherman’s Bend is a reliable knot for life-critical applications but requires precise tying and inspection. Always leave long enough tail ends for added safety, and ensure the knot is tied correctly before applying heavy loads. One naming check is worth running too: a single double-overhand tied around its own standing part is a Scaffold Knot, a sliding noose rather than a bend. The Double Fisherman’s Bend is two of those knots, each tied around the other rope’s standing part.