The trident loop is a fixed

loop Loop or LOOP may refer to: Brands and enterprises * Loop (mobile), a Bulgarian virtual network operator and co-founder of Loop Live * Loop, clothing, a company founded by Carlos Vasquez in the 1990s and worn by Digable Planets * Loop Mobile, an ...

knot A knot is an intentional complication in cordage which may be practical or decorative, or both. Practical knots are classified by function, including hitches, bends, loop knots, and splices: a ''hitch'' fastens a rope to another object; a ' ...

which can jam when heavily loaded. It was proposed as a replacement for the

figure-of-eight loop Figure-eight loop (also figure-eight on a bight, figure-eight follow-through, figure-eight retrace, Flemish loop, or Flemish eight) is a type of knot created by a loop on the bight. It is used in climbing and caving. The double figure eight i ...

for use in

climbing Climbing is the activity of using one's hands, feet, or any other part of the body to ascend a steep topographical object that can range from the world's tallest mountains (e.g. the eight thousanders), to small boulders. Climbing is done fo ...

by Robert M. Wolfe, MD, who developed it as a loop form of

Ashley's bend Ashley's bend is a knot used to securely join the ends of two ropes together. It is similar to several related bend knots which consist of two interlocking overhand knots, and in particular the alpine butterfly bend. These related bends differ ...

. While some tests indicate its strength lies somewhere between the weaker

Bowline The bowline ( or ) is an ancient and simple knot used to form a fixed loop at the end of a rope. It has the virtues of being both easy to tie and untie; most notably, it is easy to untie after being subjected to a load. The bowline is sometimes ...

and stronger figure-of-eight loop, the trident loop shows exceptional resistance to slipping in shock-loading tests.Geoffrey Budworth, ''The Complete Book of Knots'' (London: Octopus, 1997), 94.

Tying

Image:TridentLoop01.jpg, 1. Start with a rope end. Image:TridentLoop01.1.jpg, 2. Start an

overhand knot The overhand knot is one of the most fundamental knots, and it forms the basis of many others, including the simple noose, overhand loop, angler's loop, reef knot, fisherman's knot, Half hitch, and water knot. The overhand knot is a stopper, e ...

, leaving enough rope for the loop and the rest of the knot. Image:TridentLoop01.2.jpg, 3. Complete the overhand knot. Image:TridentLoop02.jpg, 4. Form the loop by wrapping the working end around, and then form a

bight The word is derived from Old English ''byht'' (“bend, angle, corner; bay, bight”). In modern English, bight may refer to: * Bight (geography), recess of a coast, bay, or other curved feature * Bight (knot), a curved section, slack part, or loo ...

in the working end. Image:TridentLoop03.jpg, 5. Feed the bight ''through'' the overhand knot. Image:TridentLoop04.jpg, 6. Wrap the remaining working end around the back of the knot. Image:TridentLoop05.jpg, 7. Feed the working end up through the bight. Image:TridentLoop06.jpg, 8. Tighten. This is the completed loop.

References

{{Knots Climbing knots

Tying

See also

References