Loops
Figure Eight Follow Through
Figure eight retrace
DIFFICULTY ●●●○○
The standard climbing tie-in. You tie a figure eight in the rope, thread the end through your harness, then retrace the original knot to close a loop around the harness.
See it tied step-by-step ↗Why it earns its place
Extremely secure, gets tighter under load, and — crucially — is easy for you and a partner to visually inspect. That inspectability is why gyms and instructors standardize on it.
Where it fails
After a hard fall it can weld itself shut and be a struggle to untie. Always leave a tail at least six inches long and dress the knot so the strands lie parallel.
Quick facts
| Type | Retraced loop |
| Under load | Extremely secure |
| Untying | Hard after shock load |
| Best for | Climbing tie-in |