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Course Prep

How To Tie A Figure 8 On A Bight Knot

Learn how to tie a figure-eight on a bight with MSAA, including forming the knot, dressing the strands and adjusting the loop size.

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Video Transcript

Hey, it’s Corey with Mountain Skills Academy and Adventures. I’m an ACMG Apprentice Alpine Guide, and I’m here to teach you some knots today.

We’re going to tie a figure-eight on a bight. This is a knot we can tie in the middle of the rope.

I start with a bight about 30 cm long. If I treat this doubled section of rope as one strand, I’m really just tying the flat figure-eight again.

You can see that the steps are the same: I make a cross, pinch it, come around to make my second cross, and then feed the bight through.

I want to make sure all the strands lie parallel so that, when I tighten the knot, there aren’t any twists in it.

As we get more familiar with tying this knot, we can adjust the size of the bight by changing how much rope we start with. Starting with less rope gives us a smaller bight, or we can use more rope to make a larger one.

The size of the bight we choose depends on how we’re using the knot.

Instructor Tutorial: How to Tie a Figure-Eight on a Bight

In this tutorial, Corey, an ACMG Apprentice Alpine Guide with Mountain Skills Academy and Adventures, demonstrates how to tie a figure-eight on a bight. He explains how to form the knot with a doubled section of rope, dress the strands neatly and choose a loop size for the intended use.

A figure-eight on a bight creates a fixed loop in a rope. Because it is tied using a folded section of rope, you can form the knot without working with a free end.

Step 1: Start with a Bight of Rope

Fold a section of rope back on itself to create a bight: a U-shaped bend with two strands running alongside each other.

Corey starts with a bight approximately 30 cm long in this demonstration. The amount of rope you begin with affects the size of the finished loop.

Step 2: Form the Figure-Eight

Treat the two strands of the bight as though they were a single strand.

Following Corey’s demonstration, make the first crossing and pinch it to hold its position. Bring the bight around to create the second crossing, then feed the bight through the opening to complete the figure-eight shape.

Step 3: Dress the Strands Neatly

Before tightening, arrange the paired strands so they lie neatly alongside each other throughout the knot.

This is called dressing the knot. Work out any unintended twists so the doubled rope follows a consistent path through the figure-eight.

Step 4: Tighten and Inspect the Knot

Tighten the knot while maintaining the arrangement of the strands.

Check the finished shape and make sure the knot is snug, with the paired strands still lying neatly together. Recheck the loop size once the knot has been tightened.

Step 5: Choose the Loop Size for Its Intended Use

Corey demonstrates that the finished loop can be made smaller or larger by changing the amount of rope used at the start.

Practise forming different loop sizes while keeping the same figure-eight pattern and careful dressing. Choose the size that suits the intended connection and the system you have been taught to use.

Final Check

Before using the knot, confirm that:

  • The figure-eight shape matches the demonstration.
  • The paired strands lie neatly alongside each other.
  • There are no unintended twists within the knot.
  • The knot is fully tightened.
  • The finished loop is an appropriate size for its intended use.

Safety Note

This tutorial supports course preparation and practice. Learn and practise the technique under the supervision of a qualified climbing professional.

Before using the knot in a climbing system, confirm the appropriate connection, loading direction and equipment requirements with your instructor. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the equipment you are using.