Diamond Hitch

Diamond Hitch

Aplications : This hitch secures loads to pack animals or to off-road and other vehicles. (See also trucker's hitch.)


Method : Pass a continuous line around six anchorage points (1-3).The characteristic feature of this hitch is the twisted middle parts, which allow the slack to be taken up where necessary as the load shifts and strains.



History : The diamond hitch was used by nineteenth‑century North American wilderness trekkers and prospectors, amongst others.

Trucker's Hitch

Trucker's Hitch

Aplications : This hitch gives tension to the lashing on a loaded vehicle. (See also diamond hitch)

Method : Treble the rope parts in your hand and hook an overhand loop onto the uppermost bight (1). A trade trick is to put one or two twists into the long bight (2) before doing anything else, to prevent the knot from spilling as you pull it taut and take up the slack (known as swigging). Now pull a bight of the free line through the twisted bight, pass it around a convenient anchorage, and pull (3). Lead the line around the next anchorage point and repeat the process.



History : The other name for this contrivance is the waggoner's hitch, which implies that it is as old as carts and carriages. The first part of the knot (1) is the bell‑ ringer's knot, described as early as 1815.

Chain Stitch Lashing

Chain Stitch Lashing

Aplications : This technique is ideal for securing a range of soft and awkward long bundles, from rolled carpets to furled sails. There is give and take in the embrace of the lashing, and it is therefore suitable for loads that bend and flex.

Method : This technique needs a long rope or cord. Start with a timber hitch (1 and see Killick Hitch). Loop one bight through the other, finishing off with a clove hitch (2-3, and see Clove Hitch). Untie the clove hitch, withdraw the end, pull and watch it unravel.

Marline Hitching

Marline Hitching

Aplications : Although at first glance marline hitching is identical to half-hitching ,there is a little more tying involved than in half-hitching, but this method of securing a parcel gives a better grip.

Method : Unlike half-hitching, which is a series of single hitches, marline hitching uses simple overhand knots tied along the length of the object(s) to be parcelled. Note that a working end is needed for marline hitching, although not for half-hitching. It is tricky to discern the subtle difference between these two techniques just by looking; but slide half-hitches off their bundle and they fall apart, whereas marline hitches end up as a series of overhand knots.