Hitches
Klemheist Knot
Machard knot
DIFFICULTY ●●●○○
A friction hitch made by spiraling a cord loop up the rope and threading the tail through the top bight. A close cousin of the prusik that's faster to tie and release.
See it tied step-by-step ↗Why it earns its place
Grips well in one direction, ties quickly with cold hands, and — unlike the prusik — also works reasonably with flat webbing when cord isn't available.
Where it fails
One-directional by design: load it the wrong way and it slides. Orient the wraps deliberately and test the grip before trusting it.
Quick facts
| Type | One-way friction hitch |
| Under load | Locks one direction |
| Untying | Quick release |
| Best for | Fast friction backup |