# What knot do you use to tie 2 ropes together? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 4, 2016, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-knot-do-you-use-to-tie-2-ropes-together/751201 "2016-04-04T22:33:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2016, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-knot-do-you-use-to-tie-2-ropes-together/751201/1 "2016-04-04T22:33:41Z")
I’ve recently become interested in knot tying and wonder what knots Dopers use when needing to bend 2 ropes together. The sheetbend is easy enough but it almost seems too simple to be secure. The double sheetbend seems to be a better choice but I freely admit that I don’t understand knot theory. The Carrick bend has an eye appealing symmetry to it but it seems to capsize easily. My Google fu indicates that it’s still secure when capsized but it looses its eye appeal. The double fisherman’s knot seems clever and it’s hard to see how it would fail but I assume that it’s possible. Feel free to use any disclaimers or qualifiers that you desire. Links to the above knots. > **[Sheet Bend](https://www.animatedknots.com/sheet-bend-knot)** > > The Sheet Bend or Weaver's Knot is recommended for joining two ropes of unequal size. The thicker rope must be used for the simple bight as shown. However, it works equally well if the ropes are of the same size. [http://m.wikihow.com/Tie-a-Double-Sheet-Bend-Knot](http://m.wikihow.com/Tie-a-Double-Sheet-Bend-Knot) [http://knots3d.com/knots/en\_us/23/carrick-bend](http://knots3d.com/knots/en_us/23/carrick-bend) > **[Double Fisherman’s Bend](https://www.animatedknots.com/double-fishermans-bend-knot)** > > The Double Fisherman's or Grapevine Bend consists of two strangle knots (like double overhand knots) each tied round the other standing end. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2016, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-knot-do-you-use-to-tie-2-ropes-together/751201/2 "2016-04-04T23:05:18Z")
I like the sheet bend or the [Alpine Butterfly bend](http://www.animatedknots.com/alpinebend/index.php?Categ=typebends&LogoImage=LogoGrog.png&Website=www.animatedknots.com#ScrollPoint). The sheet bend is good to know since it works with ropes of different sizes, but the Alpine butterfly is much more fun to tie. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2016, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-knot-do-you-use-to-tie-2-ropes-together/751201/3 "2016-04-05T00:07:30Z")
What is the down side of the square knot? When you have no special purpose in mind and just want a longer rope. If you do have a special purpose, the knot of choice would be dictated by that purpose. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2016, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-knot-do-you-use-to-tie-2-ropes-together/751201/4 "2016-04-05T00:19:17Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > What is the down side of the square knot? When you have no special purpose in mind and just want a longer rope. If you do have a special purpose, the knot of choice would be dictated by that purpose. The square knot is considered insecure and if tied improperly becomes a Granny knot or the catastrophically insecure Thief knot. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2016, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-knot-do-you-use-to-tie-2-ropes-together/751201/5 "2016-04-05T00:51:32Z")
In my climbing class, I believe that the recommendations were a water knot for a flat (webbing) rope and a double (or triple) fisherman’s for a regular, round rope. Of course, the emphasis is on not dying, rather than on symmetry or how fun it is to tie. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2016, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-knot-do-you-use-to-tie-2-ropes-together/751201/6 "2016-04-05T01:01:16Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > In my climbing class, I believe that the recommendations were a water knot for a flat (webbing) rope and a double (or triple) fisherman’s for a regular, round rope. > > Of course, the emphasis is on not dying, rather than on symmetry or how fun it is to tie. Years of playing in a band and working with network cabling have convinced me that climbers should use audio or network cable instead of rope. If two of them are even in the same room they spontaneously knot together so tightly that it takes an act of Congress to separate them. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2016, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-knot-do-you-use-to-tie-2-ropes-together/751201/7 "2016-04-05T01:03:07Z")
What materials are being tied? What is the purpose for tying them together? What forces will the knot be exposed to? What are the consequences of failure? Will the knot ever need to be untied, and if so, under what circumstances? How much time do I have to tie the knot? ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2016, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-knot-do-you-use-to-tie-2-ropes-together/751201/8 "2016-04-05T01:24:25Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > What materials are being tied? What is the purpose for tying them together? What forces will the knot be exposed to? What are the consequences of failure? Will the knot ever need to be untied, and if so, under what circumstances? How much time do I have to tie the knot? This is what I meant by “using any disclaimers or qualifiers” that you want. ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2016, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-knot-do-you-use-to-tie-2-ropes-together/751201/9 "2016-04-05T02:42:38Z")
Generally I use the double fisherman’s ---
**Author:** ![DorkVader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@DorkVader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorkVader)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2016, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-knot-do-you-use-to-tie-2-ropes-together/751201/10 "2016-04-05T03:33:45Z")
I used to use a self-opposed double-double sheet bend (one knot tied “clockwise” the opposed knot tied “counterclockwise”) purpose was to secure the “snugging” rope so it wouldn’t slip once the new boat cover was on the boat. This was company sop ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2016, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-knot-do-you-use-to-tie-2-ropes-together/751201/11 "2016-04-05T03:36:51Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > What is the down side of the square knot? From _The Ashley Book of Knots_ (pretty much the bible of knot-tying): > [@Clifford Ashley](#): > > There have probably been more lives lost as a result of using a square knot as a bend (to tie two ropes together) than from the failure of any other half-dozen knots combined. > In fact, it is the ease with which this knot may be spilled that gives it its value as a reef knot.\* - The reef knot uses the square knot as a binding knot - to hold a sail bundled up against its yard. For this purpose, it does a admirable job. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2016, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-knot-do-you-use-to-tie-2-ropes-together/751201/12 "2016-04-05T03:38:07Z")
> [@Oredigger77](#): > > Generally I use the double fisherman’s A very secure knot with the disadvantage that once heavily loaded it can be difficult to untie. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2016, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-knot-do-you-use-to-tie-2-ropes-together/751201/13 "2016-04-05T03:47:33Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > The Carrick bend has an eye appealing symmetry to it but it seems to capsize easily. It reliably capsizes into a strong and very secure (though somewhat bulky) knot - one of the few knots of which this is true. It’s also easy to untie no matter how much it has been loaded. It’s thus the preferred knot for hawsers and rope too large to allow a knot to be worked into its final shape ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2016, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-knot-do-you-use-to-tie-2-ropes-together/751201/14 "2016-04-05T04:37:56Z")
I’m fond of the [zeppelin bend](http://www.animatedknots.com/zeppelin/index.php?Categ=boating&LogoImage=LogoGrog.png&Website=www.animatedknots.com#ScrollPoint). It holds very well yet can easily be untied even after being very heavily loaded. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2016, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-knot-do-you-use-to-tie-2-ropes-together/751201/15 "2016-04-05T06:08:39Z")
[Flemish!](http://www.animatedknots.com/fig8join/index.php?LogoImage=LogoGrog.png&Website=www.animatedknots.com#ScrollPoint) CMC fnord! ---
**Author:** ![Uniqueorn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uniqueorn/32/2807_2.png) [@Uniqueorn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uniqueorn)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2016, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-knot-do-you-use-to-tie-2-ropes-together/751201/16 "2016-04-05T07:00:31Z")
The Reef Knot [Square Knot | How to tie a Square Knot using Step-by-Step Animations | Animated Knots by Grog](http://www.animatedknots.com/reef/#ScrollPoint) . ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2016, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-knot-do-you-use-to-tie-2-ropes-together/751201/17 "2016-04-05T09:24:55Z")
Baah, joining two ropes is what splicing is for… Just kidding, I generally just use a sheet bend unless it’s in synthetic, in which case, double or triple fisherman’s ---
**Author:** ![pullin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2016, 9:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-knot-do-you-use-to-tie-2-ropes-together/751201/18 "2016-04-05T09:31:03Z")
Carrick bend for me. Although I’ll admit I have to slow down and think about it while I do it. (Give me a break, I’m a power boater. The only knot I really need is a clove hitch to hang fenders from the rail. ;)) ---
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2016, 10:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-knot-do-you-use-to-tie-2-ropes-together/751201/19 "2016-04-05T10:02:21Z")
Big fan of the quick and elegant [sheet bend](http://www.animatedknots.com/sheetbend/#ScrollPoint) but for something I would trust my life to (as a climber in my younger days) I would go with what I was taught: [Figure of Eight Follow-Through](http://www.wikihow.com/Tie-a-Rethreaded-Figure-of-8-Climbing-Knot). ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2016, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-knot-do-you-use-to-tie-2-ropes-together/751201/20 "2016-04-05T13:54:24Z")
> [@Uniqueorn](#): > > The Reef Knot Under any name, it’s among the worst possible choices. The Granny Knot is a truly bad knot that should really never be used - but as a bend it’s _much_ better than a Square/Reef Knot. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-knot-do-you-use-to-tie-2-ropes-together/751201.md?page=2)