Considered the most trusted way to tie two ropes together, this is the Double Fisherman's Bend.
This knot is essential because it's incredibly strong and easy to verify if tied correctly. It's crucial for activities like climbing, where safety hinges on it. Its coils also provide shock absorption, adding an extra layer of security in tense situations.
How to Tie the Double Fisherman's Bend
Here's a step-by-step guide on creating the Double Fisherman's Bend.
Step 1:
Take two ropes and point the ends in opposite directions. Start with the right side first and wrap the rope over the top one, making sure it coils backward over itself.
Step 2:
Repeat this for a second wrap in the backward direction.
Step 3:
When your two wraps are completed, you'll see the double coils facing you. Thread your rope through both of them and pull to tighten. What you'll be left with is an X-shaped knot.
Step 4:
Now, you can move on to the other rope where we'll perform the same steps but in the opposite direction. Start with the wraps underneath this time.
Step 5:
You'll now see two coils. Thread the tag end through them and pull to tighten
Step 6:
Pull the two lines, and the bend will cinch together. On one side, you'll have your two X shapes nested together. On the reverse side, the two parallel shapes nested together.
The tag ends should face in opposite directions and on opposite sides of the knot, one on the top, and one on the bottom.
Troubleshooting the Double Fisherman Knot
If you accidentally have it cross-matched, like the parallel shape and the X shape match together, the reason is that the direction of your initial wrap just went the wrong way. Just redo it while remembering that the second knot goes in the opposite direction, which is wrapping underneath, instead of over top, and that should fix the issue. One thing to note about this bend is that once you put tension on it, it can bind up so tightly that it's nearly impossible to undo. So, for the price of security, you're making a more or less permanent connection.
It is the preferred bend to use when you're tying your Prusik knots. But if you want something secure but also easy to undo after a load has been put on it, you might want to try the Zeppelin Bend, also known as the 69 Knot.
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