Evolution Armbinder

The 'Evolution' Armbinder was inspired by a wonderful design that Angel666 saw by FrankFurt.Ropes on Instagram. Angel666 used this tie as a means of demonstrating how a tie can evolve from something simple into something quite decorative through the use of careful rope placement.

This tutorial is designed to accompany our YouTube demo available here:

Unlike traditional armbinders, this tie incorporates rope around the entire body, binding the arms to the chest and torso. As a result, the rope models who tested this tie found that it could be endured for a greater length of time as opposed to traditional armbinders, making it an ideal tie for play or for rope labbing. Neither of us are able to get our elbows together behind our backs and so this is an ideal armbinder for those of you who may have struggled with traditional ties and it is also kinder to those of you who have shoulder mobility issues.

This tie requires good tension throughout. We have used both forward/reverse and open/closed munter hitches in order to maintain symmetry, but feel free to just tie frictions that you are comfortable with.

We have filmed a video demonstration which will be available on YouTube in the next couple of days. The video shows a different means of finishing your rope at the front...every time we tie, we continue to evolve ourselves! There are numerous methods with which you could tie this armbinder. We endeavour to just show you our method. As always, we look forward to seeing your own adaptations. There is no hard and fast rule with what you do at the front, our design is all about the back, so why not let your creative juices flow and see what you can come up with at the front.

Evolution armbinder

We used three 30ft lengths of KnotHead Nylon to complete the final tie. The rope has been doubled so that you have a bight (a loop) at one end and two tails at the running end.

Ask your partner to place their arms into a comfortable position behind their back. Start the tie with a larks head across the front of the chest, approximately level with the armpits. Reverse tension your rope and begin to wrap it around the body, maintaining horizontal lines at the back.

In this tutorial, we have placed the reverse tension at the front centre of the chest. In the video we tie it offset to one side not just for decorative reasons, but also for comfort. Experiment and see which one you prefer.

Rope placement at the front is entirely dependant on your model. Here we show the third wrap at the front going underneath the right breast. In the video, we demonstrate it going across the top of the breast.

You will want to maintain tension as you tie, but not so tight that you stop circulation. Get your rope partner to help you at this stage by straightening their arms as much as they can, letting them know that they will be able to relax into the ropes once you reach the wrist area. Join new ropes as required.

Be extra careful around the elbow area. Ensure your rope goes above and below the elbow, do NOT place rope across the joint.

Once you reach just above the wrist area, bring your rope round to the left hand side at the front. Change direction with your rope by tying a Munter hitch on the bottom wrap, and continue to tie munter hitches on each wrap in a diagonal line until you reach the right shoulder.

Pass the rope diagonally across the back from the right shoulder to the left armpit. Tie munter hitches on each horizontal wrap working your way down the body. Align the hitches with the line of the inner arm.

Once you reach the left wrist, cross diagonally to the outer right wrist, wrap the rope around the hands, catching it in the thumbs, and bringing it diagonally across the previous rope and up to the first horizontal wrap on the right arm.

In order to keep it symmetrical, we have tied reverse munter hitches working up the body. This involves you making a loop under the horizontal wrap and then passing your running end through that loop. Alternatively, you could tie standard munter hitches or any other form of friction that you are comfortable with.

Again, align the frictions with the line of the inner arm as you work up the body. Once you reach the top, pass the rope diagonally from right to left across the back, tying a munter hitch where the two ropes cross.

This finishes the Evolution Armbinder v1. Tie off your rope at the front using a locking friction to secure your rope. You will need another length of rope if you want to try v2.

With a new rope, take the bight and wrap it around the thumb so that the rope exits between the hand and the body. Tie a munter hitch at the middle of the bottom horizontal wrap, trapping the X of the diagonal hand lines within the friction.

Tie munter hitches at the centre of each horizontal wrap, working up the body.

Once you reach the top wrap and have tied the centre munter hitch - split the rope so you are working with two individual single ropes.

Tie a munter hitch on each of the diagonal lines at the top as shown in the images above. Pass the running end over each shoulder and bring them back together to finish the tie.

We have worked the rope diagonally down the body so that we have formed a V-shape and secured the rope with a couple of half hitches. If you watch the YouTube video then you will see how to finish the front as shown in the image below.

We have not included a tutorial for v3 since we want to see YOU evolve and try and work it out for yourselves, or come up with your own version, We cant wait to see your ideas!!