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Climber's Hitch

Original Post
Greeley · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2012 · Points: 15

Can anyone tell me how to tie a climber’s hitch? I’ve seen this knot mentioned in a few places (like this article from Black Diamond on connecting two slings), but I can’t find any info on how to actually tie it. Google, youtube, MP, etc., all turn up nothing. I can barely find any mention of it anywhere. Is there another name for this knot? Maybe that’s why I can’t find anything on it.

Picture of the mysterious climber's hitch.

Chuck Parks · · Atlanta, GA · Joined Jan 2008 · Points: 2,190

The canonical spelling may be "climer" hitch. Searching that will give you better results. Since I've already done the legwork, here's some photos on how to tie it.

(Note that in some of the BD tests it came out weaker than a girth hitch. When it was stronger, it was only marginally so. It's probably more trouble than it's worth. Looks fancy though!)

Climer hitch - step 1

Climer hitch - step 2

Climer hitch - step 3

Climer hitch - step 4

Climer hitch - complete

curt86iroc · · Lakewood, CO · Joined Dec 2014 · Points: 274

i would NEVER connect 2 dyneema slings with either hitch. there is a lot of data showing how the friction generated during a fall can easily cause the slings to break. use a biner.

Xam · · Boulder, Co · Joined Dec 2011 · Points: 76
curt86iroc wrote:i would NEVER connect 2 dyneema slings with either hitch. there is a lot of data showing how the friction generated during a fall can easily cause the slings to break. use a biner.
Sure does. At about 10-11 kN. Certainly worse than using a biner but there is nothing easy about generating that kind of force in a typical fall. And attributing the failure to friction would take doing the test in a some kind of calorimeter. Correct me if I am wrong, but I don't think anyone has done this test.

blackdiamondequipment.com/e…
Greeley · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2012 · Points: 15

Thanks, Chuck. I probably won't ever use it. I was more curious than anything else (which was most likely exacerbated by the fact that I couldn't find any info on it).

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

General Climbing
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