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Carrying the least amount of necessities needed when going climbing is important. Traveling light and fast will make it easier to climb. Learning how to coil a rope into an easy-to-carry backpack will eliminate carrying a backpack with you as you climb or even hike. This coil is used predominantly by mountaineers and rock climbers, though it is also a very handy and quick way to carry any long rope.



  1. 1
    Double the rope. Find the half point of the rope and fold the entire thing evenly in half. This is done so that once the rope is coiled, you can use the two free ends as shoulder straps. It can be time consuming, but you won't spend as much time coiling later on. You can skip doubling the rope and still follow these steps, but in the end you will have only one strap and will need to improvise when securing it to your body.[1]
  2. 2
    Set aside a loose end. Grab both ends of the rope and measure 1 1/2 - 2 arms' length (the distance between your hands when you hold them out straight sideways). Let this section hang loose so far, as it will be used later to complete the coil.
  3. 3
    Measure another full arms' length and put it on your shoulders, with your neck in the center.
  4. Over_shoulders_3_541.jpg
    Coil the rest of the rope behind your neck. When you are holding the rope up, one end will be the short loose end that you set aside earlier, and the other end will be the long one that needs to be coiled.

    • Ropebackpack_268.jpg
      Grab the long end with the opposite hand (without letting go of the rope you're already holding).
    • Ropebackpack_936.jpg
      Measure out your arm's length and put that length behind your neck, never letting go of the rope you grabbed.
    • Fold_over_shoulder_2_790.jpg
      Repeat this process, alternating hands because every time you coil the rope, you'll be bringing the long end to the opposite side. You'll find more and more rope accumulating in each hand, which could make this task difficult if you have small hands and a long length of thick rope.
  5. Grab_coil_fold_in_two_523.jpg
    Take the coiled rope off your shoulders. Fold it in half by putting your hand in the center (where your neck was) and letting the ends hang loose.
  6. Make_looks_over_it_more_loops_179.jpg
    Wrap the folded rope just below your hand 4 or 5 times around with the two free ends of the rope set aside in the first step. Don't remove your hand from the fold because you will need it there for the next step.
  7. Scan0006_731.jpg
    Pull the loose ends partially through the fold with your hand, making a loop. Pass the free ends through this loop and tighten. This cinches the rope together securely.
  8. 8
    Hold the coiled rope by the loose ends and swing it to your back. Then bring one loose end over each shoulder as carrying straps, like a backpack is carried.
  9. 9
    Bring the loose ends around to your back again, where they will intersect over the coiled rope, preventing it from bouncing around as you're walking.
  10. 10
    Bring the free ends forward once again, this time around your waist, and tie a square knot.

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  • If you have trouble figuring this out from the pictures and description, watch the video referenced below.
  • Many people prefer the butterfly coil over the mountaineer's coil because it doesn't twist the rope.[2]
  • If you're already wearing a backpack, you can tie the rope to your pack. Some packs have straps at the top specifically for this purpose.[3]

Things You'll Need

  • Rope

Sources and Citations

  • How to Butterfly Coil a Rope - Video screenshots shared with permission. Originally created by Sam Noyoun.

Article Info

Featured Article

Categories: Featured Articles | Backpacking and Hiking | Camping

Recent edits by: Leona, Zareen, Maluniu

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