5 Helpful Knots Everyone Should Know
Editor’s Note: It was brought to our attention that the Bowline Knot in our video was incomplete! A big thank you to our eagle-eye readers for catching this! *We’ve added a Bowline tutorial at the bottom of this post, to learn how to tie the correct version.
If the only knot you know involves tying your shoes, you’re “knot” alone.
Knot tying is a skill that very few people have, even though it is an invaluable asset that could possibly save a life one day.
Luckily, our friend Kevin created this great step-by-step video that shows us in detail how to tie five of his favorite helpful knots.
Kevin’s knots are:
- Bowline Knot. This one is easy to tie and untie, and it forms a secure loop that won’t jam. It’s one of the four basic maritime knots.
- 2 Half-Hitches. Also known as a binding knot or hitch knot, it consists of an overhand knot tied around a post, followed by a half-hitch.
- Taut-Line Hitch. This is an adjustable loop knot for use on lines under tension. It’s especially helpful when the length of a line needs to be periodically adjusted to maintain tension.
- Figure 8. This one, which is easily untied, is a type of stopper knot. It is important for rock climbing and sailing in terms of stopping ropes from running out of retaining devices.
- Trucker’s Hitch. Used by truckers to secure heavy loads in place, it works equally well tying canoes and other objects to the tops of cars.
Hundreds of different types of knots have been created through the years to fasten one thing to another or to secure one loose item to a stationary object. And are especially useful in survival situations. You can utilize knots to help drag game along with you to your campsite or to rescue someone from a rapidly moving stream.
You can use string or rope, but also just about anything long and flexible, including ribbon and even hair.
I love some of the names of knots. My favorites include Beer Knot, Bunny Ears, Cat’s Paw, European Death Knot, Granny Knot, Knot of Isis, Monkey’s Fist and Simple Simon Under.
What are your thoughts? What other knots are important to learn not only for survival- but daily life or work?
*Bowline Knot Tutorial:
Also, your “bowline” is completely wrong. These knots are used for life saving things and need to be tied correctly.
I’m an Eagle Scout and a rock climber, your “figure eight knot” is completely wrong. it should look like what you say is the trucker knot which is actually a figure eight on a bight. The figure eight follow through, which looks the same just tied different, is used to tie into for rock climbing. You should go back to the handbook.
enjoy your site,I don’t feel alone
1 That is NOT a bowline!
2 The two half hitches run in the SAME direction around the running line. They form a clove hitch around the running side. The knot shown is correct, but the description is not.
4 The “figure 8” is a grotesque parody of a real figure 8, which is a stopper and does not attach to anything. He says to follow the knot back through, but does not do so.
4 The Trucker’s knot shown is a double Figure 8 and has nothing to do with a Trucker’s knot. Once pulled tight, the doubled figure 8 is weak and only slightly easier to untie than an doubled overhand loop.
Very poor lighting and camera work, good subject but his hands kept blocking what he was trying to show and more lights would have helped with that problem. He also would say “then you go back over the top” but showed going under the piece of rope. Confusing….he was knot (pun intended) confident with what he was trying to show. Also the “tuckers knot” was not the true truckers knot that when used properly…you can bend steel!
That was a VERY HELPFUL video – I’ve seen a few of these knots & always wondered how they were actually tied or made.
Hello,
Not to pick your knot man’s ability to execute those types of knots. More like the uses of the knots he was tying , a bit lacking . For I am one of those people who have a vast number of knots at my disposal . Lashing, whipping, braiding from tugboat knots, sheepshank , turks head or monkey’s fist . And then to tie to a pole with a clove hitch …
Just sayin
Have fun guy’s
JW
Good info
Square knot to tie lines together to make longer ones.