How to Make a Swiss Seat From Rope

A Swiss Seat is a simple rappelling harness made from a length of rope. If you forget your harness or it starts to fray, a Swiss Seat is a great way to finish your climb safely.

Things You'll Need

  • 10 feet of rappelling rope
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Instructions

  1. Make a Swiss Seat From Rope

    • 1

      Double the rope, holding the ends in your right hand and the looped end in your left hand.

    • 2

      Place the looped end of the rope on your left hip.

    • 3

      Bring one end of the rope around toward the front of your body. Take the other end of the rope around the back of your body. Hold both ends of the rope in front of you. The tail of the rope that is in your left hand will be longer than the tail of the rope that is in your right hand.

    • 4

      Tie a double overhand knot at your navel by crossing the right tail of the rope over the left tail. Then bring the left tail up and over the right tail. Take the right tail behind and over the left tail. Let go of the rope, allowing the tails to fall down in front of you.

    • 5

      Take the right tail between your legs and around the back side of your right thigh. Bring the end of this rope down between the waist rope and your waist, pulling it snug. The rope should dissect the back pocket area.

    • 6

      Repeat this process on the other side by taking the left tail between your legs and around the back side of your left thigh. Bring the end of this rope down between the waist rope and your waist, pulling it snug. The rope should dissect the back pocket area.

    • 7

      Grab the right tail with your right hand and the left tail with your left hand. Tighten the seat by squatting down and pulling on the tails of the rope.

    • 8

      Working with the left tail, bring the rope back between the waist rope and your waist and then underneath the rope going across the back pocket area.Repeat this process on the other side by bringing the right tail back between the waist rope and your waist and then underneath the rope going across the back pocket area.

    • 9

      Bring both tails to your left hip and tie a square knot (left over right and then right over left).

    • 10

      Using the right tail, tie two overhand knots to the right of the square knot.Using the left tail, tie two overhand knots to the left of the square knot.

    • 11

      Secure the excess rope tails.

    Connecting the Snap Link to Your Swiss Seat

    • 12

      Hold the snap link with hinge side down, facing toward you.

    • 13

      Catch the waist rope and the double-hand knot with the snap link.

    • 14

      Rotate the snap link so that the gate is facing away from you.