How to Tie Half-Hitch Knots

Tie a double half-hitch knot to anchor items to a tree or post.

The double half-hitch knot is a simple, all-purpose knot used for securing one item to another. The knot comes in handy for several outdoor activities -- tying loads to backpacks and boats, securing tents to posts and holding down tarps, for example. A variation of the double half-hitch is the slipped double half-hitch, which contains an extra loop to facilitate untying.

Instructions

1. Loop the free end of the rope around a post, tree or another sturdy object so it is parallel to the other end of rope.

2. Pull the other end of the rope taut and cross the free end under the taut rope, leaving a little bit of space between the post and where you cross the rope. This will form a loop.

3. Cross the free end of the rope over the taut end and through the loop. Pull tight.

4. Cross the free end of the rope under the taut end again, under the first hitch, leaving a little slack to form another loop. Cross the free end over the taut end and through this loop. If you want to make a slipped double half-hitch, move to the next step. If not, pull tight -- you have completed the double half-hitch.

5. Flip the knotted part of the rope over. Take the free end of the rope and thread it into the loop between the two hitches. Pull the free end a little bit, but not too tight. This will make an extra loop, which makes the knot easier to untie.

References

• College of Idaho; Seven Useful Outdoor Knots; Ron Watters; April 1998
• "The Klutz Book of Knots: How to Tie the World's Most Useful Hitches, Ties, Wraps and Knots"; John Cassidy; 1985