| Kalmyk Loop | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Category | Loop |
| Origin | Ancient |
| Releasing | Quick Release |
| ABoK | Not Listed |
The Kalmyk loop (Russian: калмыцкий узел) is a fixed loop still largely unused in the West, but common in Russia and often used instead of the bowline.
The knot is named after the Kalmyks, a nomad ethnicity in Russia.
It is very quick to tie, it is secure, and it undoes quickly when pulling the free end.
The knot is not mentioned in The Ashley Book of Knots but is found in its Russian equivalent, the book “Морские узлы” by Lev Skryagin.
Without the slip, the knot is known as the Eskimo bowline or Cossack knot.
Sources
- Скрягин Л. Н. Морские узлы — Москва, Транспорт, 1982
External links
- russian article with pictures
- Kalmyk Loop (калмыцкий узел)
- Can the Kalmyk Unseat the Bowline as King of Knots?
- Little Campfires (2020-08-01). “How to Tie a Bowline Knot (Plus Variations): Kalmyk Loop Knot”. YouTube.
- TheTautLine (2023-09-11). “Complete Guide to the Bowline Knot and its Most Important Variants: Kalmyk Loop”. YouTube.
- Video: How to tie 1
- Video: How to tie 2
- Video: How to tie 3
- Video: 3 Ways to Tie the Kalmyk Loop (Including One You’ve Never Seen)
This article is adapted from “Kalmyk loop” on Wikipedia, written by its contributors, and used under CC BY-SA 4.0. Text on this page is available under the same licence. Source snapshot: Wikipedia via Kiwix, 2026-07-20.