How to Tie a Rappelling Rope Saddle

If you need to make an emergency or recreational rappel and don't have the proper supplies, you can tie yourself a saddle, or a harness, out of rope. Use climbing-rated rope or cordage, which can be identified because it's relatively stiff and has a white core that may show slightly at the ends through the nylon sheath that protects that cord. You can also tie a harness, using this same process, using 1-inch nylon webbing instead of rope.

Things You'll Need

  • 20 feet or more of rope
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Instructions

    • 1

      Locate the center of the rope.

    • 2

      Place the center of the rope in the small of your back, with one end in each hand.

    • 3

      Cross the ends of the rope in front of you so that they wrap around your waist. Wrap one of the ends around the other several times in front of your waist. This will help to keep your rope harness from bunching up around your legs.

    • 4

      Wrap each end of rope down around the outside of the thigh it's closest to. Then bring them up to the front, together, between your legs.

    • 5

      Tuck both ends of rope up through the "waist belt" you formed earlier.

    • 6

      Wrap each end of the rope back around the shoulder it's nearest to, then over your shoulders so that you have one end dangling over each shoulder on your chest.

    • 7

      Pull down on the ropes over your shoulders as you squat. Then stand up and squat again several times to help tighten your harness.

    • 8

      Maintain tension on the ends of the rope as you unwrap them from your shoulders. They should now be leading directly out from where they passed under the waist belt of your harness in progress.

    • 9

      Pass each end of the rope around one of your hips from front to back. Tuck the rope underneath the loop around each leg, where the loop crosses your backside, then bring the rope forward in front of you again. This secures it in place.

    • 10

      Bring the ends of the rope together over one hip. Tie them tightly together with either an overhand or rethreaded figure eight knot, leaving plenty of length to the tails coming out of the knot.

    • 11

      Tie the tails of the knot together to help keep it in place.