Usage
The Farrimond Friction Hitch is an adjustable friction hitch that incorporates it’s own quick release. So it can slide up and down your line, giving it the perfect tension, and then with just a pull can be released.
It’s major benefit is it can be tied at any point in your rope - you don’t need the exact end, so its great for longer ropes.
Its provides a quick and convenient method to tighten a tent ridgeline or guylines - making it perfect for camping, scouting, and other outdoor activities. If you’re familiar with the Taut Line Hitch, then you can sub this in for that one.
Why Learn the Farrimond Friction Hitch?
Its a great substitute for the Taut-line hitch, whenever you have too much rope at the end of your line.
This hitch is ideal for anyone who needs a secure and reliable adjustable hitch that can slide up and down your line, effectively tightening it. It’s particularly useful in camping, Bushcraft, and Scouting, and especially valued for its quick-release capability and ease of use, just a few wraps around does the trick. And if the wrap sequence is hard to picture from photos, the Knot IQ app animates the Farrimond Friction Hitch in 3D so you can watch each wrap land before you try it.
Common Uses
Camping and Bushcraft
- Attach a tarp's ridgeline around a tree or pole
- Tarp/Tent Guylines
Household
- Improvise a belt or create adjustable loops.
Scouting
- Use in pioneering or bushcraft projects and other outdoor setups.
If guylines are your main use, our 1.8mm Reflective Guyline with Carabiner pairs naturally with this hitch on tent and tarp tie-outs. On cord that thin, use three wraps instead of the standard two before you dress it tight — the extra turn is what stops it creeping once the wind gets into your tarp.
ABOK Number
(Ashley Book of Knots)
Other Names
Category
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History
The Farrimond Friction Hitch was first demonstrated in 2008 by British actor Barry Farrimond at the Yellow Wood Bush Camp in Wales.
With the prusik knot comparison, it is similar but uses two wraps instead of three, and is wrapped around an object and then tied to itself
How to Tie the Farrimond Friction Hitch
Step 1
Pass the working end around your anchor — a tree, a ridgeline attachment point, or a tent stake — so the line comes back and runs alongside its own standing part (the standing part is the loaded side of the rope).
Step 2
Form an underhand loop in the working end and lay it under the standing part, right where the two lines cross.
Step 3
Wrap that loop around the standing part twice, making two full Prusik-style turns. A true Prusik uses three turns; this hitch uses two.
Step 4
Form a bight in the remaining working end and tuck it through the wrapped loop. That tucked bight is the quick release.
Step 5
Dress the wraps snug and side by side against the standing part, then pull the standing part to tension the line. You can slide the whole hitch along the standing part to change the loop size before or after tensioning.
Step 6
To release it, pull the tag end of the bight. The entire wrapped structure lets go in one motion, which is where the nickname "exploding Farrimond" comes from.
Two things decide whether it actually holds. Keep that first loop small, because a big one is much harder to tighten, and match the wrap count to your cord: two wraps is standard, but on thin or slick line go to three or four before you dress everything tight. It is worth building the muscle memory at home on the practice ropes in our Knot Tying Kit rather than working it out in the field with cold hands.
Notable Features
- Quick-Release: Easily undone with a single pull.
- Adjustable Tension: Ideal for tasks like tying tarps.
- Ease of Tying: Simple and effective, even for beginners.
- Supports Heavy Loads: Can handle tension well when dressed properly.
- Versatile: can be tied at the end of your line or with a very long tag end.
Similar Knots
Taut Line Hitch vs. the Farrimond Friction Hitch
A similar friction hitch and the faster of the two to tie, but slightly harder to untie. Even when it is slipped, a taut line hitch still has to unwrap a few turns, where the Farrimond lets go in a single pull.
Adjustable Grip Hitch vs. the Farrimond Friction Hitch
The adjustable grip hitch is comparable in strength and ease of use. The real difference is the rope end: the adjustable grip hitch needs one, and the Farrimond does not.
Midshipman’s Hitch vs. the Farrimond Friction Hitch
Often considered stronger and easier to tighten — better hold, harder to undo. Use the midshipman’s hitch when maximum hold matters more than a fast release.
Magnus Hitch vs. the Farrimond Friction Hitch
The Magnus hitch is similar to the taut line — almost the same knot.
Rolling Hitch vs. the Farrimond Friction Hitch
A rolling hitch is tied onto another vertical or heaving line instead of onto its own standing part.
Prusik Knot vs. the Farrimond Friction Hitch
Looks very similar, but a prusik is tied onto a separate line where this one is tied onto itself, and it uses three wraps against the Farrimond's two. The prusik is the knot built to grip a rope you are climbing; the Farrimond is the knot built to let go.
Security Level
Moderately secure. Not suitable for critical safety situations, as it can be undone with a single pull. Works best with paracord or natural fiber ropes; slippery ropes may require additional wraps.
Downsides
- The knot can be challenging to tighten properly.
- It doesn't perform well with slippery ropes unless additional wraps are made.
- Requires practice to ensure it holds under tension without slipping.
- Harder to tie with gloves.
Important Notes on Safety
Always ensure your knots are tied properly and verified by a professional if used in critical applications. Incorrectly tied knots can lead to property damage, injury, or worse.
FAQ
Q1: What is the Farrimond Friction Hitch best used for?
It's ideal for tensioning tarps, securing ridgelines, and creating adjustable loops, especially in camping and outdoor scenarios.
Q2: How do I prevent the Farrimond Friction Hitch from slipping?
If the knot slides, try using a different type of rope or wrapping the bight around the standing end three or four times for extra security.
Q3: Can the Farrimond Friction Hitch handle heavy loads?
Yes, when tied and dressed properly, it can handle heavy loads and maintain tension effectively.
Q4: Who invented the Farrimond Friction Hitch?
It is credited to British actor Barry Farrimond MBE, who is said to have first demonstrated it in 2008 at the Yellow Wood Bush Camp in Wales. The story is repeated across the web but has never been formally documented — Wikipedia's entry on the hitch still marks the origin claim "citation needed."
Q5: What is the difference between a Farrimond Hitch and a Taut Line Hitch?
Both are adjustable friction hitches used for tensioning a line. The Farrimond can be tied without access to the rope's end and releases completely with one pull, while a slipped taut line hitch still needs to be unwrapped a few turns. The taut line is generally the quicker tie with fewer wraps.
