| Attaches | A sling around an object |
| How | Loop passed through itself |
| Caution | Some strength loss at the choke |
| Difficulty | Beginner |
The girth hitch is a simple hitch that attaches a sling or loop of cord around an object — a tree, a harness tie-in point, or another sling — by passing the loop through itself. It’s quick and handy but loses some strength at the choke point, so climbers avoid girth-hitching slings together at sharp angles under critical loads.
What it’s for
Attaching a sling to trees, threads, your harness, or another sling, and extending protection in an anchor.
Mind the strength
The choke point reduces strength, especially on thin Dyneema — fine for normal loads, but don’t sharp-angle thin slings together under heavy load.
Good to know
A basket hitch is stronger when you can use it. See all climbing knots.
Frequently asked questions
What is a girth hitch used for?
Attaching a sling around a tree, thread, or other anchor; extending a piece of protection; clipping a sling to your harness tie-in points; and connecting a sling to another sling. It's one of the fastest ways to secure a loop to almost anything.
Does a girth hitch weaken a sling?
Yes, somewhat — the sharp bend at the choke point reduces the sling's strength, more so on thin or stiff Dyneema. For normal anchoring loads it's fine, but climbers avoid girth-hitching two thin slings directly together under high, sharp-angle loads.
What's the difference between a girth hitch and a basket hitch?
A girth hitch passes the loop through itself around the object, while a basket hitch simply drapes the sling over the object and clips both ends together. The basket hitch is stronger because the load is shared across two strands without a tight choke.
Sources
- Slings and anchors — American Alpine Club