Tumble hitch

Tumble hitch
Names	Tumble hitch, a better Highwayman's hitch, Bank Robbers Knot, Getaway hitch or Quick-release knot
Category	Hitch
Related	Highwayman's hitch, Mooring hitch
Releasing	Non-jamming
Typical use	Quick-release, draw loop hitch
Caveat	potentially unstable

The tumble hitch is a "slip-free", quick-release draw loop knot used for temporarily securing a rope such that it can be released completely from the hitched object (i.e., no rope will remain around it upon release --it has "slipped free". The tumble hitch is tied in the bight.

NB: The version shown in this page as of 2019-01-28 is NOT the version presented on the Notable Knots site. The key difference is that here, one is (wrongly) instructed to "Cross a bight near the working part over the standing part" instead of simply putting a bight UNcrossed over the first-positioned bight. The importance is that the turn shown here will often constrict and nip the enclosed bight --as e.g. done in a sheepshank & bell-ringer's loop--, defeating (full) release; someone who just rappelled in canyoneering, which sometimes such knots are used, would be frustrated in trying to pull the knot free. Also, this mistaken presentation I'm redressing says that the working end is near the hitch; this might well NOT be the case! And the images unfortunately show a quite short tail/working-end dangling >>on the wrong side of the object (which would prevent "slipping free" from it)<< !

The design goal for this knot was to redress the vulnerability of the well-known "highwayman's hitch" to capsize the slip bight; this known knot put full load upon this bight which toggled the knot, and especially in flexible cordage it could fold this toggling part and capsize, possibly spill the knot. The initial, simple revision was to change the positions of the placed bights of the highwayman's hitch so that the 2nd-placed bight would go INSIDE the initial one (which was in the to-be-heavily loaded standing part), and then the "slip bight" would go through this 2nd bight and so be only indirectly pressured by the loading --making for both a more stable knot and one more easily released. The Notable Knots side, as well as Grog's Animated Knots, give a further version wherein the slip bight is take not directly up through but rather around the standing part then to be tucked in the opposite direction through that 2nd-formed bight; doing so will see this slip bight pressed into the object, offering perhaps some surer stability (but at a cost of incurring more friction when pulling to release it --back around the object).

essentially the Highwayman's hitch)

• Crossing over the standing part, then wrapping around the post/pole/beam as in the pictures (better hold)
• Wrapping the standing part half a turn, then wrapping around the post/pole/beam (even better hold)
• wrapping the standing part a full turn, then wrapping around the post/pole/beam (even better hold than the previous one)
• etc..

The Notable Knot Index recommends the tumble hitch as a more stable hitch than the highwayman's hitch. The tumble hitch is less prone to capsizing because the loaded part bears not onto the collapsable slip-bight as with the hiwayman's hitch but on another part, and it pulls this into the hitched object.^[1]

Tying

Tying sequence for one variant of the tumble hitch [these & associated images need correcting]:

• 
  Place bight 1 over a beam
• 
  Cross a bight near the working part over the standing part, under beam, up through bight 1
• 
  Pass the working part below and around the standing part and a bight up through bight 2
• 
  Tighten by pulling standing part and last bight

See also

• List of knots

References

External links

• tying instructions