Tape Knot
Also known as:Water Knot (alternative)
Description
An overhand knot tied in a single piece of webbing that has been folded into a loop. Used to create a sling or runner. Must be tied with long tails and checked regularly.
Common Uses
Creating webbing slings for climbing anchors; making quickdraws and runners.
When to Choose This Knot
Choose this knot only in the context of proper climbing instruction, inspected equipment, and a complete safety system. Climbing knots are not isolated tricks; they interact with harnesses, carabiners, anchors, belay devices, and partner checks.
Safety Notes
- Use professional instruction and follow the standards of your climbing gym, guide, rescue team, or local authority.
- Perform a partner check before every load-bearing use.
- Retire damaged rope and never experiment with unverified knots at height.
How to Tie
- 1Overlap the two ends of a piece of webbing by 4-6 inches.
- 2Tie an overhand knot using both layers of webbing together.
- 3Dress so all strands lie flat and parallel.
- 4Leave tails of at least 3 inches. Check before each use.
Common Mistakes
- Practicing the knot correctly once and then skipping inspection under real conditions.
- Using the wrong carabiner orientation or anchor geometry.
- Replacing supervised training with a web article.