In our How To Escape and Evade in an Urban Environment article, we briefly discussed escaping from zip ties.
There are quite a few hasty methods of illegal restraint, and zip ties are a method that’s available to any would-be kidnapper.
A few of the other methods seen are duct tape, rope and phone cord, but with a little education you’ll see that all of these methods can easily be defeated.
There are two things you’ll need in any escape situation, and without these two things, nothing we’ll show you will work.
Those two things are time and opportunity. You’ll have to first have the time to be able to put one of these escape methods into action and the opportunity to do so.
Your captors are most likely not going to have the resources or the patience to keep eyes on you constantly, and when they don’t, it’s time to make your move.
How Zip Ties Work
The best way to defeat any type of restraint is to first analyze how it works.
Zip ties consist of a sturdy Nylon tape that contains small teeth running lengthwise down one side, and a ratchet with small teeth housed in a small open case.
The ratchet is molded to allow downward pressure to be placed upon it as the tape is threaded through the open case, then springing back up to position as the valleys of the tape align with the teeth of the ratchet, locking the zip tie.
At this point further forward movement will continue to tighten the zip tie, and backwards movement will lock it.
The particular zip ties we used in all our demonstrations were the most heavy-duty zip ties we could find at Lowes or Home Depot, the Zip Ties shown in the photo with a 175 lb. rating.
We chose these because realistically if someone was determined to go out and buy zip ties to use to illegally restrain someone, they’d likely hit the local hardware store and find the toughest ones they could.
To defeat zip ties, you can either completely break the zip ties, shim them, use a friction saw or with a little forward thinking just be able to slip right out of them.
Breaking Zip Ties
Breaking Zip Ties (Rear)
Shimming Zip Ties
Friction Sawing Zip Ties
Slipping Out of Zip Ties
Dual Zip Ties
Hand Positions
Now that we’ve gone over these four methods in detail in the videos, let’s talk briefly on how you’ll be bound, because it’s equally important as the method you choose to escape.
For an exercise, so that we’re all on the same page, put both of your hands straight out. Now touch your wrists together. This will be called “wrists together, horizontal.” This position is the easiest to escape from by slipping out.
Next rotate your wrists so your right hand turns clockwise, your left hand turns counterclockwise and your wrists touch. This will be called “wrists together, vertical.” This position is not preferred, but as shown on the breaking videos, can be defeated.
Now, from the “wrists together, vertical” position, rotate your hands so the backs of them touch together. This will be called “wrists together, inboard.” This is the hardest position out of the four, but can still be defeated by breaking.
The final way you could be bound is by crossing your hands at the wrists, making an X. This will be called “wrists together, crossed.” This position is a bit harder than the first for slipping out of, but it’s still possible.
Passive Victim
The first thing you should always do in any restraint situation, is remain passive.
Let your captor know that there’s no fight in you, that you’re scared and helpless. This will psychologically lead your captor to believe that you have no plans to try to escape, and thus make what we’re about to tell you easier.
You want to make every effort to present your hands to your captor before they use force to restrain you. Essentially you’re presenting the wrist position of your choosing to them, hoping they’ll use it.
Notes
Using the information we’ve provided to your advantage, you can put yourself in a better position to escape or determine which of the methods presented will work best in your circumstances.
We hope at the very least you watched the videos we’ve made, so you have the information stored somewhere in your mind, tucked away just in case you ever have to use it.
Let us know your thoughts and any questions you still have about escaping illegal restraints.
UPDATE 3/9/2010: We’ve just released this article explaining our position on the content of this article and why this information is important to get into the public, in the article we also talk about an important safety alert on a product called Jersey Cuffs. More Here.
Update 5/28/2010: Restraints we’re proud to endorse!
Are you getting more than 14¢ of value per day from ITS Tactical?
Please consider joining our Crew Leader Membership and our growing community of supporters.
At ITS Tactical we’re working hard every day to provide different methods, ideas and knowledge that could one day save your life. Instead of simply asking for your support with donations, we’ve developed a membership to allow our readers to support what we do and allow us to give you back something in return.
For less than 14¢ a day you can help contribute directly to our content, and join our growing community of supporters who have directly influenced what we’ve been able to accomplish and where we’re headed.

























{ 7 trackbacks }
{ 95 comments… read them below or add oneDiscuss in our Forum }
← Previous Comments
does the friction saw work whe wet?
Yep!
Ugh, I’m not getting this. I cant be that weak. Ok so I have the 175lb commercial electric brand zip ties from home depot and cant even break them when they are in front. When I bring my arms down am I rotating my elbows out laterally or should I be keeping them bent towards the rear? Also should I have my hands balled up with knuckles together or one hand wrapped around the other hand thats balled into a fist? Slip out method works fine for me, havent tried the friction saw, shimming works unless I try to use a fingernail, almost pulled a nail off because the locking bar was so stiff. I feel like Im missing some key element to the breaking method though, any help?
Have any of you tryed to get out of zip tie cuffs?
like these ones
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qeuVFkmd56Y/S88Bnrs-2EI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/tkImY5inVzs/s400/plasticuffs.jpg
if not you should make a video about it
i have gotten out of them many times. it take a little more skill then what this guy does. they are very sturdy cuffs and u literally have to be able to bend your wrist back to your arm and pry the lock open and slide out. they wont break. we tried. hard to cut them to. we have to use bolt cutters on the ones we had. oddly i think i made my instructor mad he said i wouldn’t be able to get out of them.
interestingly useful; although anyone that doesnt put you on your stomach and hog-tie you is just getting fresh and wanted you to get out ;]
you can actually also use the pointed end of the zip ties as shim. just bend it towards the locking bar.
What if you are restrained with two zip ties in the rear position that are not perfectly lined up? Also the zip tie loops are not crossed; like the ones used in law enforcement which can be bought by anyone online?
It happened again in Oklahoma City last night/this morning (09/28). Homeowner was able to use a knife hidden in his boot to cut them free, well after the aggressors had departed.
http://www.koco.com/news/29325522/detail.html
bad guys don’t care how it feels, before zip ties, and in places like srebrenica in the mid 90′s the standard way of tying wrists for execution was wire, this could be coat hanger or often copper because its widely available (electrical) and soft enough to quickly tie/twist. are you alone or do you have a fellow captive who could help you untwist it, they will probably clip off the ends with thier wire cutter, copper will quickly harden and break if bent back and forth, it will get hot if this is done too quickly but copper dissipates heat well to so its not like touching a coat hanger being bent back and forth.
If you are in a multi story building and have gotten loose, can’t pass through the first floor which they occupy but have limited access in a higher more deserted floor, take any wire you find be it coat hanger or copper, and look out any windows you can access for an electrical transformer on a pole, then make a tangle of the wire that you can throw on the top of this transformer at night when you make your move. this should if you get lucky put the electrical service for the local area out for a while, giving you the advantage of darkness and confusion.
Holy smokes… click through to slide # 17…. isn’t that the exact same zip ties that were used in these videos??? Of course these guys didn’t actually use the zip ties…the planned to, but then went with rope they found at the house… but still. THAT’s the freaking zip ties!!!!!! PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE….. and the PRACTICE some more…. then have your family practice!!! Jeeessh..
http://abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/slideshow/evidence-photos-petit-murder-trial-11658978
Sorry.. It said “website” so I put the link there.. duh. This is the link.
It’s “bow” (as in -and arrow) “lin”. Bowline. I cringed every time he said it.
I was taught to say it the way I do in the Navy, it’s Bow like the bow of a boat. As in throwing a mooring line off the bow with a bowline tied in it. I cringe when I hear it pronounced the other way.
Iunno what Navy you were in, but as a Deck Seaman I was told it was “Bo-lin.”
That tone was rude, I’m sorry.
Would it help when trying to slip out to literally lick your thumb to make the skin more slick? Especially when trying to get out of the “wrist over wrist” position?
i was just realizing that you might also be able to use the end of the zip tie as a shim if you don’t have long enough fingernails or a pick
← Previous Comments