Knots, Hitches, & Bends

Knots, hitches, bends – what’s the difference? In the vast world of Arboriculture, the ability to work with ropes is a fundamental skill. Whether you’re climbing, running ropes on the ground, even securing an unstable load, understanding the meaning of what a knot, hitch, or bend does is essential for choosing the right rope connection for the task at hand. While these terms may seem interchangeable, each has a characteristic and a purpose.

What is a Knot?

A knot is tied, or loop, onto a single rope or piece of webbing. Knots are used to create fixed loops, stopper knots, or decorative elements. They are self-contained, meaning they do not rely on external objects for security.

Common Knots in Arboriculture:

• Bowline: Creates a secure loop at the end of a rope, most common knot used in tree rigging operations.

• Double Overhand Knot: Used to create a stopper knot at the end of rope bridges for tree climbing harnesses.
  
• Figure Eight: Commonly found at the end of a Taut-Line or Blake’s hitch.
  
• Alpine Butterfly: Used as a canopy anchor for SRT, rope rescue, and mechanical advantage.
  
  

What is a Hitch?

A hitch is a type of rope connection that secures a rope to another object, such as a carabiner, pole, or another rope. These hitches depend on the object they are tied around for stability.

Common Hitches in Arboriculture

• Blake’s Hitch: A friction hitch that slides easily in one direction but will engage and hold a tree climber in place, allowing for safe movement in the tree.

• Klemheist Hitch (or the French Machard): Used to ascend in the traditional climbing technique of foot locking. It is also easier to break loose for descent, after having secured a Figure 8 onto the rope or a Munter hitch.

• Timber Hitch: Used to secure a rigging sling onto the base of a tree in order to securely attach a Port-a-Wrap.
  
  

Friction Hitch

A friction hitch is a knot that is tied onto another rope that can be slid (adjusted) but will stay in place (due to the friction) when the user releases the hitch.

What is a Bend?

A bend is a knot used to merge two ends or two separate ropes together. Bends are typically used when extending rope length, creating loops, or combining ropes of different sizes.

Common Bends in Arboriculture

• Double Fisherman’s Bend: Also known as the Grapevine Knot, is a trusted way of securing two ropes together. It is commonly used to create Prusik loops to be used in foot locking or when a Prusik is needed as an “auto-block”.
• Sheet Bend: Also known as a “Weaver’s knot”, is used to unite two ropes of different diameters. This is widely used by sailors but in the world or arboriculture, it is simply used to send up another rope to the tree climber or bucket operator. Another variation of this bend is the Slippery Sheet, which happens to be amongst my favorites. Simple and time effective!
  
• Zeppelin Bend: Its name is associated with Zeppelin airships, as it is said an American airship commander by the name of Charles Rosendahl insisted on its use – also referred to as the Rosendahl Bend. It is perhaps my favorite way of linking two ropes together, whether it be climbing ropes or rigging ropes! The Zeppelin Bend is extraordinarily strong and surprisingly simple to untie even after heavy strain.
  
  

Useful Rope Terminology

Not only must we know the above information, but we must also familiarize ourselves with the common rope terminology used across the industry. It will help when teaching others how to tie knots. Let us begin:

• Bitter End, running end, or known to many as “the tail” end of the rope – this is the leg of rope not being used to tie or rig with.
• Standing End is considered as all the inactive -the part not knotted - parts of the rope that aren’t involved.
• Working End is the active end of the rope that is knotted to rig or tie off an object.
• Loop which is made when the rope forms a partial circle when turned and has crossed itself.
• Round Turn is simple, two passes of the rope around an object.
• Bight is made by folding both legs of rope alongside each other, creating a U-shape. A bight of rope does not cross itself.
• Kernmantle which describes a type of rope construction. Kern, meaning the core, which is protected by the Mantle, meaning sheath.
• Stopper Knot is a knot used at the end of a rope to prevent the end passing through a hole which in this case would mean our climbing system.

T.D.S. – Tie, Dress, Set.

Perhaps the most important sequence to follow when tying any type of knot. If this is ignored, you most likely will be cutting a section of rope because that knot WILL be damn near impossible to break loose!

• Tying the knot demands the correct series of wraps, loops, bights, etc.
  
• Dressing the knot requires aligning all the parts, in other words – making it look pretty.
  
• Setting the knot is the tightening of the knot and giving it the green light for use.
  
  

We must understand the difference between these terms if we are to pass along knowledge to others. Each type of rope “connection” can determine how much strength is retained and when to apply the correct knot, making this a vital piece of the puzzle we solve each and every day. Knots are not bound to just tree climbing, knots are widely used all across the tree care industry; rigging, sling attachment, securing loads, tying our work boots, the list goes on! Hope this helps out.