24 Knots to Know

Some Knots to Know Rope would be of little value if one did not know the best knot to use for the given situation. From time to time I am asked “What are the Knots I should know?” Well that depends on what your needs are. A farmer, rancher, recreational climber, industrial climber, sailor, or angler would all give you a different answers. Example, a figure 8 is a great knot for stopping a man’s fall and can be untied after a fall; but to pull a truck out of the mire with a tractor the figure 8 could be impossible to untie where as a double dragon loop would do just fine. In short you should learn knots that will hold fast, will come untied when no longer needed, and easy to tie. All of that depends on the given the condition the knot is to be used. OK that said these are the knots I find must usefull. We will add more videos so keep checking back. If life or property depends on the rigging you set up do not rely on the instructions below but have a qualified mentor observe you tying a knot that is new to you. A slight change in how the knot is tied can be the difference between having the line hold dependably and having it spill unexpectedly. Use at your own risk.	Coyote Tracks, Wilderness Skills Institute's E-Newsletter. For more articles like this as well as updates about our youth wilderness and nature programs join Coyote Tracks, our informative e-newsletter. It contains wild craft projects, wilderness safety, native plants, and animal tracking sections to better connect your family to the nature of the Pacific North Coast.
Stopper Knots – to stop the rope from sliding through the hands or a knot
Figure of Eight Stopper Knot Fast to tie and can be untied easily
Monkeys fist Great to add enough weight to heave a line or as decoration
Loops at the End of a Rope
Bowline An overrated loop that you will get asked to tie by the students. The Bowline can spill or jam when hit with a sudden load.
Double Bowline Will not spill or jam when holding a heavy load. I use this knot with very heavy loads and it is always easy to untie. Always use a stopper knot on the end of the rope when tying any of these knots.
Tugboat Loop The fastest good loop I can tie. The tugboat loop is the start of the double dragon loop a very good single loop.
Double Dragon A knot to trust and fast to tie - it is a Tugboat with one more coil.
Figure eight loop A simple loop that climbers commonly use.
Loops in the bite (middle of the rope)
Alpine butterfly (or linemen’s) A loop that climbers commonly use that is easy to untie when heavily loaded.
Bell Ringer’s Loop Very easy to untie even under heavy load, will fall apart if not under load and must be made in a heavy stiff rope. Commony used as part of a trucker’s hitch.
Multiple Loops
Karash Double Loop The Karash Double Loop is derived from a figure of 8 loop, is fast to tie and untie, loops are of fixed length, and it is easy to untie after having a heavy load.
Spanish Bowline The Spanish Bowline is a double loop that the loops equal out so that each loop holds 50% of the load.
Hitches for attaching a rope to an object
Clove Hitch Very common, easy to tie hitch
Halter Hitch Used for securing livestock, easly untied if the animal falls.
Timber Hitch Used to pull timber with horse or tractor. Very easy to tie and untie but holds fast under load.
Hitches for gripping a rope
Taunt Line Hitch Taunt Line well-known hitch for erecting a small tent that can be adjusted to keep a line taunt.
Adjustable Grip Hitch Some say much more secure then a Taunt Line some disagree. It is fast and easy to tie and very easy to untie, yet secure flapping in the wind.
Prusik Hitch Prusik hitch is commonly used as the ascender attached to the feet, also used to pull a rope up with a cord.
Blake's Hitch Blake's Hitch is commonly used by tree climbers to ascend or desend a rope.
Hitches as a Machine for Mechanical Advantage
Trucker Hitch Made From a Bell Ringer’s Loop and Taunt Line Can be used for securing a load on a truck or raising circus sized tent use only if under constant load and heavy rope
Bends – Attach Two Ropes Together to Make a Longer Rope
Sheet Bend The Sheet bend is fast to tie, good if under constant load – do not use this to moor a boat in the bay, you will lose your boat in time.
Double Sheet Bend This bend is easy to tie and a little bit more secure than the sheet bend.
Flemish Bend A very secure bend.
Butterfly Bend Butterfly Bend is a good secure bend that is quick and easy to tie and can be untied with ease after a load.
Carrick Bend Carrick Bend is a good secure bend that can be untied with ease.
Binder to Seize a Bundle Together or Close a Sack
Double Constrictor
Knots to Shorten a Rope
Sheep Shank The sheep shank must be under constant tension or it will come apart. Commonly used as a loop in a truckers hitch.