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Diagram

Hunter's Bend

Rigger's bend · Hunter bend

Joining two ropes of roughly the same size where the join does not need untying later. In Animated Knots' tests it jammed tight after loading.

Bend · Intermediate · Polyester / Nylon rope / Polypropylene / Natural fibre · 4 steps

ApplicationsHow to tie it
Hunter's Bend, finishedHunter's Bend, finished

Finished structure

Drawn from a rope model of this knot: which strand passes over which comes from where the rope actually lies.

  1. Overlap the two tails opposite ways so they lie parallelTwo overhands of the same hand sit opposite each other, their working ends pointing different ways.
    Move 1 of 1Overlap the two tails opposite ways so they lie parallelYou should now see: Two same-handed overhands, tails pointing opposite ways, not a 6-and-9.

    Step 01

    Bend a bight near the end of each rope and pass one bight through the other so the two interlock.

    You should now see

    Two bights linked through each other, so lifting one rope drags the other along with it.

    If it goes wrong

    Laying one rope's loop on top of the other, as for a Zeppelin bend's 6 and 9, instead of linking them. Lift one rope and it comes away on its own.

    Fix: Separate the ropes and make the bights again, passing one bight through the other before you go on.

    Why: Animated Knots notes that the arrangement of the interlocking loops is critical, because several similar bends look alike at this stage.

  2. Take each tail around both ropes and back through its own loopThe two same-handed overhands overlap, each tail wrapping both ropes on its way into its own loop.
    Move 1 of 1Take each tail around both ropes and back through its own loopYou should now see: Each working end has gone around both ropes and back through its own loop.

    Step 02

    Cross each tail over its own standing part and over the other rope, closing each bight into a loop.

    You should now see

    Two linked loops, each closed by its own tail lying on top, with both tails free to reach the middle of the knot.

    If it goes wrong

    Crossing one tail under instead of over. The two loops are then built differently, and the knot comes out lopsided when you tighten it.

    Fix: Lift that tail back out and cross it over its own standing part and over the other rope.

    Why: Each loop becomes one of the two interlocking overhand knots that make up the bend.

  3. Pass both working ends through the middle so they exit oppositeBoth working ends pass through the shared centre and leave in opposite directions.
    Move 1 of 1Pass both working ends through the middle so they exit oppositeYou should now see: Working ends leave the centre in opposite directions. Same-side tails are unfinished.

    Step 03

    Thread each tail across the middle of the knot, under both ropes and then up over its own part, so the two tails leave the knot on opposite sides.

    You should now see

    Both tails passing through the centre of the knot, one coming out on each face.

    If it goes wrong

    Passing both tails through the centre from the same side. They come out together on one face, and the two overhand knots do not lock into each other.

    Fix: Pull the second tail back out and thread it through from the other side, under both ropes and then over itself.

    Why: The tails crossing the centre in opposite directions is what locks the two overhand knots together.

  4. Dress into a compact double-overhand body, not a 6-and-9The two same-handed overhands are drawn together into a compact Hunter's Bend, ends leaving opposite sides of the centre.
    Move 1 of 1Dress into a compact double-overhand body, not a 6-and-9You should now see: A compact pair of interlocking same-handed overhands, ends leaving opposite sides.

    Step 04

    Work the knot snug by hand, then pull both standing parts and both tails evenly to tighten it. Leave the tails long when the load matters.

    You should now see

    A compact, cross-shaped knot with the tails standing out at right angles to the ropes.

    If it goes wrong

    Choosing it for a join you will need to undo after a heavy load. In Animated Knots' tests it jammed tight enough that it would have had to be cut.

    Fix: Cut it off if it will not come undone. For a join you want to untie after heavy loading, tie a Zeppelin bend instead.

    Why: In the same tests the Zeppelin bends could be untied with fingers, so Animated Knots points readers to the Zeppelin or the alpine butterfly bend.

Failure modes

When this family fails, it fails as these. The recovered end still outranks the name.

Interlocking-bend family

Two interlocking overhands or a Carrick lattice — tails on the documented sides.

  • !Tails on the wrong sides of the bend
  • !Broken lattice or a reef-knot form in disguise
  • !Undressed so one overhand takes the whole load
Fails when
  • !Both ends pass through the centre from the same side, so the two overhand knots do not lock into each other
  • !The bights are laid over each other instead of linked, so the ropes come apart before the knot is built
  • !The ends are left short on a join that takes a critical load
  • !It has taken a heavy load and must be untied, as it can jam tight enough to need cutting
Geometry

  • Same-side tails

    Bend will not lock and spills

    Each tail must exit opposite after its own-loop tuck · step 03

  • Started as a 6-and-9

    You tied a Zeppelin — keep it on purpose or retie Hunter's

    Hunter's overlaps tails; it does not start as a 6-and-9 · step 01

  • Expected to untie after a heavy snatch

    Jammed double-overhand, knife job

    If you must untie after load, use a Zeppelin · step 04

If you saw this

  • Bend spills, or will not break after load

    Check

    • ?Opposite working ends
    • ?Compact body, not a 6-and-9

    Then

    • →Retie opposite tails
    • →Use Zeppelin if you must untie after load

  • Same-side tails

    Check

    • ?Bend will not lock and spills
    • ?Inspect step 03

    Then

    • →Retie. Do not dress a defective structure and call it seated.

  • Started as a 6-and-9

    Check

    • ?You tied a Zeppelin — keep it on purpose or retie Hunter's
    • ?Inspect step 01

    Then

    • →Retie. Do not dress a defective structure and call it seated.

  • Expected to untie after a heavy snatch

    Check

    • ?Jammed double-overhand, knife job
    • ?Inspect step 04

    Then

    • →Retie. Do not dress a defective structure and call it seated.
Same family

Same failure class, different geometry. Open the plates — Diagnose still starts from the symptom.

This failed — start Diagnose

Why this knot

What it earns its place with, what it costs, and what to reach for instead.

Best for
Joining rope
Not ideal for
  • A join you must untie after a heavy snatch (Zeppelin)
  • Extreme diameter mismatch
  • A binding job (that is reef-or-bind)
Common mistakes
  • Laying one rope's loop on top of the other, as for a Zeppelin bend, instead of linking the bights
  • Crossing one end under its own standing part and the other rope instead of over
  • Passing both ends through the centre from the same side, so they come out together on one face
  • Choosing it for a join that will need untying after a heavy load
Alternatives
  • Zeppelin BendIntermediate

    Joining two ropes of similar size where the join has to hold a heavy load and still untie afterwards, once the load is off

  • Sheet BendBeginner

    Join two ropes of unequal or similar diameter

  • Carrick BendIntermediate

    Joining two heavy ropes or hawsers with a bend that stays easy to undo after it has been loaded

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