Ah, yes... these are the things that keep me up at night.

So... I'm seeing variations and small difference in preferences across multiple rope applications lately.  Just trying to standardize a few things in my brain, or at least figure out where the confusion is coming from...

Examples:

🚨 Which way should the gate be facing when clipping in to your harness?

Gate facing your body, or gate facing away from your body?

Rope Rescue class said towards your body, so you don't accidentally open it while being lowered.

Rock Climbing Gym said, away from your body, so you don't open it or snag it on your clothes or stomach.

Online sources say away...

Let me find some other sources and see what people are saying.

Next,

🚨 Where should you have your ropes while rappelling?  

The two variations I've seen are... Should it be on the side of your body, or between your legs?

In person class: Some say on the side, while others say between your legs.

Online sources: Some say on the side for good rope management practices

E.M. Said on the side...

My personal opinion of it:

-I personally like to have it on one side...  I guess it depends on what I'm doing.  But lets say a simple rappel... I like to have it on my brake side (dominant side).

The reason why... I think you get a little more control, less having to "death grip" the brake side...  Good and easily identifiable rope management.  (Able to clearly see which rope is which.)

Why some people seem to prefer the other way (between the legs)...

-I'm assuming if it were tight spaces you were lowering through... you might not have the clearance to have the rope on the side...?

-Maybe this works better with a descender?

-Keeps the line staight?

🚨 Stopper knot, or no stopper knot?

Fire Service says to have a stopper, or rather a safety knot.

Rope Classes, say its not needed.

Rock climbing world, say to have a stopper knot.

...after a while, things start to blend... Its hard to remember whats acceptible in what dicipline... There are tons of things that overlap and tons of things that are done one way and not the other...

So, how do we appease the rope gods?

I'm the type of person (or at least I was) that when I see something done outside of how I was taught, or learned, it sticks out like a sore thumb,  and before its corrected, it bugs the living crap out of me.

I'm starting to see where there are many different ways to do something... (Many different ways to skin a cat, so the saying goes) and most of the time, it's fine.

Sometimes it boils down to personal preference... Sometimes it boils down to what works in some area, might not work in EVERY area.

But, then again... Some things SHOULD  be done a certain way, and if its taught differently to someone, it spreads and quickly becomes the norm...

What do you think?