Stoppers
Double Overhand Knot
Strangle knot base
DIFFICULTY ●●○○○
An overhand knot with the end passed through the loop twice, then worked snug into a neat barrel shape. Small effort, serious bulk and grip.
See it tied step-by-step ↗Why it earns its place
The standard backup knot for climbing tie-ins and the building block of the double fisherman's bend. As a stopper it's more secure than a single overhand ever will be.
Where it fails
Like its parent, it jams — deliberately so. Dress the wraps so they lie in a tidy barrel; a crossed, lumpy version is weaker and even harder to untie.
Quick facts
| Type | Barrel stopper |
| Under load | Very secure |
| Untying | Hard |
| Best for | Backup knots, bend building block |