Figure Eight
Also known as the Savoy knot.
A bulkier stopper than the overhand. It holds its shape, sheds load smoothly, and unties without a fight even after a long pull. The trustworthy choice for climbers.
- CategoryStopper
- StrengthExcellent. Easy to inspect
- Time to learn5 minutes
- Best forClimbing, sailing, anywhere a stopper matters
The stopper you can trust.
Use a figure eight where an overhand might jam. Climbers tie one as a backup or build it into the figure eight follow through for tying in. Sailors tie one in the end of every running line so a sheet cannot escape its block.
Six moves to a clean eight.
The figure eight is the cousin of the overhand with one extra wrap. That extra turn is what makes it bulkier, more reliable, and easier to release after load. Lay out about a metre of rope so the working end faces you.
Form a loop with the working end on top
About 25 centimetres from the tail, cross the working end over the standing line. Leave the loop the size of an apple so you can see what you are doing.
If the working end goes underneath, you are about to tie an overhand. Reset and start again.Take the working end behind the standing line
Curl the working end down behind the standing line. The shape begins to form a sideways figure eight.
Keep the loop open with your thumb so the rope does not crowd itself.Bring the working end across the front
Now bring the working end over the front of the standing line, completing the bottom curve of the eight.
Trace the path with your eyes. You should see two clear loops separated by the crossing point.Pass the working end down through the original loop
Feed the tail down through the first loop you made, going from top to bottom. The classic figure eight shape now reveals itself.
If the loop fights you, your earlier curves are twisted. Untie one step and retry.Dress the curves
With both hands, smooth out each curve so the strands lie parallel and flat. No strand should cross another.
A well dressed figure eight is recognisable from across a deck. A messy one is not. Climbers reject ugly knots for that reason.Set with even tension
Pull the standing line and the working end in opposite directions until the knot locks. Leave at least ten rope diameters of tail. For climbing applications, also tie a stopper knot on the working end.
The figure eight stays untie-able even after long, hard pulls. That is the whole point. Overtightening it briefly does no harm.
Field check. Look at the knot from the side. You should see two stacked loops shaped like the digits 8. If you only see a single bulge it is an overhand. If the loops are uneven it is twisted.
Common mistakes
- Tying an overhand by accident. Trace the eight before pulling tight.
- Twisting the loop. Each curve should sit flat against the next.
- Pulling on only one strand. Use both hands and tension evenly.
How to untie
Bend the rope back and forth across the knot to break its grip, then push the curves apart. A figure eight that has been heavily loaded still releases easily, which is one reason it is so trusted.
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