Tripod Lashing

Tripod Lashing
Preparing the rope…

Arrange three spars

1/8

Lay three spars side by side with narrow spaces for frapping.

Camping · 8 steps

Bind three spars with a wrapping band and two sets of frapping turns.

A tripod lashing joins three spars while leaving enough movement to spread them into legs. This lesson shows the plain-turn method: start on an outside spar, wrap around all three together, then frap the two spaces between them before finishing on the other outside spar.

The fraps run around the wrapping band, between the wood. They do not add more turns around the whole group. The model keeps the spars alongside one another to make both gaps visible; spreading and positioning a working tripod is a separate operation.

When to use it

  • Prepare three spars for a small camp tripod.
  • Practice the difference between wrapping and frapping.

Keep in mind

Do not bind the laid-out spars so rigidly that the legs cannot spread. A usable structure also needs sound spars, stable footing and a load suited to the whole assembly.

Check your knot

  • The wrapping turns enclose all three spars.
  • Each gap receives its own pair of fraps.
  • The start and finish are secured on the outside spars.
How to tie Tripod Lashing
  1. Arrange three spars

    Lay three spars side by side with narrow spaces for frapping.

  2. Start on an outside spar

    Tie a clove hitch around the first outer spar.

  3. Make three plain turns

    Wrap around all three spars as a group.

  4. Complete six turns

    Keep the six wraps beside each other. This is the plain-turn method.

  5. Frap the first gap twice

    Take two turns around the wrapping band between the right and middle spars.

  6. Frap the second gap twice

    Repeat around the band in the other gap.

  7. Finish with a clove hitch

    Tie the end around the remaining outer spar above the band.

  8. Check before spreading

    Keep enough movement to spread the legs. The fraps tighten as the tripod opens.

Explore the 3D steps
References & further reading