Figure Eight

How to tie the Figure Eight Knot. The figure eight follow through is one of the strongest knots. It forms a secure, non-slip loop at the end of a rope. Also known as the Flemish Bend, this is the most widely used tie-in knot by mountain climbers. The reason is that it is strong, secure and easy to visually inspect. Climbers often further secure it by tying a Back Up Knot with the tag end.
The knot can also be tied by tying a Figure Eight Knot with doubled line at the end of a rope (Step 1, but don’t come back through the bottom loop). It is faster but cannot be used if tying into a fixed object, so it is good to learn to tie this knot as the “Figure Eight Follow Through”. A single Figure Eight also makes a good “Stopper Knot” at the end of a rope (Step 1 with the single line but don’t come back up through the bottom loop).

The Figure Eight is one of 23 essential rope knots included on the waterproof Pro-Knot Outdoor Knot Cards - click to see.

Scroll to see Animated Figure Eight Knot below the illustration and tying instructions.

 

Figure Eight Knot Tying Instructions

• Tie a single eight in the rope two feet from its end. Pass the free end through any tie-in point if desired.


• Retrace the original eight with the free end leaving a loop at the bottom of the desired size.


• Pull all four strands of rope to cinch down the knot.
• See Back Up Knot to add a backup knot for extra security.