How To Tie the Highwayman’s Hitch

How To Tie the Highwayman’s Hitch

Usage

The Highwayman’s Hitch is a quick-release knot designed for situations where you need to secure a rope temporarily but want the ability to release it instantly with a single tug. Historically rumored to be used by highwaymen for swift getaways on horseback, this knot excels in providing a secure hold that can be undone in a heartbeat. It's perfect for camping, boating, and any scenario where speed and efficiency are paramount.

Why Learn the Highwayman’s Hitch?

Learning the Highwayman’s Hitch gives you the advantage of a fast, reliable, and easily releasable knot. Whether you're docking a small boat, setting up a tarp, or need a quick-release mechanism for gear, this knot is a go-to. It's especially useful when you need to untie a knot from a distance or when time is of the essence.

Common Uses

• Camping and Bushcraft:
  • Securing tarps or tents quickly.
  • Setting up quick-release guylines for shelters.
  • Temporarily tying down gear or equipment.
  • Creating adjustable clotheslines or hammock setups.
• Scouts:
  • Demonstrating quick-release knots for educational purposes.
  • Setting up tents or equipment that require rapid deployment or takedown.
  • Learning knot efficiency and safety in scouting activities.
• Sailing and Marine:
  • Temporarily mooring small boats or dinghies.
  • Securing kayaks while getting in or out.
  • Quick-release docking when solo sailing.
• Household:
  • Tying items during moving or storage that may need to be released quickly.
  • Garden applications like securing plants or temporary structures.
• Animal Handling:
  • Tethering a horse to a hitching rail, so one tug frees it if the animal spooks — while you're standing right there.

If you're rigging this hitch as a quick-release guyline for a tarp or shelter, our 1.8mm Reflective Guyline w/ Carabiner pairs naturally with it for fast breakdown in low light.

Notable Features

• Quick Release: Can be untied instantly with a single pull of the working end.
• Temporary Hold: Provides a secure hold that is ideal for short-term applications.
• Ease of Tying: Can be tied quickly without needing the end of the rope (tied on the bight).
• Adjustability: Allows for easy adjustment of tension before finalizing the knot.
• Non-Jamming: Does not bind under load, making it easy to release even after bearing weight. Under continuous heavy load, though, it can tighten enough to lose the quick release.

Want to see the release pull before trying it on your own gear? The 3D animation in the Knot IQ app lets you watch this hitch unravel with a single tug from any angle.

Similar Knots

Tumble Hitch vs. Highwayman’s Hitch

• Pros: More secure, also offers quick-release capability.
• Cons: Slightly more complex to tie, and release may not be as instantaneous.

The Tumble Hitch keeps the standing part passive — both locking bights come from the working part — so a load can't drag its own release loose. That one difference is the security gap.

Siberian (Evenk) Hitch vs. Highwayman’s Hitch

• Pros: Quick-release under tension, excellent in cold weather.
• Cons: Slightly more complicated to tie for beginners.

The Siberian Hitch wins on gloved, cold-hands speed, but it only loosens — rope stays on the anchor. This one comes away clean.

Mooring Hitch vs. Highwayman’s Hitch

• Pros: A simpler, faster slipped tie.
• Cons: Different loop geometry, and rated a shade lower for security.

Pick the quick-release Mooring Hitch when a simple slipped tie is enough. This one wins when the rope must come off the anchor completely, or when you're tying mid-rope.

Round Turn and Two Half Hitches vs. Highwayman’s Hitch

• Pros: Stays put unattended, through chop and slack cycles.
• Cons: No quick release — you untie it by hand.

These two split the mooring job. Casting off in one motion while you're aboard? This hitch. Line left alone for any real time? Tie a round turn and two half hitches instead.

Other one-pull releases: how to tie the Bear’s Grip Hitch, the Bellringer Knot, the Remote Release Hitch and the Kamikaze Knot.

History

Using It on a Tarp Corner

The same three-bight draw hitch above also works tied straight through a tarp corner grommet instead of around a post or rail — the grommet simply serves as the fixed anchor point. It is the identical mechanism, so no separate method is needed: form the hitch through the grommet exactly as described above, keep the bights snug against the ring, and it releases the same way, with one pull on the tag end. As with any grommet application, this only holds under light, attended tension (tarp flutter, wind) — never a suspended or body-weight load.

The name is younger than the legend. Cyrus L. Day coined it in his 1947 book The Art of Knotting and Splicing, passing on a second-hand Dick Turpin attribution — while recommending the knot for solo-sailing mooring, not for robbers. Knot historian Geoffrey Budworth answers the legend flatly: "there is no evidence to substantiate the reputation of the highwayman's hitch as a quick-getaway-knot for robbers on horseback." The dashing Turpin it leans on was invented by an 1834 novel, 95 years after the real man was hanged for horse theft. Great story, no history.

Security Level

The Highwayman’s Hitch provides a moderate level of security suitable for temporary applications. It's reliable under light to moderate loads but should not be trusted in critical situations where failure could lead to injury or significant loss. It is not self-tightening, so dress and tighten it fully before loading, and expect much less when the post is far fatter than the rope. Wikipedia's entry on the Highwayman's hitch explains why: the loaded middle bight is pinned only by the tensionless working part, so the load can drag it through and spill the hitch. Where accidental release would cost you something, lock the last bight with a stick, carabiner or stopper — and accept the quick release is off.

Downsides

• Unintentional Release: Accidental tugging on the working end can cause the knot to fail unexpectedly.
• Limited Load Capacity: Not suitable for heavy loads or critical applications.
• Capsizing on Fat Anchors: On a post much thicker than the rope, the hitch can pull through and release itself.
• Not Self-Tightening: It holds very little while loose — dress and tighten it before loading.

How to Tie the Highwayman’s Hitch

1. Create a bight in the rope and place it behind the object you're attaching to.
2. Make a second bight and pass it through the first bight from front to back.
3. Snug the second bight inside the first, holding it in place.
4. Make a third bight with the working end and pass it through the second bight.
5. Pull the standing part to tighten.
6. To Release: Simply pull on the working end, and the entire knot will unravel instantly.

Pro Tip: Before you trust it, pull hard on the standing part. A correct hitch tightens; one with its middle bight taken from the tag end instead of the load side comes apart in your hands. Keep the third bight generous, too — a stingy one releases early. Worth drilling at home: our Knot Tying Kit is built for that kind of practice.

FAQ

What is the Highwayman’s Hitch used for?

It is used for temporarily securing a rope with the ability to release it quickly.

Is the Highwayman’s Hitch secure?

Yes, for light to moderate loads, but not for critical applications.

Can the Highwayman’s Hitch be used for climbing?

No! It should never be used for load-bearing applications.

How does it compare to the Tumble Hitch?

The Tumble Hitch is more secure under load but slightly harder to release quickly.

Did highwaymen really tie their horses with this knot?

No. The author who named it in 1947 attached the story, and no period evidence backs it. A great teaching hook, but folklore.

Important Notes on Safety

The Highwayman’s Hitch is a quick-release knot, so ensure the working end won’t be tugged accidentally. This knot is for temporary, light-duty applications and should never be used in life-critical situations.

Keep all three bights snug against the post, and tighten fully before loading. Anyone near the tag end must know not to touch it, and if the anchor is much thicker than your rope, tie something else.