The taut line hitch stands out as a remarkably versatile knot, and in all honesty it's my most used knot while out camping. Half the time I cant be bothered to go through the motions of a Bowline or other "official" anchor knots and will just do the three simple wraps that make up a Taut-line. It's quick to tie, holds tight, and is adjustable - and sometimes thats all I need.
Prized for its unique adjustability without the need to untie and retie, you can use this hitch almost anywhere. It may just be the most practical knot (Hitch) you can learn.
What is the Taut Line Hitch, and What is it Used For?
The taut line hitch, is a simple three wraps - (two in, one out) which leave a friction hitch that will bind to your line when there's tension on it, and slide freely when you place your hand there to slide the knot.
I refer to it as a knot in this blog, but that's only for ease of communication. In all actuality it IS a hitch, meaning if it were not tied around an object like an other rope, then it wouldn't exist (and a "knot" on the other hadn would")
Now back to it... this knot saves you the hassle of constantly adjusting tension by tying and retying knots.. and even works well when your hands are gloved up. You won't realize its value until you're freezing with mitts on, needing a knot you can still tie. So this just speaks to it's versitility, and the reason why it's my go-to.
How to Tie the Taut Line Hitch
Learn how to tie the taut line hitch in a few easy steps. You can remember this knot as "2 in-1 out"..
Step 1:
Wrap the rope around a tree or a column. Take your working end and cross it over the standing or tension line.
Step 2:
In the same direction, continue to wrap the working end completely around that tension or standing line. This is an inside wrap on the loop created.
Step 3:
Follow it up with a second wrap again on the inside of the loop.
Step 4:
The third wrap is going to be outside the loop, wrapping in the same direction as the first two.
Step 5:
Pinch the two sections with one hand, and with the other hand, grab the tag end. Pull the lines into the opposite directions and that tightens it all. It's a bit weird to get the tensioning right just check out the diagram below and you should be good.
Utilizing the Hitch
Placing your fingers just below or above the knot and pushing on it will cause it to release its grip and allow it to slide. When you let it go, the friction will again bite down and the hitch locks in place.
The Taut Line Hitch vs The Magnus Hitch
If you tie the hitch properly, you'll see these two lines going in opposite directions. If you've tied it improperly, you'll see them going in the same direction.
The reason lies in the direction of your third wrap. Instead of going the same way as the first two (which, in this case, is over), you went the opposite way (which, in this case, is under).
It's a very small difference that most people won't even recognize, and truth be told, it does not matter all that much. Whether tying the Magnus or Taut line, they both have the same function.
Other Variations
Some people like to double it up and put two wraps on the bottom and two wraps at the top. It technically works better on more slippery ropes. But what I've shown you is the very simplest way to tie it, and it works well. So just find one way that you like best.
The Taut Line Hitch With a Quick-Release
One variation that is worth knowing involves adding a quick release to your hitch. Here's how to do it:
Step 1:
We'll do our first two inside wraps as usual.
Step 2:
When it comes to this outside wrap, we're going to pinch the rope into a bight.
Step 3:
Slide the bight through the loop.
Step 4:
Pull to tighten. This quick-release variation will work exactly like the normal taut line. It slides and then bites down with friction. When you want to release it, you just pull the tag end and the whole thing comes loose.
Troubleshooting Too Much Cordage
One more problem you might run into is having just too much cordage. You technically can loop it all through, pull, and loop it all through. But it's ineffective. How do you solve it? Check out the images below:
Grab a loop and wrap it through exactly like the normal steps: two in and one out.
Fold the rope to create a bight, and slip it underneath the lower section of the rope. Thread the bight upward through itself and pull it up just as you would with the "normal" tautline.
This demonstrates how versatile this knot is. There are so many ways you can use this hitch and you can always come up with brand new ideas.
Practical Uses for the Taut Line Hitch
Attaching
I frequently use this as an adjustable hanger to hold my pot over a fire. I lower the pot as the coals die down to get the perfect boiling point. Combining this with a Prusik Hitch, you can slide it right out of the way when that water's all boiled. (just make sure the rope doesn't touch flames!)
Tarp Tie Outs
The hitch really shines when it comes to tarp tie-outs. You can just simply slide to tighten that tarp down. But when you need to loosen it and maybe raise or lower the corner, you can try putting a stick underneath the rope.
Raising a Tent Rainfly
The same goes for a tent rainfly. Let's say your pegs can't dig in, and maybe you even use two rocks to tie and anchor your rainfly. You can create a taut line hitch and slide the hitch down, which then tightens the whole thing up.
Packing and Tying a Tarp
My favourite part is keeping the guidelines attached to your tarp and using that taut line to snug it all up and keep it for storage. The guidelines on my tarp are always connected with the taut-line hitch.
When I'm packing up my tarp, I simply coil my rope. Slide one end through the loop of that taut line and cinch it up on itself. It's all one compact bundle!
The Taut Line Hitch is featured in my Knot Tying Cards. The Kit comes with two lengths of rope with contrasting colours for you to practice on, a credit card-sized knot-tying guide, and an aluminum Bushcraft tin. You can also order it on Amazon USA here: Knot Tying Card
