A Prusik is a friction hitch or knot used to ascend or descend a rope. It’s made by wrapping the rope round itself in a selected sample, making a loop that may be connected to a carabiner or different rigging {hardware}. Prusiks are sometimes used along side different climbing tools, corresponding to ascenders and descenders, to offer a safe and environment friendly technique to transfer up or down a rope.
Prusiks are comparatively straightforward to tie and can be utilized in quite a lot of conditions. They’re notably helpful for ascending ropes, as they are often simply adjusted to offer the correct quantity of friction. Prusiks may also be used to create a rappel system, or to offer a backup belay. As well as, Prusiks can be utilized to create quite a lot of different knots and hitches, making them a flexible instrument for any climber.