Arborist Knots

Choose a knot below, or scroll down for more information:

Alpine Butterfly Loop - Secure loop in middle of a rope

Secure loop in the middle of a length of rope.

Anchor Hitch - attaches an anchor line to an anchor

Excellent knot to attach an anchor line to an anchor.

Basket Hitch - a closed loop made of rope or webbing

A webbing loop thrown over a branch provides an anchor.

Beer Knot - used to join two pieces of tubular webbing

Joins ends of tubular webbing - finished with overhand knot.

Slide and grip knot used for ascent and descent.

Bowline Knot - secure loop in the end of a piece of rope

Reasonably secure loop in a rope's end - and easy to undo.

Clove Hitch - Rope End Method - used for stage scenery or mooring buoy

Temporary hold, e.g., stage scenery or mooring buoy

Gasket Coil - Coil rope that is unattached

Secure and neat rope storage, minimizes tangles and twists.

Temporary hitch for a light load or animal.

Double Fisherman's Bend Knot - joins two ropes

Securely joins two ropes of similar size.

Non-binding, quick and convenient stopper knot.

Uses a webbing loop sling to attach item to harness.

Used to tie rope around an object and back to itself.

Heaving Line Knot - Weights end of a rope

Weights end of a rope to make it carry further when thrown.

Munter Mule Combination Hitch - Climbing Knots

Slide and Grip Knot to control rappelling (abseiling).

Overhand Knot - Single-Strand Stopper Knot

The simplest of the Single-Strand Stopper Knots

Makes a very secure loop in the end of a piece of rope

Symmetrical 3-turn slide and grip (friction) knot.

Quick Hitch Knot - Arborist's use to pull one rope aloft using another

Arborist's method of pulling one rope aloft using another.

Bowline encircles the standing end to create a noose.

Joins two ropes of unequal, or similar, size

Sliding Double Fisherman's Knot - Arborist Knot

Creates a Prusik Loop with an adjustable length eye.

Slip Knot - Knot loosens when tail end is pulled

Simple loop in rope's end - loosens when tail end is pulled.

Timber Hitch - Simple knot used for towing a log

Simple knot commonly used for towing a log.

Valuable knot usually used for securing loads or tarpaulins.

Water Knot - Joins two pieces of webbing strapping

Joins two pieces of webbing strapping by re-threading.

Creates a lightweight adjustable rope sling,

Joins two ropes and avoids the risk of jamming.

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Welcome to Arborist Knots

Selection

These animated knots are for arborists and other tree-climbers. This selection is based on consultation with tree climbers and, in particular, Jeff Jepson's books for Arborists^1,². The knots in the section are based on Jepson's "Must Know" list, but we also included the Beer Knot because of its unique ability to create a closed ring, and the Sliding Double Fisherman's because it is an interesting modification of a Prusik Loop.

Jepson's Double Fisherman's Loop was described by Ashley as the Poacher's Knot – and that name is retained here. The Yosemite Tie Off does not have its own page but is described on the Bowline page

Arborist Knots

Accidents

Working on trees high above ground is hazardous. Arborists have a fatal accident rate about ten times the average for all industries, a rate that is exceeded only by the logging industry whose rate is thirty times the average.^3,⁴

Learn Your Knots: The Life They Save May Be Your Own