Two half-hitches
Two half-hitches is a simple binding knot used for tying or mooring. One common form is an overhand knot around a post, followed by a half-hitch. It’s also called a clove hitch over itself, double half-hitch, or full-hitch. It’s the most common hitch for mooring and general use.
How to tie (three steps): 1) wrap the rope around the post or spar once. 2) bring the working end around the standing part to form a second turn and then complete a half-hitch around the standing part. 3) pull tight to snug both hitches.
To release, pry the two hitches apart; it can be hard to untie. A slipped variation helps: in the second half-hitch, pass the working end through a loop (a bight) instead of through the whole free end.
Compared with the buntline hitch, two half-hitches is quicker to tie but may be less secure; the buntline can be stronger but is more likely to jam. The buntline differs in that its second half-hitch is placed inside the first one instead of outside.
This knot is widely used for simple, general-purpose tying, especially when mooring.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 10:37 (CET).