Water Knot - Security

Security

Testing has shown the water knot to slip very slightly, but very consistently, with each load and unload cycle. In tests using 9/16 in (14.3 mm) tubular webbing, repeated loading and unloading with 250 lbs (113 kg) caused one of the 3 in (76 mm) tails to work back into the knot in just over 800 loading cycles. When the water knot was statically loaded with 200 lbs (91 kg) no slipping was observed. These results validate the need to leave long tails and inspect water knots before each use.

Although used in climbing, the water knot is considered unsafe. According to Walter Siebert, several deaths have been reported due to failure of this knot. In Germany the knot is also named knot of death.

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