WhatKnot
Hitch. Difficulty 1 of 5.

Timber Hitch

Also known as the bowyer's knot.

A way to attach a rope to a log for dragging, hauling, or as the start of a diagonal lashing. Tightens under load. Falls off the moment you stop pulling.

  • CategoryHitch
  • StrengthExcellent under steady pull
  • Time to learn5 minutes
  • Best forDragging logs, diagonal lashings
Timber hitch tied around a wooden log.
Timber hitch. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.
When to use it

Pull the load. The knot does the rest.

Use a timber hitch any time you want to drag, lift, or haul a log or pole. The harder you pull, the tighter it grips. Stop pulling and it lets go. That property also makes it the start of a diagonal lashing in pioneering.

Step by step

Wrap, tuck, twist, lay flat.

The timber hitch is a friction knot disguised as a hitch. The harder you pull, the more it grips. Stop pulling and it lets go. That self releasing behaviour is exactly what you want when dragging a log because once the log is in place you simply uncoil and walk away.

  1. Pass the rope around the log

    Take the working end completely around the log. Aim for a smooth section without bark missing. Bring the working end back to meet the standing line.

    A clean section of bark improves grip. Wet or icy logs need an extra wrap or two.

  2. Pass the working end under the standing line

    Bring the working end across and tuck it underneath the standing line. The working end now points back toward the log.

    This tuck creates the loop that the twists will live inside.

  3. Twist the working end around its own part

    Wrap the working end around its own section three to four times, going with the lay of the rope rather than against it.

    For natural fibre rope, three twists holds. For slick synthetic, take five or six.

  4. Lay the twists flat along the log

    Press the wrapped working end flat against the log so the twists run parallel to the log's surface, with the line of pull along the log itself.

    If the twists stick out at right angles to the log, the hitch will roll free. Keep them parallel.

  5. Take strain to set

    Pull on the standing line. The wraps tighten around themselves and grip the log. The harder you pull, the better the bite.

    For a static load, this is not the right hitch. It needs constant pull to stay tight.

  6. Add a half hitch for control

    For dragging, tie a single half hitch further down the log on the working end so the log tracks straight. For lifting, tie the half hitch closer to the timber hitch.

    The half hitch does not bear load. It only steers the log so it does not spin under the rope.

Field check. The wraps should lie tight along the log with no daylight between the rope and the wood. Give the rope a sharp tug. If the hitch gives a small initial slip and then locks, you have it right. If it keeps slipping, add another twist.

Watch for these

Common mistakes

  • Only one or two twists. Slick line will slip free.
  • Pulling sideways instead of along the log.
  • Trusting it to hold a static load. Without tension the hitch can fall off.
When you are done

How to untie

Stop pulling. The hitch loosens on its own. Lift the working end out, unwrap the rope from the log, and you are done.

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