8 Useful Knots for Whitewater and Swiftwater Rescue

Any knot will reduce a rope's strength by one third to one half. So while these knots aren't 'stronger' than many others, our students learn how to tie them because they are easy to identify and untie.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kQnUc3wjjs&t=1s&ab_channel=BorealRiver

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/bt4eHzwnCr4

Being able to easily identify a knot is key. It enables others to double check our rope systems and we can be confident that we have a secure knot. Having knots that we can untie is important so that we can use our ropes for multiple purposes as well as inspect properly for wear points.

Dressing your knots (adjusting them before tightening so that they are free of kinks and twists) also makes them easier to identify and untie.

These 8 knots are fairly quick to learn and have multiple uses:

[accordion clicktoclose="true"] [accordion-item title="Figure 8 Stopper Knot"] [/accordion-item] [accordion-item title="Figure Eight on a Bight"] [/accordion-item] [accordion-item title="Figure Eight Follow Through Bight"] [/accordion-item] [accordion-item title="Figure Eight Follow Through Loop"] [/accordion-item] [accordion-item title="Three Wrap Prusik"] [/accordion-item] [accordion-item title="Alpin Butterfly Knot"] [/accordion-item] [accordion-item title="Water Knot- Webbing"] [/accordion-item] [accordion-item title="The Munter Hitch"] [/accordion-item] [/accordion]