How to Tie the Slip Knot

How to Tie the Slip Knot

Usage

The Slip Knot is commonly used to create a temporary, adjustable loop that releases with a single pull, making it especially useful in bushcraft or utility tasks. It is also commonly used as a stopper knot.

Why Learn the Slip Knot?

The Slip Knot is relatively easy to tie, easy to undo, and provides an efficient means of tying a temporary loop. It is also the knot that teaches the slipped tuck — the doubled-end finish that turns dozens of other knots into quick-release versions of themselves — so it is worth learning early. The Knot IQ app shows the tuck in 3D, which makes the difference between the loop that spills and the loop that cinches much easier to see than a still photo does.

Common Uses

• Utility:
  • Secures bags or bundles temporarily.
  • Ties ropes for quick-release needs in households.
• Bushcraft:
  • Fastens tarps for rapid shelter setups.
  • Hangs gear or food bags in camp.

ABOK Number (Ashley Book of Knots) #529 Other Names Running Knot Category Quick Release Knots

Notable Features

• Quick Release: Unties instantly by pulling the working end.
• Adjustable Loop: Easily resized for various objects or tasks.
• Minimal Rope Use: Requires little material, ideal for short cords.
• Versatile: Tarp setups, temporary stopper, household bundling and more.

Variations

Add an Overhand Knot to the working end of your rope to help prevent the knot from slipping.

Similar Knots

Simple Noose Knot vs. Slip Knot

The Simple Noose Knot is the closest relative of the Slip Knot — same parts, different loaded end.

• Pros: The same overhand-and-bight structure tied from the long (standing) end — its loop cinches onto objects, making it the better quick noose for parcel and camp cinching.
• Cons: No quick release; it tightens under pull rather than spilling like the Slip Knot.

Honda Knot vs. Slip Knot

The Honda Knot is the traditional lariat loop, and a useful contrast in how a sliding eye can be built.

• Pros: More durable for lasso use, with a tighter loop structure.
• Cons: Takes longer to tie and isn’t as quick to release.

Poacher’s Knot vs. Slip Knot

The Poacher’s Knot is the constricting cousin, built to grip rather than to spill.

• Pros: Tighter and more constricting, ideal for securing objects.
• Cons: Less adjustable and harder to untie than the Slip Knot.

Running Bowline vs. Slip Knot

The Running Bowline is the heavy-duty noose for the same jobs at higher load.

• Pros: Stronger and more secure for noose-like applications.
• Cons: More complex to tie and not designed for quick release.

History

The Slip Knot is entry #529 in Clifford Ashley's The Ashley Book of Knots, where Ashley traces the name to Moore's British Mariner's Vocabulary of 1801 and treats the underlying slipped-tuck idea as far older — one of the first knots people would have needed for snaring. Its roots are maritime and agricultural, where a quick but temporary loop was often required for rigging or livestock handling. Ashley is also the source of the strict-naming point repeated in the knot's Wikipedia entry: there is only one knot properly entitled to the name, and anything else with a similar feature is merely a "slipped" knot.

Security Level

The Slip Knot is prone to slipping in the absence of evenly applied and continuous tension, or when tied in slick or slippery rope. That being said, it can provide moderate security for temporary, low-load jobs that keep consistent tension on the standing part. Adding an Overhand Knot to the working end increases security. Note the load direction: the Slip Knot only behaves as intended when the load is on the standing part — pull the working end instead and it spills, which is the whole point of the knot and also its main way of letting you down.

Downsides

• Load sensitivity: Slips or loosens without steady tension.
• Material dependency: Less secure with slick or stiff ropes.

Structure

1. Form a small loop in the rope, leaving a working end.
2. Pass a bight of the working end through the loop to create a larger loop.
3. Pull the standing part to tighten the small loop around the bight.
4. Adjust the larger loop size as needed for the task.
5. Ensure the working end is accessible for quick release.

Pro Tip: Keep the working end long enough to pull easily for untying. If you are learning it alongside the rest of the camp set, the practice ropes and card in our Knot Tying Kit make it easy to run the tuck a dozen times until the release becomes automatic.

FAQ

Is the Slip Knot strong enough for heavy loads?

Use stronger knots such as the Bowline for heavy loads. The Slip Knot is best utilized for light, temporary loads.

How does the Slip Knot compare to the Highwayman’s Hitch?

The Highwayman's Hitch provides more security while under sustained tension compared to The Slip Knot but is more difficult to tie.

Can the Slip Knot be used in fishing?

No, its tendency to slip during moments of inconsistent tension can make it unreliable as a fishing knot.

Why does the Slip Knot loosen during use?

It relies on tension to hold; without it, the loop can slide, especially with slick lines.

Is the Slip Knot safe for bushcraft shelters?

It works for quick tarp setups but monitor it, as it can slip; add a stopper for security.

Important Notes on Safety

Common failure points include slippage under low tension or with slick ropes. Always test the knot under light load before relying on it for critical tasks.