Which knot is commonly used for harness tie-in in rope rescue?

Which knot is commonly used for harness tie-in in rope rescue?

• A. Clove hitch
• B. Bowline
• C. Figure-eight follow-through (harness tie-in)
• D. Double fisherman

Answer: (C)

In rope rescue, the knot used to tie into a harness must stay secure under load, be easy to inspect for proper dressing and tail length, and untie readily after the work is done. The figure-eight follow-through harness tie-in meets all of this. You weave the rope through the harness as you form a figure-eight, then retrace it to create a second figure-eight that tightens around the harness’s waist and leg loops. This creates a fixed, snug loop that distributes load reliably and resists slipping or loosening as the rope direction changes during a rescue. It’s also straightforward to inspect—you can clearly see the two loops and ensure the tails are correct—and it unties relatively easily once the load is removed. Other knots aren’t as well suited for harness tie-in. A clove hitch is great for securing to anchors but can slip or loosen under dynamic loads around a rescuer’s harness. A bowline forms a fixed loop but can loosen or capsize under repetitive loading and doesn’t provide the self-inspecting reliability of the figure-eight follow-through for harness tie-in. The double fisherman's is typically used to join rope ends or create a backup knot, not to secure a climber to a harness, and it can be harder to inspect and untie after loading.

In rope rescue, the knot used to tie into a harness must stay secure under load, be easy to inspect for proper dressing and tail length, and untie readily after the work is done. The figure-eight follow-through harness tie-in meets all of this. You weave the rope through the harness as you form a figure-eight, then retrace it to create a second figure-eight that tightens around the harness’s waist and leg loops. This creates a fixed, snug loop that distributes load reliably and resists slipping or loosening as the rope direction changes during a rescue. It’s also straightforward to inspect—you can clearly see the two loops and ensure the tails are correct—and it unties relatively easily once the load is removed.

Other knots aren’t as well suited for harness tie-in. A clove hitch is great for securing to anchors but can slip or loosen under dynamic loads around a rescuer’s harness. A bowline forms a fixed loop but can loosen or capsize under repetitive loading and doesn’t provide the self-inspecting reliability of the figure-eight follow-through for harness tie-in. The double fisherman's is typically used to join rope ends or create a backup knot, not to secure a climber to a harness, and it can be harder to inspect and untie after loading.