What is a figure eight on a bend used for?

• A. to join two pieces of webbing
• B. hauling ascending and self rescue
• C. to tie two ropes for load bearing purposes
• D. used to bind two ropes of the same diameter together, not load bearing, must use the same diameter ropes

Answer: (C)

This bend is used to connect two ropes so they act as a single, load-bearing line. By tying a figure eight in each rope end and then interlocking those ends, you get a strong, easy-to-inspect joint that remains secure under load and is relatively simple to untie after serving its purpose. It’s handy for extending rope length or building a rescue or climbing rig where two lengths need to work together.

It isn’t meant for joining webbing, which is a different material and technique, nor is it the right choice for ascending or self-rescue tasks that rely on specialized knots. It also isn’t a binding for non-load-bearing situations or for ropes of different diameters where a bend that’s not designed for load sharing would be unsafe.