Comments on: How To: Tie a Bowline Knot http://www.cragbaby.com/2009/10/01/how-to-tie-a-bowline-knot/ Adventures of Rachel Strate (Wasatch Girl) and her chihuahua (CragBaby). Thu, 04 Mar 2010 19:55:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Jess Taverna http://www.cragbaby.com/2009/10/01/how-to-tie-a-bowline-knot/comment-page-1/#comment-2412 Jess Taverna Sat, 03 Oct 2009 00:35:25 +0000 http://www.cragbaby.com/?p=1142#comment-2412 My husband and I both use the bowline regularly, have been for quite a few years now. In addition to the aforementioned easier-to-untie, another bonus of this knot vs. the figure 8 is that it is generally more compact and sits closer to the harness, which can be nice when fumbling for a clip (especially on very closely spaced bolts). Most people who use the bowline use some kind of backup that will impact how the knot looks visually, so that's something to be aware of. We use a double bowline--which means making TWO loops to feed the end through (vs. the one loop shown above)--and then a bowline backup, which involves feeding the rope end back up through the two loops, around the loops, and then down through the bottom of the knot (hard to explain in writing, obviously, so definitely have it shown to you by someone who uses it). My husband and I both use the bowline regularly, have been for quite a few years now. In addition to the aforementioned easier-to-untie, another bonus of this knot vs. the figure 8 is that it is generally more compact and sits closer to the harness, which can be nice when fumbling for a clip (especially on very closely spaced bolts). Most people who use the bowline use some kind of backup that will impact how the knot looks visually, so that's something to be aware of. We use a double bowline–which means making TWO loops to feed the end through (vs. the one loop shown above)–and then a bowline backup, which involves feeding the rope end back up through the two loops, around the loops, and then down through the bottom of the knot (hard to explain in writing, obviously, so definitely have it shown to you by someone who uses it).

]]> By: WasatchGirl http://www.cragbaby.com/2009/10/01/how-to-tie-a-bowline-knot/comment-page-1/#comment-2411 WasatchGirl Sat, 03 Oct 2009 00:15:31 +0000 http://www.cragbaby.com/?p=1142#comment-2411 I agree, Melissa. I don't think the bowline will ever be the knot for me because I simply trust the figure 8. But I am glad I know how to visually check it now.<br><br>Lil' chicka, when you say bowline backup, you mean tying ANOTHER bowline. Is that correct? I agree, Melissa. I don't think the bowline will ever be the knot for me because I simply trust the figure 8. But I am glad I know how to visually check it now.

Lil' chicka, when you say bowline backup, you mean tying ANOTHER bowline. Is that correct?

]]> By: lil chicka http://www.cragbaby.com/2009/10/01/how-to-tie-a-bowline-knot/comment-page-1/#comment-2410 lil chicka Fri, 02 Oct 2009 22:22:00 +0000 http://www.cragbaby.com/?p=1142#comment-2410 I admittedly haven't yet watched the clip, but bowlines are notorious for coming undone...I knew a girl in Rifle who was 80 feet up on a route at a rest when she watched her rope fall to the ground...she calmly climbed to the next bolt and clipped herself in. Also, Adam Abraham, a former BD employee also had a very serious groundfall using a bowline. This is not a knot for everyone and absolutely depends on a good safety knot to back it up- a bowline backup is the only way.<br><br>All that being said, that is the knot I myself use, with a bowline backup of course. I admittedly haven't yet watched the clip, but bowlines are notorious for coming undone…I knew a girl in Rifle who was 80 feet up on a route at a rest when she watched her rope fall to the ground…she calmly climbed to the next bolt and clipped herself in. Also, Adam Abraham, a former BD employee also had a very serious groundfall using a bowline. This is not a knot for everyone and absolutely depends on a good safety knot to back it up- a bowline backup is the only way.

All that being said, that is the knot I myself use, with a bowline backup of course.

]]> By: Jess Taverna http://www.cragbaby.com/2009/10/01/how-to-tie-a-bowline-knot/comment-page-1/#comment-2121 Jess Taverna Fri, 02 Oct 2009 18:35:25 +0000 http://www.cragbaby.com/?p=1142#comment-2121 My husband and I both use the bowline regularly, have been for quite a few years now. In addition to the aforementioned easier-to-untie, another bonus of this knot vs. the figure 8 is that it is generally more compact and sits closer to the harness, which can be nice when fumbling for a clip (especially on very closely spaced bolts). Most people who use the bowline use some kind of backup that will impact how the knot looks visually, so that's something to be aware of. We use a double bowline--which means making TWO loops to feed the end through (vs. the one loop shown above)--and then a bowline backup, which involves feeding the rope end back up through the two loops, around the loops, and then down through the bottom of the knot (hard to explain in writing, obviously, so definitely have it shown to you by someone who uses it). My husband and I both use the bowline regularly, have been for quite a few years now. In addition to the aforementioned easier-to-untie, another bonus of this knot vs. the figure 8 is that it is generally more compact and sits closer to the harness, which can be nice when fumbling for a clip (especially on very closely spaced bolts). Most people who use the bowline use some kind of backup that will impact how the knot looks visually, so that's something to be aware of. We use a double bowline–which means making TWO loops to feed the end through (vs. the one loop shown above)–and then a bowline backup, which involves feeding the rope end back up through the two loops, around the loops, and then down through the bottom of the knot (hard to explain in writing, obviously, so definitely have it shown to you by someone who uses it).

]]> By: WasatchGirl http://www.cragbaby.com/2009/10/01/how-to-tie-a-bowline-knot/comment-page-1/#comment-2119 WasatchGirl Fri, 02 Oct 2009 18:15:31 +0000 http://www.cragbaby.com/?p=1142#comment-2119 I agree, Melissa. I don't think the bowline will ever be the knot for me because I simply trust the figure 8. But I am glad I know how to visually check it now.<br><br>Lil' chicka, when you say bowline backup, you mean tying ANOTHER bowline. Is that correct? I agree, Melissa. I don't think the bowline will ever be the knot for me because I simply trust the figure 8. But I am glad I know how to visually check it now.

Lil' chicka, when you say bowline backup, you mean tying ANOTHER bowline. Is that correct?

]]> By: lil chicka http://www.cragbaby.com/2009/10/01/how-to-tie-a-bowline-knot/comment-page-1/#comment-2116 lil chicka Fri, 02 Oct 2009 16:22:00 +0000 http://www.cragbaby.com/?p=1142#comment-2116 I admittedly haven't yet watched the clip, but bowlines are notorious for coming undone...I knew a girl in Rifle who was 80 feet up on a route at a rest when she watched her rope fall to the ground...she calmly climbed to the next bolt and clipped herself in. Also, Adam Abraham, a former BD employee also had a very serious groundfall using a bowline. This is not a knot for everyone and absolutely depends on a good safety knot to back it up- a bowline backup is the only way.<br><br>All that being said, that is the knot I myself use, with a bowline backup of course. I admittedly haven't yet watched the clip, but bowlines are notorious for coming undone…I knew a girl in Rifle who was 80 feet up on a route at a rest when she watched her rope fall to the ground…she calmly climbed to the next bolt and clipped herself in. Also, Adam Abraham, a former BD employee also had a very serious groundfall using a bowline. This is not a knot for everyone and absolutely depends on a good safety knot to back it up- a bowline backup is the only way.

All that being said, that is the knot I myself use, with a bowline backup of course.

]]> By: WasatchGirl http://www.cragbaby.com/2009/10/01/how-to-tie-a-bowline-knot/comment-page-1/#comment-2112 WasatchGirl Fri, 02 Oct 2009 02:39:42 +0000 http://www.cragbaby.com/?p=1142#comment-2112 JustinSlc,<br>Hey, thanks for reading and commenting. I love the video of the portly Scoutmaster. And actually, it is funny because I was just talking to my climbing partner, Kathryn, and she said she only knew how to tie the bowline with one hand. :) Now, I can learn as well.<br>Thanks.<br>Rachel JustinSlc,
Hey, thanks for reading and commenting. I love the video of the portly Scoutmaster. And actually, it is funny because I was just talking to my climbing partner, Kathryn, and she said she only knew how to tie the bowline with one hand. :) Now, I can learn as well.
Thanks.
Rachel

]]> By: justinslc http://www.cragbaby.com/2009/10/01/how-to-tie-a-bowline-knot/comment-page-1/#comment-2111 justinslc Thu, 01 Oct 2009 22:16:10 +0000 http://www.cragbaby.com/?p=1142#comment-2111 My dad taught me how to tie a bowline around my waist. With some practice, I got to the point where I could tie it in about 2 seconds. It's still the only way I know how to tie one. I think the around-the-waist method is a bit easier to remember, and it has the benefit of already being around you when you're done, if someone is throwing you a rescue line.<br><br>I found a clip of a somewhat portly Scoutmaster demonstrating the method:<br><br><a href="http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-tie-a-one-handed-bowline/" rel="nofollow">http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-tie-a-on...</a> My dad taught me how to tie a bowline around my waist. With some practice, I got to the point where I could tie it in about 2 seconds. It's still the only way I know how to tie one. I think the around-the-waist method is a bit easier to remember, and it has the benefit of already being around you when you're done, if someone is throwing you a rescue line.

I found a clip of a somewhat portly Scoutmaster demonstrating the method:

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-tie-a-on...

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