The Alpine Butterfly Loop: A Step-by-Step Guide to Tie This Knot

The Alpine butterfly knot enables you to easily form a secure loop in the middle of a rope without having to touch either end. The tied rope can handle significant amounts of weight on the loop and the ends. Other uses include creating traverse lines, binding anchors, shortening rope slings, and isolating damaged sections of rope.

Alpine Butterfly Knot: Quick Steps

Make a loop in the rope.
Twist the loop into a figure 8 with the larger circle on top.
Fold the top loop over the bottom so it overlaps the twist.
Pull the farthest edge of the larger loop through the smaller loop.
Tighten the knot by simultaneously pulling on the loop and the rope ends.

Section 1 of 6:

Tying an Alpine Butterfly Knot with Two Loops

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Twist the bight or loop twice to create two loops, one on top of the other like a figure 8. Make sure the top loop is larger than the bottom one.^{[1]
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Bring the top loop down over the bottom loop, folding it at the junction between the two loops. Now the bottom loop is essentially inside the first loop, making it look similar to a pretzel.^{[2]
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Take the farthest edge of the bottom loop from the first loop and bring that through the smaller loop at the bottom of the figure 8.^{[3]
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Make sure you pull the loop all the way up to tighten the knot. Allow the ends to tighten themselves as you pull. The “wings” or loops along each side of the knot will interlock, keeping the knot secure.^{[4]
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Section 2 of 6:

Tying an Alpine Butterfly Knot with Hand Wrapping

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Lay the rope across your palm and wrap it around your hand 3 times. Hold your hand sideways with your palm facing you. Lay the rope across your palm. Then, wrap it from front to back across the top edge of your hand 3 times.^{[5]
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- Some believe this method makes it easier to produce a secure alpine butterfly knot.
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Slide the middle wrap under the top wrap to make a loop. This loop will be at the top of the knot when you’re finished. If you need a larger loop, gently tug on it to pull more rope.^{[6]
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- The top wrap is the one nearest to your fingertips.
As you hold the loop, there are 2 wraps left on your hand. Cross the loop over them toward the heel of your hand.^{[7]
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After folding the loop over the 2 remaining wraps, tuck it under the wraps so it’s between the wraps and your palm. It may be easier to tuck the loop under the wraps by pushing it through with your pointer finger.
As you pull the loop under the two wraps, make sure they stay on your fingers until the loop is all the way through. If the wraps come off your hand too early, the knot may fall apart before you have a chance to secure it.^{[8]
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Once the loop is all the way through the wraps, hold onto it with your free hand so the knot doesn’t come unties. Then, slide the other hand out of the wraps.^{[9]
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Pull the loop to tighten the knot. Continue to hold the loop in one hand. With the other hand, pull on the two ends of the rope to tighten the knot up.^{[10]
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- Tug the 2 rope ends in opposite directions to make the knot extra secure.

Section 3 of 6:

How to Untie the Alpine Butterfly Knot

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Flex the “wings” on each side of the loop to loosen the knot. Grasp each of the wings on each side of the knot’s main loop. Flex the knot by gently twisting the wings back and forth as you pull the loop back through the knot. This motion will gradually work the knot loose.^{[11]
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- Once the loop is free of the knot, the rope is ready to retie or put away.

Section 4 of 6:

Uses for an Alpine Butterfly Knot

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The alpine butterfly knot is often used by climbers, hikers, and campers. Climbers commonly use the alpine butterfly knot to attach carabiners to climbing harnesses and make traverse lines. It’s also a great way to attach a middle climber or hiker to a rope when there are 3 or more people climbing. Campers also find the butterfly knot useful for hanging gear around a campsite. Other uses for the alpine butterfly knot include:^{[12]
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- Isolating a damaged or frayed section of rope
- Creating attachment points in the middle of a rope
- Joining two ropes together
- Attaching a pulley
- Creating hand & foot loops for climbing

Section 5 of 6:

Advantages & Disadvantages of Alpine Butterfly Knots

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Advantages of the alpine knot include its stability and adjustability. This knot is a more stable option for climbers than other midline knots like the rethreaded figure 8 and bowline on a bight. In fact, many consider it the most useful knot for rock climbers due to its stability and versatility.^{[13]
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Research source} Other advantages of the alpine butterfly knot are:
- It forms a stable and secure loop when properly tied.
- It’s easy to adjust and untie.
- It bears weight in 3 different directions.
- It uses less rope than other similar knots.
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Disadvantages of the alpine butterfly knot include its difficulty level. While there are many practical uses for this knot, there are also a few drawbacks. One of the main issues is that an improperly tied alpine butterfly knot can look a lot like a properly tied one but is much less stable and secure. The disadvantages of this knot are:^{[14]
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- You need to put in some practice to make sure you’re tying it right.
- It’s prone to slipping when it’s improperly tied.
- Unlike some other knots, this one requires both hands to tie.
- It doesn’t work very well with thicker ropes.

Section 6 of 6:

How to Tie Other Useful Knots

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Trucker Hitch Knot Start a trucker hitch knot by tying off one end of the rope to a sturdy object like a tree or anchored post. Create a loop in the rope, then feed some rope into the loop to make a second loop. Tug on the side of the second loop to pull the knot tight.^{[15]
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- Anchor the free end of your line to another sturdy object.
- Thread the free end of your rope through the loop on the other end.
- Pull it to make the line taught.
- Finish the knot with 2 half-inch locks.
Tie a simple stopper knot by crossing the end of the line over its middle. Twist the loop away from the end, making a full rotation. Then, pull the end of the line through the loop from the back and pull both ends.^{[16]
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Clove Hitch Knot Tie a clove hitch to an attached pole by wrapping the end of the rope halfway around the pole from front to back. Form an “X” by crossing the end over the other part of the rope. Then, wrap the end of the rope over the pole again and slip it under the wrap you just made to create a second “X.”^{[17]
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- Pull on the rope end and the piece of hanging rope to tighten it.
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Highwayman’s Hitch Knot Tie a highwayman’s hitch by folding a rope about 2 ft (0.61 m) from the end to make a loop. Place the loop behind the object you’re tying it to. Form another loop in the long end of the rope hanging from the back of the object. Pass the second loop through the first one.^{[18]
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- Make a third loop with the shorter end of the hanging rope about 6 to 12 in (15 to 30 cm) from the other 2 loops.
- Feed the third loop through the second one and pull it so the rope is taut.
- Pull on the hanging rope to the right to tighten the knot.

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Other names for this loop include: the alpine butterfly loop, the butterfly loop, the lineman's loop, and the lineman's rider. ^{[19]
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