Rock Climbing Knots Tutorials (Part 2)

The Overhand Knot: Essential Simplicity

While fundamentally simple, the overhand knot serves critical roles in climbing systems – primarily as a safety backup or integrated component within compound knot systems.

Precisely because of its simplicity, many practitioners underestimate its importance, often lacking comprehensive understanding or executing its proper implementation.

2.1 Overhand Knot

2.2 Single Overhand Knot with 2 Ropes

Attention! This knot is also known as the European Death Knot (EDK) and should only be used for joining two ropes during rappelling to facilitate rope retrieval, as it is less prone to getting stuck in rock crevices compared to other knots.

A minimum tail length of 30 centimeters must be maintained.

2.3 Double Overhand Knot

The Double Overhand Knot is essentially an Overhand Knot with an additional wrap (formed by making one more turn around the standing end).