Pile Hitch
A temporary post attachment made with a bight, so you do not need to feed the whole rope end around the post.
How to tie the Pile Hitch
- Take a doubled section around the post and beneath the standing part.
- Lift the bight over the top of the post.
- Pull the standing part to seat the hitch and keep the attachment attended.
Safety note: These steps support practice and recognition. Climbing, rescue, lifting, towing, and other critical systems require qualified instruction and equipment-specific procedures.
Which knot should you choose?
If you cannot reach over the post, compare with a Round Turn and Two Half Hitches. A Bowline makes a fixed eye instead.
Why it earns its place
Quick to place and remove when the top of the post is accessible.
Where it fails
Use for temporary, attended attachments. It is not recommended as a permanent mooring hitch.
Quick facts
| Function | Rope attachment |
| Practice level | 1 / 5 (editorial rating) |
| Tutorial | Animated Knots by Grog |
External reference
KnotStyle provides the selection advice, written practice sequence, inspection points, and cautions above. Use this independent animation as an additional visual reference.
View external animation ↗Source and editorial notes
Reference: Animated Knots by Grog: Pile Hitch. Source checked 2026-09-11. Selection advice and difficulty ratings are editorial judgments, not strength tests. How this guide is prepared.