Knots in Webbing

"There have been joys too great to be described in words, and there have been griefs upon which I have not dared to dwell, and with these in mind I say, climb if you will, but remember that courage and strength are naught without prudence, and that a momentary negligence may destroy the happiness of a lifetime. Do nothing in haste, look well to each step, and from the beginning think what may be the end."
    — Edward Whymper Scrambles Amongst the Alps.

Before starting in on this section, Dear Reader, please read the Knot Basics section.

Webbing (aka "web" or "sling", brit. "tape") is used primarily to rig anchors and is usually left behind, thus we are not concerned with getting the knots untied after loading, and VERY interested in the knots staying tied.

Webbing ties differently than rope because it is flat. For the most part, we use OVERHAND KNOTS and variations on the overhand, because they lie flat in the webbing. Figure of Eight (and higher order) knots do not lay flat - which makes the knots ugly, hard to inspect, compromises strength, and tends to make them loosen up and untie - an undesirable attribute. Let's stick with overhand-based knots.
 

IMPORTANT: All knots in webbing MUST be tightened carefully, and the tails on your knots 2" to 4" (5cm to 10cm) long. For knotted slings, put your foot in the sling and pull hard to 'set' the knot. Webbing knots that are not well 'set' tend to spontaneously untie.

WEB1: WATER KNOT (AKA RING BEND, OVERHAND BEND)

The most used, and most useful, knot in webbing is the WATER KNOT or OVERHAND BEND, which is tied by 're-threading'. This is used to join (bend) two ends of webbing together, often two ends of the same piece to make a loop or sling.

[A]. Tie an overhand knot in one END. Turn it over.

[B]. With the other END, trace-back the path of the overhand knot. (We turned it over so we would trace around the outside).

Make sure the tracing is complete.

[C]. Adjust the knot so both tails are at least 1-1/2", and pull tight.

Uses:

The Water Knot is used often for joining two ends of webbing, either for making a sling (a loop of webbing), or for making a piece of webbing longer.

A loop in webbing (aka a "sling", brit. "runner"), using a Water Knot.

BASIC RIGGING WITH A WATER KNOT

To delve into how the Water Knot is used, we will start on "RIGGING". Rigging is preparing an anchor to accept the rappel rope.

RIG1: SLING AROUND A TREE, LOG OR ROCK

Perhaps the most basic anchor. Toss your webbing around the tree, slip the metal ring on and join the ends using a Water Knot.

RIG2: WRAP 2, PULL 1

For this configuration, the webbing is passed around the tree twice, the ring slipped on the webbing and the ends joined.

Uses:

A Wrap 2, Pull 1 is useful to control the position of the webbing;

- it may be important for the webbing to stay at the base of the tree, to maximize the strength of a smallish-tree anchor;

- it may be desirable for the webbing to stay in a specific location higher in the tree, to improve the pulling angle (on a largish tree); and

- it may be profitable on a rock to assure the webbing stays in a specific location on the rock.

In some cases, more wraps may be desirable to better secure the position of the webbing.

WEB2: OVERHAND ON A BIGHT

The other "most-useful" knot in webbing is another overhand-type, the Overhand on a Bight. This is tied just like with rope"

[A]. Take a BIGHT and make a loop with it.

[B]. Insert the end of the bight into the loop.

[C]. Tighten.

Uses:

Makes a strong end of webbing.
- Can tie the bight with a ring in the bight, for the working end of a rap anchor.
- Can thread the free end through the loop, making a CHOKE; possibly around a tree or rock.