Tie it right, every time
Knots & Hitches
Friction hitches, tie-in knots and utility knots with numbered steps you can follow one-handed.
Video demonstrations
Connection required · Opens in a player
Tree climbing knots & friction hitches
Educated Climber
A practical collection of termination knots, friction hitches and field tying methods.
Distel, Michoacán & friction hitches
Climbing Arborist
Close-up instruction for dressing and comparing common tree-climbing hitches.
Interactive & 3D resources
External resources · Connection required
Animated Knots — Arborist Knots
Animated Knots by Grog
Pause, step and rotate through animated tying sequences for arborist knots.
Rope Knot Library
NetKnots
A broad knot library with staged illustrations and tying notes.
Climbing & Rigging Archive
International Society of Arboriculture
ISA ArborPod videos on knots, lines, climbing equipment and rigging techniques.
Charts & deep reference
Rope weak points & knot efficiency
Every knot, bend and sheave takes strength out of the line. Here is roughly how much, and what else quietly destroys a climbing or rigging rope.
Friction hitches
Blake's Hitch
The classic climbing-line friction hitch tied with the tail of your climbing line. Four wraps up, tail tucked down through two.
6 steps · 3 cautions
Valdôtain Tresse (VT)
Braided friction hitch tied with a dedicated eye-to-eye cord. Very tendable, adjustable by wrap count.
6 steps · 3 cautions
Distel Hitch
Grabby, self-tending friction hitch that stacks wraps above a locked crossing. Popular for footlocking and SRT ascents.
5 steps · 2 cautions
Michoacán Hitch
Symmetrical friction hitch with wraps above and below the crossing point. Smooth, predictable and easy to tend.
5 steps · 2 cautions
Tie-in knots
Bowline with Yosemite Finish
Secure fixed loop for tie-in and anchor points, finished by tracing the tail back through the knot body.
5 steps · 2 cautions
Figure-8 Loop & Follow-Through
A strong, easy-to-inspect fixed loop tied on a bight or retraced through a closed attachment point.
4 steps · 2 cautions
Rigging knots
Running Bowline
A bowline tied around its own standing part so it cinches on the piece. The workhorse rigging knot for limbs and spars.
5 steps · 2 cautions
Timber Hitch
Quick binding hitch for dragging or lifting logs. Tightens as it pulls and unties instantly when slack.
4 steps · 2 cautions
Cow Hitch with Better Half
A cinching sling hitch secured with a better-half finish to stabilize a rigging block or lowering device on a stem.
4 steps · 3 cautions
Utility knots
Clove Hitch
Fast, adjustable hitch for tying off to a spar, rail or carabiner. Two opposing turns that pinch themselves.
4 steps · 2 cautions
Alpine Butterfly
A loop in the middle of a line that can be loaded three ways and unties after loading.
4 steps · 2 cautions