The Water Knot is one of the knots I expect every canyoneer to recognize and tie. It joins the ends of webbing – either one piece wrapped around an anchor or two pieces being joined together.
Canyon webbing lives a hard life. Sun, water, sand, abrasion, and repeated loading all matter, so the knot and the webbing around it need to be inspected together.
PROS
• Highly effective for joining webbing.
• Common and easy for other canyoneers to recognize.
• Used throughout traditional webbing-anchor setups.
CONS
• Can be difficult to untie after loading.
• Requires careful dressing and adequate tails.
• The tails can shorten over repeated use and eventually require retying.
CAUTION: Leave at least 3 inches of tail on both strands, inspect the knot at every rappel, and replace questionable webbing instead of trying to talk yourself into trusting it.
CANYONEERING USAGE
• Join the ends of one piece of webbing wrapped around a natural or fixed anchor.
• Join two separate pieces of webbing when an anchor needs additional length.
• Create a closed webbing loop for appropriate anchor or sling applications.
• Rebuild or extend existing webbing anchors while keeping the webbing flat, dressed, and inspectable.
• Use in emergency improvised-harness applications only with proper instruction and practice.
ADDITIONAL READING:
• CanyoneeringUSA – How to Tie a Water Knot and Build a Webbing Anchor
• CMC Pro – Learn Your Knots: Water Knot
• CMC Pro – Learn How to Tie a Double Loop Anchor
• CMC Pro – Learn How to Tie a Wrap 2, Pull 1 Anchor
• The Mountaineers – Standard Techniques
• The Mountaineers – Basic Climbing Knots
WATER KNOT — 1 STRAND OF WEBBING
01
Lay the webbing flat and identify both ends. Remove twists before you begin so the finished Water Knot can lie flat.
02
Near one end, cross the webbing over itself to begin a loose Overhand Knot. Keep the webbing flat through the turn.
WATER KNOT — 1 STRAND OF WEBBING
03
Pass the tail through the loop to complete a loose Overhand Knot. Leave it open enough to retrace and do not tighten it yet.
04
Bring the opposite end of the same webbing back toward the loose Overhand Knot.
WATER KNOT — 1 STRAND OF WEBBING
05
Feed the opposite end into the knot from the other direction and begin retracing the first strand exactly. Keep both layers flat and side by side.
06
Continue the retrace until the second strand follows the entire Overhand path. Dress the webbing flat and parallel, tighten evenly, and leave at least 3 inches of tail.
WATER KNOT – 2 STRANDS OF WEBBING
01
Tie a loose Overhand Knot in the first piece of webbing. Leave a long tail and keep the knot open for the second strand.
02
Bring the second piece of webbing to the loose Overhand and insert its end from the opposite direction.
WATER KNOT – 2 STRANDS OF WEBBING
03
Follow the first strand around the first turn of the knot. Keep the second webbing flat and directly beside the first.
04
Continue retracing the next turn and through the center of the knot without crossing or twisting the webbing.
WATER KNOT – 2 STRANDS OF WEBBING
05
Finish the full retrace so the two webbing paths match and the tails exit on opposite sides of the finished knot.
06
Dress and tighten the Water Knot evenly. All layers should lie flat and parallel, with at least 3 inches of tail remaining on both ends.
KNOT GUIDE