Options for the Bight – Lock off, Lift Loops and Double Lift Loops

As we go through this tutorial, we will usually have some bight free after the tie is complete. Here are several options for using it:

Lock off the bight

Important: If you are using a knot that can potentially collapse, like the classic approach of using a Square Knot Single Column, it is crucial that you lock off the bight by running the tail through it as shown here, to limit how far the knot can collapse.

But even if you are using a non-collapsing approach like the Somerville Bowline where, it can still be helpful to lock off the bight to get it out of the way.

If you have a long bight left…

…use it up with a half hitch.

Then tun the tail through the bight…

…

…to ensure the node cannot come untied.

Leave the bight free

IF it is a non-collapsing node like the Somerville Bowline or if you plan to use it directly as a Single Strand Lift Loop

IMPORTANT: Do not use a Single Strand Lift Loop for heavy loads like chest or hips. This is only suitable for lighter loads like partial suspensions or secondary elements like knees, ankles, arms, wrists, heads, etc.

If you plan to use the bight directly as a Lift Loop (more on that in a different tutorial), leave it free.

*If* the rope is in good condition and being used to lift a secondary load, it is fine to use the bight directly. Here is an example of using this technique on a knee.

Why should this *not* be used with heavier loads like the hips and chest? … Because, that makes the bight a single point of failure under a great deal of stress … and the bight is a very weak point of your rope.

Every time you run your rope through the bight, you are damaging it a little.

If you do so at a sharp angle and/or under load, you can damage it quite a bit more. That damage builds up over time, weakening your rope.

Convert the bight to a Double Bight/Double Lift Loop

This technique allows you to use a lift loop with lower risk. There are two reasons for this:

The lift line will be going under two strands instead of one, which decreases the curve of the rope passing through the Double Bight, reducing the stress on the rope during the lift.
The Double Bight will be in a slightly different place each time instead of always at the exact center of the rope as with the Primary Bight. Therefore, the friction damage caused by the lift will be distributed to various places, increasing the useful life of your rope.

This approach is useful for a more traditional look or if there is some issue with running the lift line directly under the strap (perhaps it is awkwardly placed or would tend to move the rope in an undesired way).