If you love camping and outdoor activities or grew up as a Boy Scout, chances are you have heard of the Tautline hitch.
It’s one of the knots that’s helpful, but easy to learn and tie in minutes.
But what’s cool about it?
It’s an adjustable loop knot that’s used to maintain tension on the line.
You can slide it up and down to adjust the length of the standing end, which helps keep the line taut.
Let’s check it in detail.
Tautline Hitch Details
Type: Loop
Other Names: Tent Hitch, Tent-line Hitch, Rigger’s Hitch
ABoK Reference: #1856, #1730
How to Tie a Tautline Hitch
- Pass the rope around the object.
- Loop the working end around the standing part.
- Wrap it one more time and take it out of the loop.
- Wrap it again.
- Tighten the knot.
PRO TIP: Want a quick release Tautline hitch? Tie the slippery half hitch at the end of the knot.
Common Mistakes
One of the common mistakes people often make is ending the final knot in the wrong direction.
It results in another knot listed under (ABoK #1857).
The name of this particular knot is not mentioned in the Ashley Book of Knots, but it’s based on the Magnus hitch.
It can be more tricky to tighten it up but it has less tendency to twist under load.
Security
The Tauline hitch is secure enough for outdoor activities like setting up tarps and guy lines.
But it’s not secure for critical applications where slippage could be a big problem.
It does not perform well with modern slippery ropes like Polypropylene. You can make it more secure by adding more than two initial wraps and finishing with Half hitches.
The Midshipman’s hitch is more secure than the Tautline hitch and should always be preferred for critical loads.
Midshipman’s Hitch vs Tautline Hitch
Midshipman’s hitch is often confused with the Tautline hitch, but they are two different knots.
The key difference?
The Midshipman’s hitch consists of an Awning hitch that makes it more secure.
Here’s a detailed comparison of both these knots:
| Feature | Tautline Hitch | Midshipman’s Hitch |
| Structure | The initial two wraps move towards the object. | The first wrap moves towards the object and the other way. |
| Based on | Rolling Hitch Version 1 (ABoK #1734) | Rolling Hitch Version 2 (ABoK #1735) |
| Adjustment | Easy to adjust | Harder to adjust |
| Security | Less secure | More secure |
| Slippage | May slip under heavy load | Hold strong |
| Applications | Lightweight tasks like setting up tarps and gut lines | Critical loads |
History
The name “Tautline Hitch” is not included in the Ashley book of knots. Instead, a knot identical to the Tautline hitch is mentioned as #1730.
The early use of the name is found in Howard W. Riley’s book Knots, Hitches, and Splices.
It became popular in camping and scouts with its variations appearing over different scouts manuals over the years.
The 5th edition of Boy Scouts Handbook published in 1948 included the name Tautline hitch but tied the Midshipman’s Knot.
After the 5th edition, it retained the name Midshipman’s but tied the Tautline line hitch.
The Boy Scouts of America currently teach Taut line hitch as an adjustable loop knot because it’s quick to adjust and use in outdoor activities.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Easy to tie and untie
- Easy to adjust tension
Cons
- Can loose grip under tension and slippery ropes
- Loosens over time
- Jams under heavy load
Applications and Uses
The Tautline hitch is used in situations where the length of the line should be periodically adjusted to maintain tension in the line.
Here are some examples:
- Setting up tarp
- Tent Guy lines
- Aircraft tie down
- Tree climbing
- Securing loads on vehicles
- Setting up hammocks
- Making a clothesline
- Securing mooring lines
Fun Fact: Did you know that the Tautline hitch was used by Astronauts during repair work of the Hubble Space Telescope?
Related Knots
Awning Hitch
The Awning hitch (ABoK #1854) is a temporary hitch knot that is the basis of the Midshipman’s hitch.
It’s rarely used alone and is useful for adjusting the guy lines when secured with the Half hitch knot.
Rolling Hitch
The Midshipman’s hitch and the Tautline hitch have their foundation on the Rolling hitch.
There are two variations of Rolling hitch mentioned in the Ashley Book of Knots—Rolling hitch 1 (ABoK #1734) and Rolling hitch 2 (ABoK #1735).
The Tautline hitch is based on Rilling hitch 1 and the Midshipman’s hitch is based on Rolling hitch 2.
It works best for a lengthwise pull of the object rather than the perpendicular pull.
Tautline Hitch Alternatives
Trucker’s Hitch
The Trucker’s hitch is mostly used for securing loads on the vehicle, but it can be used in outdoor activities and camping to tension a line.
It’s less prone to slipping but is difficult to learn for beginners.
Adjustable Grip Hitch
The Adjustable grip hitch grips better than the Tautline hitch.
It’s easier to tie than the Tautline hitch where people often get confused while making the last turn.
The downside is that it does not work well under the shock loading.
Farrimond Friction Hitch
The Farrimond friction hitch is an easy way to tighten and release a tent ridge line.
It’s less widely known and it can be tricky to tie than the Tautline hitch.
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