The One-Handed Bowline

Climbing Index Climbing Uses Figure 8 Fig 8 Bend (Join) Fig 8 Follow Through Fig 8 Double Loop Dble Overhand Stpr Double Fisherman's Munter Mule Alpine Butterfly Bowline One Hand Bowline Prusik Knot Klemheist Rolling Hitch Girth Hitch Water Knot Blake's Hitch Clove Hitch

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How to tie the One-Handed Bowline

With the rope round your back, hold about half a meter of the short end of the rope in your hand. Hook the standing end with your thumb & tie a half hitch using your forearm. Pass the short end round the standing end and pull your hand out of the loop. Secure the end with a half hitch to the loop.

More details about the The One-Handed Bowline

The One Handed Bowline

Uses: The One Handed Bowline (ABOK # 1010, p 186.) is a useful and quick way to tie a bowline when the other hand is occupied or injured. There are three main steps:

Hold the short end and tie a half hitch with your whole forearm.
Pass the short end round the standing end.
Still holding the short end, withdraw your hand from the loop.

The illustration above is taken from the viewpoint of the climber with the rope passed round his/her back. Because a bowline can shake loose, it is shown here with a final overhand knot tied to the loop of the bowline.

Caution: a sudden strain while tying this knot could trap your wrist. For safety, some teachers recommend passing the end of the rope using the fingers rather than risk the whole wrist.

Alternative Stopper Knots for the Bowline: to see more details about the bowline as well as other methods of securing it, see the Bowline Page

Disclaimer: Any activity that involves ropes is potentially hazardous. Lives may be at risk - possibly your own. Considerable attention and effort have been made to ensure that these descriptions are accurate. However, many critical factors cannot be controlled, including: the choice of materials; the age, size, and condition of ropes; and the accuracy with which these descriptions have been followed. No responsibility is accepted for incidents arising from the use of this material.

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