Gnat Hitch

The Gnat Hitch was first introduced in February 2012 by the Notable Knot Index.

But I wouldn’t be surprised if some of you have been tying this knot for years before it got a name.

This hitch was born out of necessity. The goal?

A simple, non-jamming, non-slipping noose like knot that could be tied quickly and secure around an object.

And guess what? Gnat does just that.

With a Half Hitch and an extra tuck under the loop, you have a knot that holds around the object.

Let’s get into it.

How to Tie the Gnat Hitch

1. Wrap the rope around the object.
2. Tie a Half Hitch around the standing end.
3. Pass the tail end behind the standing end.
4. Feed it through the loop of the Half Hitch.
5. Tighten the knot.

To untie, just push and pull the working end out of the loop. Then, untie the Half Hitch knot.

Gnat Hitch vs Buntline Hitch

It is often compared to the Buntline Hitch which does the same job but is easier to tie.

What’s even better is that it’s not affected by the cross-sectional shape of the object being hitched.

So, it’s useful for small diameter objects—but remember that it can jam under extreme load.

Applications and Uses

The Gnat Hitch is perfect when you need to tie a rope with just one pass around an object.

It’s ideal for tying off to a branch, tree, post or any fixed object.

And it’s efficient—if you’re working with limited rope, this knot doesn’t waste much of it.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Easy to tie and remember
• Non jamming
• Uses minimal rope

Cons

• Can jam in small diameter object

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