Comments (7)

• 6

  Carlotta Susanna Barbieri - August 2, 2017

  This was super helpful, thanks so much! It’s great as I can’t remember more than few knots.

   
• 64

  gCaptain - August 7, 2017

  As a ship captain I must say these are excellent choices but I believe it’s also important to point out the most dangerous and improperly used knots. Number one on that list is the square knot which, according to knot expert Philippe Petit, has caused more injuries and deaths than all other knots combined.

  I also want to give a shout out to my favorite source of knot related information and research: the international guild of knot tyers, https://www.igkt.net, which provides free youth memberships.

   
  • 7

    John AdamaStaff - August 7, 2017

    Awesome, thank you Captain! I had no idea the square knot was so risky and frequently incorrect.

     
• 4

  hikermor - June 29, 2020

  I would like to learn the author’s opinion of the figure 8 knot.  in technical climbing circles, it is rapidly replacing,or has replaced, the bowline for most climbing applications.  it is generally conisdered easier to learn, tie, and inspect than the bowline and has ben shown to be more secure.

  The bowline is a pretty decent knot with lots of tradition behind it, and it is the knot I used for several decades.  But now I pretty much use the figure 8, rewoven if it needs to go around an object.

   
• 5

  FPV California - March 30, 2021

  Jessie, great article and great videos! They stuck with me after I saw them several months ago. I came back and decided to learn how to do them. For the past few weeks I’ve been keeping a 3 foot piece of paracord on me so I can practice my knots throughout the day. During Teams meetings, while watching TV, going on walks, I’m just tying knots. 

  For the other commenter regarding the figure 8. Yes I think it’s one of strongest knots. It’s also easy to see if it’s tied correctly. I would definitely keep the fig 8 in my arsenal for critical situations. 
  I like the bowline and sheet-bend because they’re faster to tie and they’re easier to untie. Although to be honest I haven’t had to untie either after they’ve been put under a tremendous amount of weight like I have with the figure 8 so I might be comparing apples to oranges.  

  I just saw the video on the cinching knot. I’ll be adding this one to my list next. 

  The techniques for using sticks and the grommets on the tarp is genius in the video for the truckers hitch. 

  I recommend anyone seeing this to bookmark the article!

   
• 2

  brownfox-ffContributor - December 23, 2021

  Excellent guide. Thanks for writing this up.

  Some ancient knot-tying wisdom, passed down to me from an experienced mountain climber: If you have an especially stubborn knot that you need to untie, you can make your rope come loose more easily by cursing quietly under your breath.

   
  • 1

    Gideon ParkerStaff - December 24, 2021

    I’ll have to try that next time I have a stuck knot. Usually I would just hand the knot to my dad to untie but now I have a new technique for when he isn’t around.