Years ago, I remember having a patient Scoutmaster teach me how to tie the taut-line hitch as the troop was attempting to set up our dinning fly at Camp Loll, Wyoming. To this day I still use this knot when camping. There is a reason why we teach this knot / hitch to the tenderfoot scouts, they will use this skill for the rest of their camping life.

The taut-line hitch is used to increase the tension on your tent or dinning fly line when needed. The knot is easily able to slide on the guy line, and is tied in such a way that it creates a jam when the tension is present. This is the ScoutsBSA recommended knot for an adjustable sliding knot.

How To Tie

1. Turn your guy line around a post or stake

2. Complete two half hitches coiling down the line towards your stake

3. going up the line, make another half hitch in the opposite direction above the first two.

4. Tighten the knot and slide up the line to create a “taut-line” for you tent or dinning fly to be secure.