Loops

Spanish Bowline

DIFFICULTY ●●●●

Two separate, adjustable-share loops spreading from the middle of a rope like a pair of spectacles. The traditional rescue and chair knot of the fire service.

rescuedouble-loopmidlineclassic
See it tied step-by-step ↗

Why it earns its place

Its two independent loops can cradle a load at two points — historically one loop per leg in improvised rescues — and it ties anywhere along a rope without the ends.

Where it fails

Rope can feed from one loop into the other if the knot is not firmly set, changing the loop sizes under load. Dress it hard and keep both loops loaded when lives are involved.

Quick facts

TypeDouble midline loop
Loops2, independent
UntyingFair
Best forTwo-point lifts, rescue lore

Related knots