How-To: Tips for Opening and Closing Barb Wire Gates

Barb wire gates are held closed by two loops of wire, sometimes it’s smooth wire, but could also be barbed. The top and bottom loops will be stapled to the anchor post but free moving on the gate post. The gate will usually be located between two H-braces.

Most of the time you can simply push the gate post toward the anchor post with one hand and lift the top loop off the post with the other hand to open the gate. Sometimes, however, the strands of wire on the gate are too tight and you will not be able to push hard enough to lift the loop off the post to open it.

If you’re lucky, a tight gate will have a cheater. A cheater is a small post or handle, typically made of wood, but could be a metal pipe or other solid length of material that is attached with wire to the anchor post. The cheater can be found hanging freely from the anchor post or placed across the gate, held in place with one of the strands of wire.

Use a cheater as a lever to push the gate post toward the anchor post and more easily lift off the top loop and open the gate. Do this by placing the short end of the cheater across the gate post and, while holding it parallel to the ground, push the long end toward, and possibly through, the gate. This lever motion pushes the gate post and creates slack in the loop so you can more easily lift it off the post. A cheater should never be used alone to keep the gate closed. Always use the top loop to keep the gate closed.

If the gate is tight and you don’t have a cheater, get better leverage by reaching around the gate post and putting your hand on the backside of the anchor post. Then put your shoulder against the gate post and use it push, and your hand to pull, the gate post toward the anchor post. Lift the top loop off with your free hand.

To reclose the gate, make sure the bottom of the gate post is in the bottom loop then do the reverse of what you did to open it and put the top loop over the post to hold it closed.

Beware: I find that a tight barb wire gate is always harder to close than it is to open; it’s just physics. To avoid leaving a gate open that you are unable to close, you’ll need to improvise. Sometimes you can find some extra wire near the gate that you can use to hold it in place. Otherwise, be sure to pack a length of nylon cord with your gear so you can use it to hold the gate at least somewhat closed.

Barb wire gates aren’t complicated, just tight sometimes. Hopefully, these tips will keep you from getting held up by them and get you moving on the trail again without problems.