The Snap Bowline is a method to tie a Bowline Knot quickly.
It’s a cool way to tie the loop knot around an object; it might beat the traditional method taught in Scouts.
Why’s it so good?
First, it’s fast. Like, really fast. Plus, it’s almost foolproof and lets you tie not one but two variants of the Bowline.
Interesting, right? Let’s start!
Snap Bowline Knot Details
Type: Loop
Other Names: Lightning Bowline
ABoK Reference: #1010
How to Tie a Snap Bowline Knot
- Make a loop in your rope.
- Make a bight in the standing end and feed it through the loop.
- Pass the working end through the loop.
- Hold the working end with one hand and pull the standing end with the other.
- The structure will invert and a Bowline is formed.
Snap Bowline Step by Step
Pro TIP
When you tie this knot for critical applications, make sure you have enough tail length so you can tie a backup knot like an Overhand stopper (refer to the last slide).
It’s an extra safety measure you don’t want to skip with a Bowline.
What Makes Snap Bowline Special?
There are so many Bowline Variations to learn, but if you learn this one you will know how to tie two variants of the Bowline:
- Standard Bowline: Tail ends up inside the loop
- Cowboy Bowline: Tail ends up outside the loop
But how do you do it?
Depending on the way you feed the tag end (downward or upward) through the loop at step 3, you will end up with a Bowline or a Cowboy Bowline.
Give it a try! I’m sure you will love how this little trick can do wonders!
There is ongoing discussion over which version is better, but some research, including the PACI document shows that the Cowboy Bowline performs better with transverse loading than the Standard Bowline.
Snap Bowline with Yosemite Finish
Here’s the thing about Bowline: it tends to shake loose when it’s not loaded. Plus, it does not handle the transverse loading well.
To address this, the standard Bowline knot should either be backed up with a backup knot or finished off with a Yosemite finish.
To tie the Bowline with a Yosemite finish, you just wrap the free end around the bight and feed it back through the knot.
It makes the knot more secure and addresses the issue of the transverse loading.
Application and Uses
The Snap Bowline can really come in handy when you need to tie a rope around an object quickly.
It makes up for a great knot for emergency rescue situations where you need to tie up a loop knot around something or even yourself in a snap.
The One handed Bowline is also preferable in such situations where you have a single hand available.
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