Bowline
Also called: rabbit knot
A fixed loop that does not slip and is easy to untie after loading, a classic for tying a rope around a post, tree, or load.
- Type
- Loops
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Good for
- Camping, Hunting, Hiking
Safety: Do not use this page for fall protection, climbing, rappelling, tree stand harnesses, or rescue. For anything where a failure could hurt someone, learn from a qualified instructor and use gear rated for the job.
What it is for
- Making a fixed loop at the end of a rope
- Tying a line around a tree or post
- Hauling or lowering loads by hand where failure is not dangerous
- Mooring a boat to a ring or post
How to tie it
- Make a small loop in the standing part, a short distance from the end, with the working end lying on top of the standing part. This is the hole.
- Pass the working end up through the hole from underneath. The rabbit comes out of the hole.
- Take the working end around behind the standing part. The rabbit goes around the tree.
- Pass the working end back down through the same hole.
- Hold the working end and the loop together and pull the standing part to tighten.
There are no diagrams on this page yet. Tie it along with the steps using a short piece of cord, and compare your result with a photograph or an instructor before you rely on it.
Tips
- Leave a long tail, at least several inches, past the finished knot.
- Dress the knot neatly before loading it and test it by pulling.
- Practice until you can tie it in the dark with cold hands.
When not to trust it
- A bowline can work loose if it is shaken or left slack, especially in slippery or stiff rope.
- It can fail if it is loaded from the wrong side or pulled in several directions.
- Do not rely on it where a failure could injure someone without proper training and a backup.
Often confused with
- Figure-eight knot: a stopper, not a loop.
Field notes
The bowline is called the king of knots because it makes a secure loop that is still easy to untie. The rabbit rhyme is a good way to keep the steps in order.
Learn it with a thick, soft rope first, since slippery cord is harder to tie and to trust.
Related guides
This page explains how to tie an everyday knot. It is not training for climbing, rappelling, tree stand fall protection, or rescue. If a failure could injure someone, learn from a qualified instructor and use equipment rated for the job.