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SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/climb-figure-eight-tail-length

The AAC curriculum says a finished figure 8 follow through should have a tail about how long?

About 6 inches.

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  1. About 6 inches ✔
  2. About 1 inch
  3. About 3 feet

Why: The AAC standard is a 6 inch tail, all strands parallel, and a gap between knot and harness about the size of the belay loop. A standard look makes mistakes easy to spot.

Huh, didn't know that: The AAC says the 6 inch tail should be "no longer no shorter."

The dad joke
My figure eight has a 6 inch tail. My cat is jealous.
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References

Answer: About 6 inches. The AAC standard is a 6 inch tail, all strands parallel, and a gap between knot and harness about the size of the belay loop. A standard look makes mistakes easy to spot.

  1. AAC Gold Standard Curriculum: Belaying americanalpineclub.org/news/2016/3/15/9ifwyakbvdf826by6gv97y1uzk1mzb
    The knot has a 6 inch tail. No longer no shorter.
    Checked 2026-10-12.

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Sports & FitnessWhich knot is the most common way to tie a climbing rope to a harness?Sports & FitnessAfter passing the rope through the harness, how do you finish a figure 8 follow through?Sports & FitnessWhen tying in to a harness with two tie-in points, where does the rope go?

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