How to Tie the Simple Noose Knot
Usage
The Simple Noose Knot (ABOK #1114) is the quickest way to put a self-tightening, sliding loop on a rope. Drop the loop over an object, pull the standing line, and it cinches right up — which is why it starts parcel lashings, opens an Arbor / Canadian Jam tie-down, and handles quick cinch-to-object jobs around camp.
Why Learn the Simple Noose Knot?
Because it's the foundation of the whole slip-and-noose family: many more advanced knots are built off this exact mechanism. It's the simplest member of that family to tie — and honestly the least secure of it — so its job is speed on light, temporary work: cinching a bag, starting a lashing, getting first control of a cord around a bundle. When the loop needs to hold real weight, step up to the Running Bowline or the Poacher's Knot.
Common Uses
Camping and Bushcraft
- Starting a parcel or pack lashing — Ashley calls this its most common use
- Quick cinch loops for bundling brush or gear
Utility (Everyday Life)
- Gaining initial control of string when tying up a package
- Drawstring-style cord loops, cinching sacks, temporary tie-downs
- The first loop when casting on in knitting (usually called a "slip knot" there)
Fishing
- Quick temporary loops for light line and rigging jobs — it's also the base of the Arbor Knot used to tie line to a reel
ABOK Number(Ashley Book of Knots)
Other Names
Category
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Variations
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Notable Features
- Self-tightening loop: pull the standing line and the loop cinches down on the object.
- Fastest of its family: the simplest noose there is — tied in seconds, in the end or in the bight.
- Foundation knot: the mechanism many more advanced slip and noose knots are built on.
Similar Knots
Slip Knot vs. Simple Noose Knot
- Advantage: the Slip Knot spills instantly with a pull of the tail — it's the quick-release stopper of the pair.
- Disadvantage: it doesn't cinch onto an object the way the noose does. Structurally they're the same knot — the noose tucks the final bight from the long (standing) end, the Slip Knot from the short end.
Honda Knot vs. Simple Noose Knot
- Advantage: the Honda is the better lasso and snare loop — it runs freely and holds its round shape.
- Disadvantage: more complex to tie; the Simple Noose wins only on raw speed for crude cinch jobs.
Running Bowline vs. Simple Noose Knot
- Advantage: a fixed bowline eye the line runs through — the noose "universally used at sea," and the one that holds when the load is real.
- Disadvantage: slower to tie; the Simple Noose is the landsman's quick version for light tasks.
Security Level
The least secure of the slip-and-noose family — fine for light, temporary cinching, but it slips under heavy tension and can jam when overloaded. Back the tail up with an overhand stopper (which turns it into the Arbor/Canadian Jam) for anything that matters.
Downsides
- Limited strength: slips under heavy loads without a stopper knot, and can jam if cranked hard.
- Rope dependency: less effective on stiff or braided ropes.
- Better options exist for its classic jobs: the Honda for lassos and snare loops, the Running Bowline when the loop bears weight.
History
Ashley records the Noose as "undoubtedly prehistoric" — one of the first knots people needed, for snaring birds and small game, where it was commonly tied in horsehair or fine wire. Captain John Smith mentions it by name in 1627, and the name is probably older still. Its real home has always been on land: Ashley notes it is "often employed ashore, but seldom at sea" (sailors reached for the Running Bowline instead), and by his day its most common use was the start of a parcel lashing — the same everyday cinch-and-bundle work it does around camp now.
How to Tie the Simple Noose Knot
Step 1
Form a small loop near the end of the rope, leaving a tail. (It can also be tied mid-rope — no end needed.)
Step 2
Make a bight in the long (standing) side of the rope and pass it through the small loop. That bight becomes your larger, adjustable loop — forming it from the long side is what makes this a noose rather than a slip knot.
Step 3
Pull the tail to snug the small knot down around the bight.
Step 4
Slide the knot along the standing line to set the loop size; pulling the standing line cinches the loop onto whatever it's around.
Step 5
Optional: finish the tail with an overhand stopper knot so it can't slip — that finish is the Canadian Jam / Arbor Knot.
Pro Tip: Keep the small knot snug — that's what gives the noose its grip on the standing line and stops it slipping when you don't want it to.
Mixing it up with the Slip Knot? You're not alone — they're the most confused pair in the family. Watching the tuck direction in 3D makes it click: both are in our Knot IQ app, where you can rotate and replay the animation until it sticks. Practicing with real rope? Grab our 750 lb bushcraft paracord or the Knot Tying Kit.
FAQ
Is the Simple Noose Knot the same as a Slip Knot?
Structurally yes, functionally no. Both are an overhand knot finished with a bight tuck — in the Noose the bight comes from the long (standing) end, so the loop cinches onto objects; in the Slip Knot it comes from the short end, making a quick-release stopper. See the Slip Knot guide.
Is this the Hangman's Knot?
No. The Hangman's Knot (ABOK #1119) is a different, multi-turn noose. The Simple Noose is the elementary one-tuck version used for parcel tying and camp cinching — the two get confused constantly.
Is the Simple Noose Knot strong enough for heavy loads?
No — it's the least secure of its family and needs a stopper finish for anything beyond light work. For load-bearing loops, tie a Running Bowline instead.
What's the best rope for the Simple Noose Knot?
Flexible, smooth ropes like nylon or polyester slide and tighten best — standard paracord is ideal for practice.
Can the Simple Noose Knot be used in climbing?
No. It slips under load and is never safe for life-support use; climbers use knots like the Bowline or Figure Eight Follow Through.
Important Notes on Safety
Common failure points are slipping under load or loosening without tension. Verify the knot is snug and test under light load before use. Check rope for wear or stiffness before tying, keep the small knot snug to maintain grip, and practice in low-stakes settings first.
