How to Tie Hammock Knots
Tying hammock knots is an essential skill for any hammock enthusiast. Properly tied knots ensure your safety and comfort while lounging or sleeping in your hammock. Nearly all of these variations share a common requirement: the necessity for a secure knot to establish attachment.
In our knot guide, we would like to introduce you to the most important knots for attaching your hammock and show you how to tie hammock knots.
Not Every Knot is Suitable for Hammocks
Unboxing the package and simply attaching the hammock to the rope is not a good idea. Here you should definitely know what you are doing. After all, every knot is subjected to a fair amount of stress. If you just start knotting like crazy or don’t show the necessary care, you can quickly end up on the bottom of your pants.
For this reason alone, not all knots are suitable for attaching a hammock. Especially not the classic “housewife knot” that each of us intuitively uses in everyday life. But beware the spade stitch is still important – as a safety knot. Before we get started with the little knots, we would like to point out that you should definitely master the knots shown before you lie down in the hammock. This shouldn’t be a problem as you can practice with almost any rope.
How to Tie Hammock Knots: Step by Step
The easiest way to hang up the hammock is with a simple rope. When attaching the hammock with knots, the primary concern is the strength and breaking load of the knot. However, it is just as important that the knot does not become too tight under load.
In our opinion, the Double Figure Eight Knot is the best knot for connecting the hammock to the rope, where the mat is anchored to the fixed point. It is one of the loop knots and tightens under load without loosening. At the same time, the double rope guide ensures that you can untie the knot more easily. This is how the node works step by step:
1. Creating a Secure Hammock Loop
Prepare the rope on the hanging loop of your hammock. Now make a loop as shown in the picture. Ensure that the loose end of the rope, positioned toward the hammock, has a minimum of one meter of clear space.
2. Forming a Figure-Eight Loop
Hold the crossing point with your thumb and forefinger. Then pass the short end of the rope under the long end of the rope and then pierce it through the loop from above. Pull the short end through until it forms a figure eight.
3. Securing Hammock Connection: Thread and Loop
Now take the short end and thread it through the hanging loop of your hammock. Make sure that the resulting loop does not get too big. Otherwise, in the last step, you will not have the necessary length of rope to secure the knot.
4. Completing the Figure-Eight: Reverse Rope Course
After identifying the ideal loop size, trace the path of the eight-shaped knot previously formed, using the short end of the rope in the opposite sequence.
5. Securing the Knot: Equal Tension Pull
Tighten the knot by pulling on the loop and both ends of the rope at the same time.
6. Optimizing Load Distribution: Strand Alignment
Now take a look at the knot and check that all strands of rope are parallel to each other. Only then can the knot carry the load optimally. If there are any crossings, push the individual strands straight until they run parallel (see picture).
7. Optional Safety: Adding a Fisherman’s Stitch
Secure the “double figure eight knot” with a fisherman’s stitch. This step is optional because the figure-of-eight knot tightens itself and the rope itself cannot go through. But you know: Safety first!
Why Figure Eight Knot and Not the Classic Hammock Knot?
The Double Figure Eight Knot offers several advantages over the Becket Hitch, making it a preferred choice in various scenarios. Here’s a breakdown of its merits:
- Strength and Resilience: The Double Figure Eight Knot is exceptionally robust due to the multiple strands of the rope creating necessary friction. This makes it suitable for applications where high resilience is crucial, such as climbing for safety knots or in height rescue and fall protection scenarios.
- Even Force Distribution: The straight course of the rope in the Double Figure Eight Knot ensures that the force from the loop is distributed relatively evenly through the knot to the long end of the rope. This characteristic is valuable in maintaining stability and strength under load.
- Avoidance of Crushing and Twisting: Compared to the Becket Hitch, which can result in multiple crushing and twisting of the hanging loop on the hammock, the Double Figure Eight Knot minimizes such issues. This is particularly advantageous when the hammock is dynamically loaded by a heavy person or multiple individuals.
- Simplicity and Intuitiveness: The Double Figure Eight Knot is praised for its simplicity and ease of tying. It doesn’t require memorizing multiple looping steps, making it intuitive to tie. This simplicity adds to the convenience, especially in scenarios where quick and efficient knot tying is essential.
- Compatibility with Carabiner: Once tied, the Double Figure Eight Knot can be easily used with a carabiner, adding to its versatility and convenience. This feature streamlines the setup and adjustment processes, enhancing the overall user experience.
Right Knot for Fastening with a Carabiner
If you want to attach your hammock to a carabiner, you can also use the “double eight” as a hammock knot for the carabiner. When making the “double eight” you can make it even easier for yourself, since you can even tie the hammock knot for the carabiner used. And it works like this:
1. Preparing Fastening Rope
Take about 100 to 120 centimeters of your fastening rope twice, as shown in the picture.
2. Creating a Rope Eye
Now make an eye with the double rope so that the rope looks like the number four.
3. Looping the Long End
Now loop the long end of the double strand of rope with the resulting loop.
4. Completing the Knot
Now thread the loop through the eye from above and tighten the knot.
5. Optional Security
Finally, secure the short end with an optional fishtail stitch.
Now all you have to do is hook a carabiner into the loop of the “double eight” and attach it to the suspension eyelet on your hammock. In the last step, you now attach the loose end of the rope to your fixed point at the optimal distance. You can use different knots to attach it to the fixed point.
The Double Figure Eight Knot, paired with a carabiner, provides a notable advantage: the ability to swiftly assemble and disassemble your hammock in seconds, eliminating the need for re-knotting. At the same time, you can attach the hammock to the rope without having to fiddle with the optimal distance again and again.
More Hammock Knots
Hammock knots shown are not the only way you can tie your hammock to a rope. Alternatively, the already mentioned “Becket Hitch” can be used to attach it between the rope and the hammock. But the “Palstek” (pile) can also be used together with a carabiner. Our series of pictures shows you exactly how the knots work.
Becket Hitch Hammock Knots
Bowline Hammock Knots
Alternative: Attachment Sets for Hammocks
Are knots and rigging not your preference for securing your hammock? No worries! As an alternative to the trio of hammocks, knots, and carabiners, numerous manufacturers provide ready-made attachment sets for hammocks. With these, hammocks can be hung up easily, quickly, and even in a tree-friendly manner.
Indeed, certain fastening systems provide the flexibility to hang hammocks between fixed points with varying distances, thanks to integrated fastening loops. The beauty of these systems lies in their knot-free design, allowing you to achieve a secure and adjustable setup without the need for any knots.
Conclusion
Learning how to tie the basic hammock knots goes a long way toward your hammock camping success. We do not necessarily know how to tie a hammock without making a multitude of knots… Although there are countless nodes, our guide described above is the best of the best.
Don’t risk hanging your hammock in perilous places. Beware of the wind and cold, which can surprise you. You can always opt for a pair of straps and carabiners, which are very easy to use.
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