
What is a clove hitch knot used for?
The clove hitch knot is often used to tie tarps or canvas sheets to poles or other objects. It is quick and easy to tie and can be easily loosened if needed. You can use it while camping or doing home improvement projects. 2. Rock Climbing Climbers often use the clove hitch knot to attach ropes to trees.
What is a slip clove hitch?
Clove hitch with a slip knot or slip clove hitch – It is the slipped version of the knot where instead of inserting an end in the last step, you pass a bight of rope. Girth hitch – Ties a climbing sling to various features.
Can you use a clove hitch on a boat?
The Clove Hitch is not a knot to be used alone. Binding: Finally, if you make the knot secure by stacking on additional Half Hitches, i.e., multiple clove hitches, then you are inviting a major strain to cause the earlier turns to bind tightly and become impossible to untie. So, if on a boat you feel an urge to use a Clove Hitch – resist!
How many times did the assistant use the clove hitch?
This process was repeated seven times despite increasingly forceful requests that some other knot be employed to secure the line. Reviewing the events later it became apparent that the assistant was using the only knot he knew. The Clove Hitch is not a knot to be used alone.

How safe is a clove hitch?
It's adjustable, easy to untie once weighted, and it relies on the rope for security. Testing shows the clove hitch is strong, safe, and can be used effectively during certain rappel transitions. Specifically, using the "backside" of the clove hitch can increase safety, comfort, and efficiency.
What is the purpose of the clove hitch?
A clove hitch is two successive half-hitches around an object. It is most effectively used as a crossing knot. It can be used as a binding knot, but is not particularly secure in that role.
What are the disadvantages of a clove hitch knot?
A disadvantage of clove hitches is that they can slip when object the hitch is tied around is smooth and has a "significantly" larger diameter than the rope—they do not slip when tied around carabiners. Clove hitches can be difficult to untie after being heavily loaded.
What is better than a clove hitch?
The constrictor knot is one of the most effective binding knots. Simple and secure, it is a harsh knot that can be difficult or impossible to untie once tightened. It is made similarly to a clove hitch but with one end passed under the other, forming an overhand knot under a riding turn.
What is the strongest knot?
The Palomar Knot is arguably the strongest all-around knot. Due to its use of a double line, it is as efficient at maintaining a high breaking strength as it is easy to tie. Furthermore, it is versatile and can be used for monofilament, fluorocarbon, and braided lines alike.
Do you need to back up a clove hitch?
No harm to back it up (my preference would be a double fish), and it only takes a few more seconds, but a clove with a good tail would not worry me. I would recommend tying off the two anchor arms first and then tying your master point knot.
Can clove hitch fail?
Additional cautionary note: If the carabiner in the clove were to catch on to something at the same moment that you take a fall, the knot will fail. (Highly unlikely, but worth mentioning.) Even a clove hitch failure should not mean a horrendous fall in most cases.
Is a double half hitch the same as a clove hitch?
The difference between two half hitches and the clove hitch is that the former, after a single turn around a spar, is made fast around its own standing part, while the latter is tied directly around the spar.
Can you rappel with a clove hitch?
Testing shows the clove hitch is strong, safe, and can be used effectively during certain rappel transitions.
Does a clove hitch slip?
Caution: The Clove Hitch (ABOK # 1245, p 224) was, originally, included here with the intention of condemning it. It does have two giant faults: it slips and, paradoxically, can also bind.
How do you do a clove climbing hitch?
0:040:54How to tie a clove hitch - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWhat you need to do is make two loops with the rope. So I'm going to do this by making the rightMoreWhat you need to do is make two loops with the rope. So I'm going to do this by making the right hand go over the left hand to make one loop.
What is a clove hitch?
The clove hitch is a midline knot, and when utilized properly, there is none finer. The clove is meant to have pull from both ends, preferably equal pull. It was never meant to be used in an endline fashion. Anyone doing tree work for long enough has heard stories of a clove hitch rolling out.
Do bomber knots work?
This is what is meant by a bomber knot – “100% of the time, it works every time”.
Does a clove hitch change direction?
See, the problem with the clove hitch in an endline usage is that there is no change of direction, the rope just goes around and around again. Yes, this means that the load is spread out over a lot of rope, resulting in a very strong hitch.
Can you use a clove hitch with two half hitches?
I simply want people to put a little more thought into their choice of knots and to consider whether a knot which requires not just one backup but two is really the best choice for the situation. Again, do not use or avoid using something simply because someone else said so. You need to think for yourself, seek out your own understanding, and find your own truths.
What is a clove hitch?
Along with the bowline and the sheet bend, it is often considered one of the most important knots. A clove hitch is two successive half-hitches around an object. It is most effectively used as a crossing knot. It can be used as a binding knot, but is not particularly secure in that role.
How does a clove hitch work?
In modern climbing rope, the clove hitch will slip to a point, and then stop slipping. When tied around a carabiner, the load should pull on the end closest to its spine. With smaller diameter cords, after being heavily weighted it may become difficult to untie.
When was the clove hitch invented?
Although the name clove hitch is given by Falconer in his Dictionary of 1769 , the knot is much older, having been tied in ratlines at least as early as the first quarter of the sixteenth century. This is shown in early sculpture and paintings. A round turn is taken with the ratline and then a hitch is added below.
What is the difference between a half hitch and a clove hitch?
The difference between two half hitches and the clove hitch is that the former, after a single turn around a spar, is made fast around its own standing part, while the latter is tied directly around the spar. — The Ashley Book of Knots.
How to make a clove hitch?
When preceding from the left, all that needs to be done is: 1 Form a right underhand loop and place it over the pole. 2 Form another right underhand loop and place it over the pole (on top of the pervious one). 3 Voila! Clove hitch!
What is a two half hitch?
Before addressing the various ways to approach tying a clove hitch, did you ever wonder why the basic knot, two half hitches is called “Two Half Hitches?” (The name “Double Half Hitch” has also been used.) What’s a half hitch anyway? Well, now we know it’s half a clove hitch, (the line wraps around the object and then passes under itself) but how many of us have realized that in actuality, two half hitches is a clove hitch tied around the rope’s standing part? That’s what it is! On a side note, the very useful taut-line hitch is nothing but a clove hitch started off with a roundturn (called a rolling hitch ), which is also tied around the rope’s standing part. As mentioned above, the clove hitch is whole lot more prevalent than most of us realize, and indeed it can be tied in a variety of ways. Here we go:
How to make a clove hitch?
Pass the end of the rope around the pole. Continue over the standing end and around the pole a second time. Thread the end under itself and pull tight to form the clove hitch.
How many times was the clove hitch repeated?
This process was repeated seven times despite increasingly forceful requests that some other knot be employed to secure the line. Reviewing the events later it became apparent that the assistant was using the only knot he knew. The Clove Hitch is not a knot to be used alone.
Can clove hitch be tied?
Alternatives: In addition to tying it by Threading the End, the Clove Hitch can also be tied Using Half Hitches and by Using Stacked Loops. Caution: The Clove Hitch ( ABOK # 1245, p 224) was, originally, included here with the intention of condemning it. It does have two giant faults: it slips and, paradoxically, can also bind.
Can you use a clove hitch alone?
The Clove Hitch is not a knot to be used alone. Binding: Finally, if you make the knot secure by stacking on additional Half Hitches, i.e., multiple clove hitches, then you are inviting a major strain to cause the earlier turns to bind tightly and become impossible to untie.
What is a clove hitch?
A clove hitch is a useful knot that is simple to tie and comes in handy for climbing, boating, and other outdoor adventures.
How to tie a clove hitch knot?
To learn to tie a clove hitch knot, follow these simple, step-by-step instructions. Wrap your rope. Wrap the working end of the rope around the object and back over its standing part so that it forms an “X” in the front. Thread your rope. Wrap the working end of the rope around the back of the object again, then pull the free end through ...
Can a half hitch stopper knot slip?
It can lose efficiency and might slip during a climbing expedition . If using this knot for climbing it should be constantly monitored and/ or secured with a half hitch stopper knot to prevent it from slipping.
Can you lock a clove hitch into a carabiner?
Rappelling: You can lock the backside of a clove hitch into a carabiner as added support for easier rappelling. Boating: Clove hitch knots are often used to secure a boat fender to a rail. First aid: The clove hitch can be used to create a secure knot for an arm sling, with the weight of the arm keeping the knot taut.
What Is Clove Oil Used For?
Clove is most commonly recognized as a spice used for cooking, but it has also been used for centuries to treat various health concerns . Some of these potential benefits have been evidenced by research.
What is clove used for in Germany?
In Germany, a governmental regulatory agency known as Commission E has recommended clove for use in treating mouth and gum inflammatioin and as a topical anesthetic in dentistry. 3
What is clove cigarette?
Clove cigarettes, also known as kreteks, are popular in Indonesia and distributed worldwide. They typically contain 60% to 80% tobacco and 20% to 40% ground clove buds and clove oil, along with some other spices. The numbing action of the eugenol in clove cigarettes allows for longer and deeper inhaling.
What happened to clove oil in 1992?
In 1992 there was a case report detailing a child who ingested clove oil and experienced disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and hepatocellular necrosis. 9 Another case report from 1991 describes central nervous system depression in an infant who swallowed clove oil.
How much anti-microbial activity is in clove buds?
According to a 2011 study, clove buds that had been cleaned, ground to a fine powder, and stored in air-tight containers at room temperature indicated significant anti-microbial activity after being added to a meat emulsion at the level of 0.1%. 12
Can cloves grow in a pot?
This evergreen tree would do the best in USDA Zones 9b through 12, though clove trees can be grown in pots and taken indoors in temperate zones during the winter.
Does clove extract help with blood sugar?
Possibly. A small study found clove extract can help to reduce post-meal blood sugar spikes. However, the research was performed on healthy volunteers and not people with diabetes. 4

What Is It?
History and Etymology
- Its origin can be traced back to the first quarter of the sixteenth century when it was tied in ratlines. The evidence of this fact lies in early sculptures and paintings. The word clove is the past tense of cleave meaning split or divided. It is so named as there appear parallel lines of the rope at the back of the knot.
Tips
- The direction of pull in the 4thstep should be opposite to each other.
- On repeatedly weighting and non-weighting the knot, it may loosen and may creep up the open gate of a non-locking carabiner. Hence it should never be kept unattended and is to be used with a lockin...
- Instead of the linear support you can have a ring.
- The direction of pull in the 4thstep should be opposite to each other.
- On repeatedly weighting and non-weighting the knot, it may loosen and may creep up the open gate of a non-locking carabiner. Hence it should never be kept unattended and is to be used with a lockin...
- Instead of the linear support you can have a ring.
- You can finish it with a half hitch stopper back around the standing part to prevent slipping.
Variations
- Double clove hitch – 2 extra turns are added to each arm to make this modified version. It increases the strength and safety. It is routinely used in windsurfing to join the mast to the boom.
- Clove hitch with a slip knot or slip clove hitch – It is the slipped version of the knot where instead of inserting an end in the last step, you pass a bight of rope.
Clove Hitch V/S Other Knots
- Girth hitch– Ties a climbing sling to various features.
- Munter/Italian hitch– It’s name signifying half clove hitch belay, it is chiefly used to control the rate of descent in belay systems by acting as a friction device.
- Bowline– Stronger.
- Rolling hitch– Serves the purpose of a stopper knot. It works well when the load applied is no…
- Girth hitch– Ties a climbing sling to various features.
- Munter/Italian hitch– It’s name signifying half clove hitch belay, it is chiefly used to control the rate of descent in belay systems by acting as a friction device.
- Bowline– Stronger.
- Rolling hitch– Serves the purpose of a stopper knot. It works well when the load applied is not perpendicular to the object, unlike the clove hitch.
Uses
- Functions as a crossing knot.
- To start and finish a lashing such as the conventional square lashing in pioneering.
- For the master point in a fixed rock climbing anchor. Can also connect a personal anchor.
- By placing the knot on the spine of a carabiner you create a biner block that securely blocks against a rapid.
Video
- The below tutorial depicts 2 methods of tying. The 1st one is identical to the procedure shown in the diagram. The 2nd one uses loops in the middle of a rope that are dropped over a post. It is also called the open-ended clove hitch. The first part of the 2nd method can be utilized in making the handcuff knot.
Similar Knot
- Constrictor knot– Made similarly with a small difference. The tag end is passed under the intersection of the 2 adjacent loops in the last step.
Overview
The clove hitch is a type of knot. Along with the bowline and the sheet bend, it is often considered one of the most important knots. A clove hitch is two successive half-hitches around an object. It is most effectively used as a crossing knot. It can be used as a binding knot, but is not particularly secure in that role. A clove hitch made around the rope's own standing part is known as e…
Usage
This knot is particularly useful where the length of the running end needs to be adjustable, since feeding in rope from either direction will loosen the knot to be tightened at a new position. With certain types of cord, the clove hitch can slip when loaded. In modern climbing rope, the clove hitch will slip to a point, and then stop slipping. When tied around a carabiner, the load should pull on the end closest to its spine. With smaller diameter cords, after being heavily weighted it may …
Tying
The clove hitch is tied by first passing the running end of the rope around the spar and back over itself to form an X. The running end then passes around the spar again, under the intersection of the last two turns, and both ends are pulled tight. There are several methods of tying it using both hands or one hand.
• 1. The rope hooked by the thumb is let to hang loosely either side.
Related knots
When a rope is passed around an object and then tied around itself with a clove hitch, this is called a buntline hitch, commonly used as a necktie knot called the four-in-hand knot.
See also
• List of knots
External links
• Grog. "How to tie the clove hitch". Animated Knots.
• Notable Knot Index - shows quick method of tying
• Hitch Knots - including instructions
• The Misunderstood Clove Hitch - illustrations and stories