That thing where everyone ties the knot on the wrong side of the saw

I keep seeing guys at the local tree service meetups cinching their climbing line with the knot facing away from their body. First time I did that on a red oak removal last spring I nearly slipped 15 feet because the line grabbed bark wrong. Tie it so the knot faces you, not the tree. Lets you see it and adjust faster. Anyone else notice this or am I just being picky?

2 comments

2 Comments

fiona_young1mo ago

Tying it facing you is the right way, but you've got it backwards on why. The knot should face you so you can keep an eye on it, but the real reason is that the knot sits flatter against your body when it's oriented right. Less chance of it catching on branches or your gear as you move past. That bark grab you felt was probably more about the way the line rode up on the crotch of the tree than the knot direction itself. Still, keeping that tail pointed at your chest is the standard for a reason.

thomas_martinez1mo ago

Respectfully gotta disagree with you on that one. Ive seen way too many guys get their tail end snagged on brush or a stub because it was pointing at their chest, then they cant grab it quick when they need to dump slack. I tie mine so the knot sits with the tail off to my hip side, facing the same way as my saw lanyard. That way the line runs cleaner past my body and I can still glance down and see the knot fine. Had a close call once with a tail caught in a limb on my way down, never again.