02/04/2026
Is it knot right or not right?
The photo shows three different Figure of 8 on the bight knots. While the route of the rope through each of the knots is correct, the finishing of the knot varies between all three. The knot on the left is how I was taught to tie the knot many years ago and is still my go-to. I still use a barrel knot to finish it off, make it nice and neat, and just have that little redundancy, and if anyone clips a carabiner into the space between the 8 and the barrel (a common reason why some people say it shouldn’t be there), they shouldn’t be allowed near rope.
The knot in the centre is how I was taught when I did rope access training, as opposed to the way I learnt with rescue. The tail does not contain a barrel knot and is left around 150mm long. I don’t have an issue with this either, so long as the knot is tied and packed correctly, and if this is completed then the knot shouldn’t slip.
One thing for certain though, while the knots on the left are acceptable, my students know that if they present me with the garbage on the right, they will be retying it 😉😂.
Now I’ll wait for them to zoom in and try and pick the faults. I’m running my own little sweep on who will be first 😜
