Key takeaways
- The flat overhand bend joins two rappel ropes with a simple overhand in both ends together.
- Its flat, low-profile shape resists snagging when pulling the ropes down — its main advantage.
- It's reliable for rappel joins when tied correctly with long tails (and well dressed).
- Critical: never use a flat FIGURE-eight version, which can roll/capsize dangerously.
Nicknamed the 'EDK' (European Death Knot), a misleading name for the correctly tied flat overhand.
This is general educational information, not instruction. Rappel knots are life-critical — learn and verify them hands-on with qualified instruction.
What the flat overhand bend is
The flat overhand bend is a knot for joining two ropes for rappelling, made by holding both rope ends together and tying a simple overhand knot in them. It’s widely known by the nickname ‘EDK’ (European Death Knot) — a misleading name, since the correctly tied flat overhand is a reliable, recommended rappel join.
Why it’s used for rappels
Its flat, low-profile shape sits against the rock and resists snagging when you pull the ropes down to retrieve them after a rappel — a common, frustrating, and sometimes dangerous problem with bulkier knots. That snag resistance is its main advantage.
Setting up a double-rope rappel, a climber joins the two ropes with a flat overhand bend — a simple overhand in both ends, cinched tight with a foot of tail — so that when they pull the ropes down afterward, the low-profile knot slides over edges instead of snagging.
The critical safety rules
It’s safe and reliable when tied correctly: use a simple overhand (never a figure-eight), dress and tighten it firmly, and leave long tails (~30cm), sometimes backed up with a second overhand. The danger is tying a flat figure-eight version instead, which can roll and fail — hence the scary nickname. It’s one of the essential climbing knots; for non-rappel joins, the double fisherman’s is also used, and stopper knots in the rope ends add backup.
The bottom line
The flat overhand bend joins two rappel ropes with a simple overhand whose flat profile resists snagging when you pull the ropes down — its key advantage. Despite the alarming 'EDK' nickname, it's reliable when tied correctly: a simple overhand (never a figure-eight), dressed tight with long tails. Get those rules right and it's a trusted, snag-resistant rappel join used worldwide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the flat overhand bend?
The flat overhand bend is a knot for joining two ropes together for rappelling, made by holding the two rope ends side by side and tying a simple overhand knot in them. It's widely known by the nickname 'EDK' (European Death Knot) — a misleading name, since the correctly tied flat overhand is a reliable, recommended rappel join.
Why is the flat overhand used for joining rappel ropes?
Because its flat, low-profile shape sits against the rock and resists snagging when you pull the ropes down to retrieve them after a rappel — a common, frustrating, and sometimes dangerous problem with bulkier knots. This snag resistance is its main advantage over other rope-joining knots for rappelling.
Is the flat overhand bend safe, and what are the rules?
It's safe and reliable for joining rappel ropes when tied correctly: use a simple OVERHAND (not a figure-eight), dress it neatly and tighten it firmly, and leave long tails (often recommended around 30cm / 12 inches), sometimes backed up with a second overhand. The critical danger is tying a flat FIGURE-eight version instead, which can roll/capsize under load and fail — hence the scary nickname. Tied right with long tails, the flat overhand is trusted by climbers worldwide.
Sources
- Rappel knots & safety — American Alpine Club
- Knots & rope work — The Mountaineers