How to tie it
- 1Pass the running end around the post, or through the ring or grommet.
- 2Bring the end over and around the standing part and back through the loop that forms. That's one half hitch.
- 3Take the end around the standing part again the same way, tying a second half hitch just outside the first.
- 4Pull snug and slide the two hitches down against the post or grommet.
Both hitches must wrap the standing part in the same direction — that's what makes them seat together and lock. Tied opposite ways, they don't grip and can slip.
When to use it
- Guy lines. Tying a dining fly or tarp line down to stakes, trees, or poles.
- Securing a rope to an anchor. A ring, rail, dock cleat, or tree — mooring, hanging, or anchoring a line.
- Any "attach this end to that object" job where you want it to hold under load but come undone easily.
Common mistakes & safety
- For heavy or important loads, add a round turn. The round turn and two half hitches lets the object take the strain while you tie, and holds far better than the plain version.
- Get the direction right. Both half hitches must wrap the standing part the same way, or the knot won't seat and can slip.
- It can work loose under repeated slack-and-load cycles. For a line that will be shock-loaded or is safety-critical, back it up or choose a more secure hitch, and dress it well.
- Leave a reasonable tail so the second hitch can't work back out.
Going deeper
- The half hitch is a building block. A single half hitch — a loop of the end around the standing part — is almost useless alone, but stacked or combined it underlies many knots and lashing finishes.
- Round turn and two half hitches. The "grown-up" version worth learning alongside this one: same finish, far more holding power, standard for mooring and load-bearing anchor points.
- Adjustable vs. fixed. Two half-hitches makes an adjustable loop that cinches onto the object; a bowline makes a fixed loop that keeps its size. Choose by whether you want the loop to close on what it holds.
- Vs. the taut-line hitch. Both grip the standing part, but the taut-line is a friction hitch you slide to tension a line and hold that position; two half-hitches locks an end to an object and isn't meant to be slid for tensioning.
Official source
How to tie the 7 basic Scout knots — Scout Life →Rank requirements and official wording live with Scouting America. Confirm the current requirement text at scouting.org before signing anything off.