Girth hitch/Prusik knot

This knot makes a tightening loop. Sometimes it is also called a “simple Prusik knot”. It is used to fix a rope around trees or poles. It is also used as a safety knot. The more it is loaded the tighter it draws. Then, when unloading the rope, the knot does not hold its shape. It is necessary to load both rope strands coming from the knot. It can be untied very easily.

When tying more turns, it is used to ascend a rope as can clamp on rope, for strengthening ropes by a system of pulleys, for seft-belaying, etc. According to the number of turns, we talk about a double or triple Prusik knot. It is normally tied with short rounded sling (6-7 mm) on a stronger rope. The more turns the tighter it is.