I learnd it as follow: from the pond, aroud the tree, across the street and into the pond again. I cant remember the animal. But it's the same concept.
That's how boy scouts tie it. As a high steel rigger, I've tied thousands. There is a much more practical way to tie. Believe it or not, the guy who showed me how was named Paul Morris.
When I taught my kids knots, I kept it simple by teaching only 3 knots: the square, the bowline, and the tautline. I told them that with those 3 knots they could build the pyramids. Pretty sure kids today don't learn knot tying, which is probably okay...until they need to tie a knot
I teach knots to my scouts and I rarely use the square knot. I'd never limit a lesson to the best three knots. One of the most important knots to know is a round turn with two half hitches.
@@rickedwards7276 I would have been lost without the taut line hitch on my overland 50 miler. We were using tarps for cover against rain, and the taut line is definitely the best option for that particular use.
I've almost forgot all the knots I was taught while in scouts, however as most have said, in additon to the three great knots you have detailed here; a clove hitch is a must to remember! Also a clove hitch is the first knot you tie for square lashing, which is a great load bearing way to fasten objects together, usually at right angles. Square lashing can be a life saving knot, you can make stretchers with it, lash a raft tightly together, or even build things like sturdy raised Basha or Bivouac shelters. Keep up the great stuff mate!
Having been an entertainment rigger for several years, the Clovehitch has been my most-used knot, but I love learning about new and interesting knots and their applications!
As a IGKT member and knot enthusiast I would say in the context of bushcraft and outdoor survival that the jam knot is the mother of all knots. In the 90's I was fortunate enough to learn personally from the greatest wilderness survival skills instructor of all time, Mors Kochanski. He had 7 knots that he taught and the jam knot was at the top of his list as well. One knot that you could have added to your list would be the prussik knot. A runner up could have been the marlinspike hitch. You have a great channel with very useful information and instructions. Peace...✌
wow haven't heard the jam knot mentioned in many years between growing in a Navy household and my mother taking macramé as a child I learned a lot of knots which helped in the scouts
Glad to come across an IGKT member. I can't afford the membership fees. I have invented a knot more secure than the constrictor but it is IMPOSSIBLE to tie. I would like to run this by the guild. The constrictor has an overhand with a wrap atop. My version replaces the overhand with a twist - two u-turns held down. It is impossible because there is no way to tension the interlock beneath.
This in my mind is what the internet is for - Those with certain skill sets explaining to others their knowledge. Well done and thankyou PP!!! As a geezer...I'll have to watch this more than a few times.
Great video! I realize I need to practice my knots! Life, Red Cross and Girl Scouts taught me the knots decades ago, one does get rusty..the names of the knots have escaped me! Thanks for showing us and jogging this aging brain!
When I was a Captain of my Fire Department, I would stress how important knots are. On the fire scene there are about 1/2 a dozen knots we used depending on what we were doing. Great video BTW & I always use the truckers hitch when building a tarp shelter.
Here in Germany every aspirant firefighter has to know 8 basic knots for their final test. I used to teach that to our junior firefighters (age 6-16) becouse they need that in contests.
On the subject of knots. I'm a crocheter. I honestly think learning even the basic stitches of this craft can be a life saver. You can of course make clothing, but you can make shoes and blankets as well as shelter with those blankets. You can make backpacks and bags as well as fishing nets. So all basis are pretty much covered. It's not just a frilly little granny craft. I'm thinking long term SHTF ideas here. You can also make "yarn" from t shirts as well as plastic bags and sheets.
I'm really enjoying ur channel. Knowing practical things like knots r GREAT! More so than trauma/survival medicine & I'm an Emergency Department Nurse! Thanks & please keep it coming.
That explanation of the trucker's hitch was the best I've seen so far. Excellent work. My favorite is the bowline, but I tie it in a way that is much faster, but a little riskier because you have to make sure the loose end gets pulled back through the second loop to lock it or it will not bind. It starts kind of like the trucker's hitch, but you create the loops with the hand closest to the loose end. You create the first loop, then pull the cordage through to create the second loop, instead of tightening the first loop around the second, you take your loose end, pass it through the second loop, making the loose end bend Just like you would with the trucker's hitch, but you pull the second loop back through, along with the loose end bent around it so that the first loop is around the loose end and pull tight. That's your bowline. It sounds way more complicated than it is. It's really fast, which, when you really need a bowline most, is how you need it.
it sounds like you might be describing a slipknot bowline. you start with a relatively loose slipknot, make your loop, put the free end through the slipknot, and then pull the slipknot back through, which creates a bowline. this technique also makes a true backwoods ziptie, same thing only you pull your loop as tight as you need before pulling the slipknot loop back through. works awesome for tying picnic tablecloths down with string.
@@kenbrown2808 Mmmm...no, it's just a field expedient bowline. Once cinched, any tension just squeezes the knot tighter so that it will not come undone or tighten, only maintain its size until all tension released and it is undone completely. Thanks for double checking.
@@N0B0DY_SP3C14L in that case, I have no idea how to tie what you've described. your description makes no sense at all without it being a slipknot bowline.
@@kenbrown2808 As I go through the slipknot aspect, that does add up. I'd never used the slipknot aspect before, as the free end tends to get pulled back through and cinch into becoming the bowline. So perhaps a slipknot bowline it is. Works like a bowline, looks like a bowline, sounds like a duck.
Nice video. Clove hitch, bowline, Slip knot, reef knot, truckies hitch and a round turn and two half hitch knot cover everything I need on land or sea. I once met an old sailor who could tie a bowline one handed while rolling a cigarette in the other hand... in his pocket to keep it dry! I first learned knots in the Cub Scouts aged 7, then the army and then in my 30s when sailing. Now 60, I practise my knots so I don't forget. I once waited an hour for the last bloke to leave the hardware store so no one would see me tie down my load because I had forgotten how to do a truckie's hitch! Never again.
@@telestix6606 was that the scene with the fire hose? I was once very happy that I knew how to tie the bowline one handed.. especially because my other hand was busy hanging on to a cliff edge..
I remember learning the bowline knot is Girl Scouts. I don't remember the other knots they taught us. That was nearly 50 years ago. Thanks for the refresher.
You did a great job of keeping it simple, easy to see, explaining what it’s used for and the thing that drives me nuts…you didn’t praddle on for 5 minutes before you got to the content. Thank you
As a US Army Combat Engineer I had a most unique use for a knot. We used a girth hitch with an extra turn to join detonating cord in our firing systems. Detonating cord allows you to tie in different explosive charges into a single system. The girth-hitch with extra turn is used to ensure you have enough surface contact with the detonating cord to keep the detonation moving without cutting off the branch lines/charges. You even have to orient the running end away from the direction of the detonation or risk cutting off the line rather than transferring the explosion to the branch. Knots are great.
It's interesting to see how different knot preferences are! I really need to give the trucker's hitch another go :-) My favorites: Bowline for end of rope loops Tautline hitch for adjustable loops and tensioning (i'm moving more and more towards farrimond friction hitch though) Constrictor knot for tightening loops Alpine butterfly for in-rope loops
THESE are my new favourite knots - very useful for tensioning stuff which I always have a problem with. Key is remembering it I suppose, so practice practice
alpine butterfly is one of my favorite. non binding, non deforming, can take full load on the mid rope loop and both leads. very handy and I use it in place of the truckers sometimes
50 years ago my boss at the time, a great horseman and World War II combat veteran taught me the Bowline and the Trucker's Hitch. Stanley Herman Morrison, Why Worry Farm, Woodside, California. Thank you Mr. Morrison. He also taught me to use a Mattock for digging and how to wake up very early and get to work on time. Tough man. a Great man.
I watch a lot of prepper channels. Your channel is awesome you have stepped it up ! Real answers to some of the things that I was looking for !!!! Thank you !!!! Great job
Bowline, Alpine Butterfly Loop, and Adjustable Grip Hitch are what I use the most. Particularly in applications where you might use a trucker hitch, I find the adjustable grip hitch provides the same use but with more control. Honorable mentions to the constrictor hitch which I use for zip tie applications, and the fisherman’s knot for joining two ropes.
The bowline deserves to be at the top of the list. Easy, quick, and essential. Suppose someone breaks through ice and can’t get out. If you throw them a loose rope, they might not be able to hang onto it. But if you put a large loop in it with a bowline there is a double advantage. First, the extra weight of the loop will make it easier to throw to the person needing help. Second, he can put his head and arms through the loop and hang on even if his fingers are freezing.
I'd actually tie a fig-8 on a bite, just make the loop nice and big. The problem with the bowline is that unless the line is under tension the tail end can slip loose (unless you tie a back up know with the tail...which by then you could have tied the fig-8 and tossed it).
This is late, but the bowline and specifically the one handed method of tying it are essential. The one handed method is easier and faster for people that don't know much about knots. It's literally a life-saver.
I was taught how to tie the bowline knot one handed around my waist in the Boy Scouts as a kid. I have it so locked in my muscle memory that even today, although I have a hard time remembering how to tie it, but as soon as I wrap the rope around my waist, I can automatically tie it one handed with my eyes close.
I love the Alpine Butterfly loop. You can tie it without needing a free end, it's a load bearing loop in either direction of pull, and you can untie it pretty easy. I also like the Jug Knot, but I've never memorized how to tie it.
when they taught me the alpine butterfly, it was a complicated wrap this, and shift that and under this and over that process. I deconstructed it, and now I tie them by taking the rope, wrap it three times around my hand, crossing pinky to thumb and laying each loop going from fingertips towards thumb. the second wrap will be the most prominent. grab that, pull your loop, and then tuck it under the other wraps from wrist to fingertips and pull the whole thing off your hand.
I found that it was easier to learn the bowline knot when I turned off the sound because you don't go through the loop you made in the beginning. Thank you!
I´ve been in the scouts many years ago, and the only knot I can remember how to do is the simple "everyday" overhand, so this video was really helpful for me - So thank you, you´ve gotten yourself a new sub.
The correct knot for tying your shoes is a square knot. It's pretty much guaranteed that if you use a square knot and pull it tight that it won't come undone until you loosen it yourself.
You have accomplished with an excellent presentation on how to learn these 3 knots, and ways in fine tuning them making it easier to master. Thank you. It would meaningful to me and think others including other useful outdoor knots with your method of teaching. I am looking forward to your 2022 video series.
With the trucker’s hitch, if you double-wrap your terminus through the loop, it locks the tension, making it easier to tighten and tie off without dropping tension.
The Lapp loop is most useful and universal knot for everyday. It's a slip loop as Mooring hitch. It's an adjustable fixed loop as Lapp loop. It's great knot for binding! It has many easy ways to tie on on any part of rope! It's one of bowline/sheet-bend family! It's exploding knot!
I'd say the most common and useful knot is the half hitch. It's so easy for anyone with basic knot tying skills that we often overlook it. Maybe not as common but the bowline is up there along with clove hitch, and square knot. Another of my favorites is a variation of the bowline, an inline bowline and a running bowline, along with a timber hitch.
Thank you so much for tips, my go too knott in almost all situations is the slip knott, true story ive done this knott for as long as i can remember and never knew the name till today😮 knowledge is power, youve got urself a new student in the bluegrass state 😊
This made the bowline knot easy for me when being instructed by captain John during coastguard training in Anchorage AK. Make a loop, take tag end..rabbit comes out of the hole, goes around the tree (main line) ,goes back down the hole. Never forgot the most useful knot you will ever need.
When were you in the Coast Guard and in Alaska??? My uncle who just passed away from cancer was in the Coast Guard, his name is John. Just curious, thanks
@PracticalPreparedness hello preparedness, I was at Anchorage coast guard auxiliary in 2008 for my week-long class to get my 6 passenger guide on unnavigable rivers license, captain John was half native Alaskan, with several thousand ton rating for piloting freighter vessels in a Alaska waters. Very impressive man. Hope he is well. He was the instructor.
Bowline, round turn and 2 half hitches, and, better that the truckers knot - the tautline hitch. After 70 years in the scouts, the navy, and camping, these three will cover pretty well everything
If you have a trailer, like we do for construction, the truckers hitch is #1. Once had a 30 gallon barrel that I didn't want to be affected by sharp bounces from potholes and rough road I had to travel as the lid wasn't in great shape. Managed to make kind of cradle with ropes and knots so it was slightly suspended off the bed and anchored to 4 points so it couldn't tip over. Was my proudest tie down. 🙂
keep brining this kind of stuff i love it i use the siberian hitch all the time to tie one end of a load down the i finish with the auto locking trucker's hitch
I dont consider that I know a knot until I can tue it behind my back without looking. This developes muscle memory and give a strong mental image of the knot in long term memory.
Ya know the best knots in the world, are the knots power cords, earphones, fishing line and other cables do all by themselves in storage! Takes forever to undo them :)
I always use a "directional figure 8" in my trucker hitch, but when I tie a trucker hitch its usually in heavier rope; I guess I trust it more than the slip knot, but in paracord I can see wanting a slip knot that won't jam up -- easier to get reamers and pliers into heavier line to help untie. I'm really glad you included trucker hitch in this list! When I started the video I was thinking "I hope he has bowline and trucker hitch on this list"... Nice! In my experience with the landscaping, forestry, and construction industries, I would say you can get 90% of everything done with a bowline, trucker hitch, clove hitch. The other 10% is a double overhand bend and a rolling hitch. 5 knots, that's it, and it'll be a very rare or unique situation where one of these wouldn't cut it.
Thanks for your advice on this. Clove was definitely next and will be included in a future vid without doubt. Thanks for watching and supporting the channel!
When tying the truckers hitch I quit using a slip knot after spending to much time to untie it and replaced it with a sheepshank if I had to long a rope or the alpine butterfly, either of those after being under tension is much faster and easier to untie.
The marlinespike hitch is in that family of "overhand slip knots" (including the J-bend) that is SO handy when working with any rope...but these work particularly well in any flat ribbon like rope (so like a nylon strap). This is part of my hammock suspension - tied in the tree strap. The sheet-bend and it's various cousins (double sheet-bend, Becket Hitch, bowline, netting-knot) are SUPER helpful when attaching ropes to ropes, or ropes to rings. This is part of my hammock suspension - to connect the tree strap to a continuous loop. The larks-head and it's various cousins (cow hitch, Prussik, taut-line hitch) are good for setting up attachments to ridgelines and guy lines. The clove hitch and its various cousins (millers knot, constrictor knot) are the foundation of MANY lashings for attaching ropes to poles, or poles to each other, or for closing a bag or cinching down a sleeping bag or tarp.
Spanish Bowline is one of my favorites. I use it in place of the Trucker's hitch. I can cinch a load down extremely tight and when you release tension, the whole thing unravels easily. Use a standard Bowline at your first attachment point and you can tie some with tons of force and the knots come right out.
Overhand knots are great, but by adding a twist you can make it into a figure 8 which is a little more secure... One thing that you may want to also remind people is that whenever you put a knot into a rope you are cutting the strength of the rope. A simple overhand knot in the middle of the rope creates the weak point and reduces the strength by 50%.... It is best to use knots that don't twist the rope where there is tension... The truckers knot is great for tying things down and holding light weight... but a Taut line doesn't reduce the strength of the rope. As mentioned by another person, a clove hitch or running clove hitch is a great anchor point because it doesn't reduce the work that can be done by the rope. In a survival setting, these knots can work quickly... but if you are going to have the rope do any work or hold SERIOUS weight, you need to keep that rope as straight and free of knots as possible.
Coming from a firefighter with rope and rescue certifications what you said is 100% true and I’ll even take it another step and totally forget the bowline. The bowline is ok but it’s not a life safety knot and a figure 8 on a bight is and easier to add to muscle memory tbh.
I'd say 50 percent strength reduction is very general, not just for the overhand knot. Could be more or less depending on the knot, rope material, anchor point size or angle, etc. If you are doing some serious rigging, you should take that into consideration.
@@alexandergillis6276 It is not a matter of testing... it is a matter of physics... and the 50% is a generalization... but when a rope is straight and pulling on the strands in the rope it is at its strongest... but when you put a simple overhand knot in the middle of the straight part... the rope then has to pull on its self and no longer pulls in a straight line... the forces twist. and no longer are in line with the rope. Plus... if there is a knot, the rope is most likely to fail at that point. The only way to truly strengthen the rope would be to splice.
@@JaredBetts i didn't disagree with your first comment. And i didn't mention "testing". I meant that there are other variables that affect rope strength that should be considered when calculating load limits. A 1000lb rated rope with an overhand knot in the middle pulled through a 2 inch rolling block or over the edge of a wall or through a carabiner may not be good for 500lbs, for example. And, no, a splice does not strengthen a rope. It's the better option, but it does reduce rope strength.
Zeppelin Bend for joining two lines. Easy to tie, highly secure, easy to undo intentionally. For unequal line sizes, you just wrap the tail of the thinner line twice through the center loop. Alpine butterfly for midline loops or done at the end for very stable fixed loop. Water bowline is what I tend to do in place of standard bowline for a fixed loop, as it's somewhat more secure and appropriate for dry or wet conditions (especially with synthetic cordage that slips more than natural fibers or bankline).
@@aaronleverton4221 I'm not surprised ... it was a bit of a "lost" bend for a period of 40 years, used in the 40's, and then rediscovered in the late 80's or early 90's. Give it a try, it's really easy to learn and remember, and one of the few structurally perfect knots with total symmetry.
Hands down best video ive seen with all the most important survival knots all in one , thank you for taking the time yo make this , nice job and well done !
Bowline, Square knot, and Clove hitch. We learned all three in the Navy and how to use them properly. Even in the wilderness, you really don’t need anything else.
@@PracticalPreparedness Don’t get me wrong, knowing how to tie different knots is helpful. It’s just more useful to know what to do with them. “A sharp blade without something to cut is pointless”
Hi I like the fisherman's knot.., similar to the hangman's noose but a little different with at least 3 to for loops on my fishing hook I use 5 loops ...this is a different version of your slip knot.., to tighten the other end I like a hitch knot...I can get it really tight ... another knot I use is to connect two pieces of cord or rope together ...these 3 knots have served me well over fourty years.... The fisherman's knot is tighter and if I don't want it to be able to to loosen I'll put another knot behind it similar to the slip knot...on the fisherman's knot also the more loops you add the harder it is to loosen to get undone ...I think the hangman's noose has 12 loops and when tightened is very hard to loosen up.. and takes more time to make to be practical for average day to day use.
A long time ago we were taught to tie a bowline with one hand with the rope looped around your waist/chest. This was an important safety/rescue knot since it could be used to lift a person without putting the squeeze on them. One hand tying was important if you had fallen and were keeping yourself from falling further with the other hand. I'll have to think and try it to remember how.
I was taught to tie the one handed Bowline about 65 years ago. Recently learned the "Locked Bowline" which makes it an even more secure knot. 40+ years ago I learned the Zeppelin knot and have been using it and teaching it ever since. I was a Scout, but the "Square knot" is dangerous and useless. As far as tying shoes, tying the top with both bows instead of the loose end around the bow makes a far superior knot. A Sheet Bend or a Slippery Sheet Bend is far superior to a Square knot.
With a good Stopper Knot, like the Figure 8. Yeah, if you don't use a stopper knot, the Clove Hitch can roll out, and you're better off with a Larks Head. Just add a half hitch to anchor the loose end. Either the lark's head, or clove hitch can be tied in the center of a rope, without either end.
Favourite knot (currently) - Reverse Somerville Bowline, a more elegant non-collapsing knot than the boola boola to use for single& double column ties in Shibari
Very good footage on knots. Knots. A great invention! Learn and PRACTISE the knot for the right application. It can save your life, or just make your every day's life easier. The only thing you have to do is PRACTISE it. Takes just one minute. To safe your life, i'd say that's good investment.
Yes, totally agree. I practice once a month, just a couple knots, then the next month I do a few more, making sure I don't forget the important ones at least!
3 great knots. I really liked the arbor knot. The stop knot could be a quick release rather than an overhand, that way, it's very easy to untie. Thanks for the nice clear demo
Great work, I feel the bowline is one of the best knots there is especially for self rescue. Never seen anyone tie a figure 8 knot one handed with a bite. Would love to see that. Great job 👍
How would you use a bowline for self rescue? I've used a double bowline (which you can't tie single-handed) before but never a single. If I needed a fig-8 on a bite I'd already have it tied and clipped on with a carabiner.
I learned the Farrimond Friction Hitch from the Essential Craftsman channel. It's trickier than the taut-line hitch, but has a quick-release function and you can tie it midline with excess rope. I think ot works as well or maybe even better at holding adjustable tension.
I use a marlin spike as the loop in my truckers hitch so there's nothing to untie aside from the bowline. I use it when tying off audio points and ridgelines mostly. Also, anytime you're going through a loop, you can add an extra wrap to reduce slippage.
Hey @MHOrmond, I have no problem with 2 half hitches personally. I try to keep my setup as quick-release and quick-setup/takedown as possible, but that knot would definitely fit the bill for a good chunk of my purposes!
![The 10 BEST Knots in Life [For VISUAL Learners]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/5lLPAHK_k6I/mqdefault.jpg)
I was taught the bowline knot in the RN with "The rabbit comes out of the hole, around the tree and back down the hole". Works for me.
Yes, it's a great tip indeed! Thank you for sharing
I learnd it as follow: from the pond, aroud the tree, across the street and into the pond again. I cant remember the animal. But it's the same concept.
Same way I learned in Boy Scouts.
I learned that from bobs burgers
That's how boy scouts tie it. As a high steel rigger, I've tied thousands. There is a much more practical way to tie. Believe it or not, the guy who showed me how was named Paul Morris.
When I taught my kids knots, I kept it simple by teaching only 3 knots: the square, the bowline, and the tautline. I told them that with those 3 knots they could build the pyramids. Pretty sure kids today don't learn knot tying, which is probably okay...until they need to tie a knot
haha exactly. Until they do. One of those things we should be taught in middle school.
I would add the clove hitch - it's a really easy and super useful knot.
I teach knots to my scouts and I rarely use the square knot. I'd never limit a lesson to the best three knots.
One of the most important knots to know is a round turn with two half hitches.
Good to see someone mentioned the taut line hitch. I’ve tried that knot more than any other single knot in my life.
@@rickedwards7276 I would have been lost without the taut line hitch on my overland 50 miler. We were using tarps for cover against rain, and the taut line is definitely the best option for that particular use.
I've almost forgot all the knots I was taught while in scouts, however as most have said, in additon to the three great knots you have detailed here; a clove hitch is a must to remember! Also a clove hitch is the first knot you tie for square lashing, which is a great load bearing way to fasten objects together, usually at right angles. Square lashing can be a life saving knot, you can make stretchers with it, lash a raft tightly together, or even build things like sturdy raised Basha or Bivouac shelters. Keep up the great stuff mate!
Awesome additions @Steven Ball!
I was about to add the same. Lashing and frapping for a variety of uses. The trusty clove hitch at the base. Good call!
Finally someone teaching knots and explaining their applications!
Thanks for watching doug!
@@PracticalPreparedness thank you for all of your efforts I appreciate it very much
Having been an entertainment rigger for several years, the Clovehitch has been my most-used knot, but I love learning about new and interesting knots and their applications!
Love it. Will be covering the clove soon, definitely overdue!
Entertainment rigger? A rope bunny tamer?
Keg knot
I was also a high rigger and used the Clove-hitch as often as possible, mostly because the guys below me could untie it easily.
Also, an entertainment rigger and came here to say Clove hitch.
Constrictor knot pretty good as well
As a IGKT member and knot enthusiast I would say in the context of bushcraft and outdoor survival that the jam knot is the mother of all knots. In the 90's I was fortunate enough to learn personally from the greatest wilderness survival skills instructor of all time, Mors Kochanski. He had 7 knots that he taught and the jam knot was at the top of his list as well. One knot that you could have added to your list would be the prussik knot. A runner up could have been the marlinspike hitch. You have a great channel with very useful information and instructions. Peace...✌
I appreciate that! Thank you for your continued support
I wonder what are 7 knots he (Mors Kochanski) used to taught?
wow haven't heard the jam knot mentioned in many years between growing in a Navy household and my mother taking macramé as a child I learned a lot of knots which helped in the scouts
Glad to come across an IGKT member. I can't afford the membership fees. I have invented a knot more secure than the constrictor but it is IMPOSSIBLE to tie. I would like to run this by the guild. The constrictor has an overhand with a wrap atop. My version replaces the overhand with a twist - two u-turns held down. It is impossible because there is no way to tension the interlock beneath.
TY from a novice! I know I really need to learn these knots. Great job teaching on the video! God bless you!
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment too!
This in my mind is what the internet is for - Those with certain skill sets explaining to others their knowledge. Well done and thankyou PP!!!
As a geezer...I'll have to watch this more than a few times.
I could probably be accused for abusing the pause and skip features to jump back and rewatch something I missed. Thank you Ed!
@@PracticalPreparedness All good.
Great video! I realize I need to practice my knots! Life, Red Cross and Girl Scouts taught me the knots decades ago, one does get rusty..the names of the knots have escaped me! Thanks for showing us and jogging this aging brain!
idk about anyone else but I find coming home after a hard day at work and tying knots to be pretty relaxing. and fun
When I was a Captain of my Fire Department, I would stress how important knots are. On the fire scene there are about 1/2 a dozen knots we used depending on what we were doing. Great video BTW & I always use the truckers hitch when building a tarp shelter.
Here in Germany every aspirant firefighter has to know 8 basic knots for their final test. I used to teach that to our junior firefighters (age 6-16) becouse they need that in contests.
On the subject of knots. I'm a crocheter. I honestly think learning even the basic stitches of this craft can be a life saver. You can of course make clothing, but you can make shoes and blankets as well as shelter with those blankets. You can make backpacks and bags as well as fishing nets. So all basis are pretty much covered. It's not just a frilly little granny craft. I'm thinking long term SHTF ideas here. You can also make "yarn" from t shirts as well as plastic bags and sheets.
Think of how useful it would be to know how to make clothes, not just repair. Make shoes etc. Very under-appreciated
I'm really enjoying ur channel. Knowing practical things like knots r GREAT! More so than trauma/survival medicine & I'm an Emergency Department Nurse! Thanks & please keep it coming.
That explanation of the trucker's hitch was the best I've seen so far. Excellent work. My favorite is the bowline, but I tie it in a way that is much faster, but a little riskier because you have to make sure the loose end gets pulled back through the second loop to lock it or it will not bind. It starts kind of like the trucker's hitch, but you create the loops with the hand closest to the loose end. You create the first loop, then pull the cordage through to create the second loop, instead of tightening the first loop around the second, you take your loose end, pass it through the second loop, making the loose end bend Just like you would with the trucker's hitch, but you pull the second loop back through, along with the loose end bent around it so that the first loop is around the loose end and pull tight. That's your bowline. It sounds way more complicated than it is. It's really fast, which, when you really need a bowline most, is how you need it.
I’ll try this out Nobody, great write up. Always looking for ways to be more efficient
it sounds like you might be describing a slipknot bowline. you start with a relatively loose slipknot, make your loop, put the free end through the slipknot, and then pull the slipknot back through, which creates a bowline. this technique also makes a true backwoods ziptie, same thing only you pull your loop as tight as you need before pulling the slipknot loop back through. works awesome for tying picnic tablecloths down with string.
@@kenbrown2808 Mmmm...no, it's just a field expedient bowline. Once cinched, any tension just squeezes the knot tighter so that it will not come undone or tighten, only maintain its size until all tension released and it is undone completely. Thanks for double checking.
@@N0B0DY_SP3C14L in that case, I have no idea how to tie what you've described. your description makes no sense at all without it being a slipknot bowline.
@@kenbrown2808 As I go through the slipknot aspect, that does add up. I'd never used the slipknot aspect before, as the free end tends to get pulled back through and cinch into becoming the bowline. So perhaps a slipknot bowline it is. Works like a bowline, looks like a bowline, sounds like a duck.
Bowline a must. Colve hitch i use everyday lifting HEAVY pipes, etc at work. Improved uni-knot. My top three. Blood knot.
Nice video. Clove hitch, bowline, Slip knot, reef knot, truckies hitch and a round turn and two half hitch knot cover everything I need on land or sea. I once met an old sailor who could tie a bowline one handed while rolling a cigarette in the other hand... in his pocket to keep it dry! I first learned knots in the Cub Scouts aged 7, then the army and then in my 30s when sailing. Now 60, I practise my knots so I don't forget. I once waited an hour for the last bloke to leave the hardware store so no one would see me tie down my load because I had forgotten how to do a truckie's hitch! Never again.
bruce willis ties a one handed bowline in diehard before he jumps off the building. FYI only
@@telestix6606 was that the scene with the fire hose? I was once very happy that I knew how to tie the bowline one handed.. especially because my other hand was busy hanging on to a cliff edge..
@@Baldy.TheOnlyOne yes as he jumped off the roof
Water knot
Going camping soon. Now I can practice that trucker's hitch/ridgeline deployment on the legs of my dining table. You're brilliant!
Good choices. The first two are absolutes. The last one was a toss up. But learning these three would be a good beginning.
My favorite is the balloon knot
I like the simple, fast knots. Like these.
Sheetbend is a good one as well
I like a tautline hitch also for a lot of things. It is great for tightening things
It's a great knot too!
As a complete novice outside of knots for crafts and crochet, the zip tie knot blew my mind 🤯 coolest knot I saw 🤩
Nice! Glad the video helped you to discover it!
Thanks for watching and supporting
The arbor is great. Best knot to attach fishing line to spools as well
Speaking of anchoring and fishing, i love a uni knot.
Nice instructional video and you actually care about what your viewers think by responding to comments from your viewers.
I remember learning the bowline knot is Girl Scouts. I don't remember the other knots they taught us. That was nearly 50 years ago. Thanks for the refresher.
You did a great job of keeping it simple, easy to see, explaining what it’s used for and the thing that drives me nuts…you didn’t praddle on for 5 minutes before you got to the content. Thank you
THANK YOU!!!! for going slow enough for me to follow along without too many replays. :)
You are so welcome! Thanks for watching
As a US Army Combat Engineer I had a most unique use for a knot. We used a girth hitch with an extra turn to join detonating cord in our firing systems. Detonating cord allows you to tie in different explosive charges into a single system. The girth-hitch with extra turn is used to ensure you have enough surface contact with the detonating cord to keep the detonation moving without cutting off the branch lines/charges. You even have to orient the running end away from the direction of the detonation or risk cutting off the line rather than transferring the explosion to the branch. Knots are great.
I would not want to be responsible for tying those knots..
@@PracticalPreparedness it's not difficult, unless the det-cord is cold. It's plastic cased and doesn't conform to tight turns like rope or line does.
It's interesting to see how different knot preferences are! I really need to give the trucker's hitch another go :-)
My favorites:
Bowline for end of rope loops
Tautline hitch for adjustable loops and tensioning (i'm moving more and more towards farrimond friction hitch though)
Constrictor knot for tightening loops
Alpine butterfly for in-rope loops
THESE are my new favourite knots - very useful for tensioning stuff which I always have a problem with. Key is remembering it I suppose, so practice practice
It takes care of most of my needs!
I learned a bowline and truckers hitch decades ago, and they have been so helpful over the years.
alpine butterfly is one of my favorite. non binding, non deforming, can take full load on the mid rope loop and both leads. very handy and I use it in place of the truckers sometimes
Great tip! I'll be sure to include the alpine butterfly in a future vid!
The alpine butterfly will bind (use of tool necessary to loosen) if under enough tension. It’s still my favorite and go to “loop on a bite”.
50 years ago my boss at the time, a great horseman and World War II combat veteran taught me the Bowline and the Trucker's Hitch. Stanley Herman Morrison, Why Worry Farm, Woodside, California. Thank you Mr. Morrison. He also taught me to use a Mattock for digging and how to wake up very early and get to work on time. Tough man. a Great man.
I watch a lot of prepper channels. Your channel is awesome you have stepped it up ! Real answers to some of the things that I was looking for !!!! Thank you !!!! Great job
Awesome! Thank you!
I'm an arborist. I use all sorts of knots and hitches everyday, but the bowline/running bowline/double bowline are definitely critical in my trade.
Makes sense! Thanks for sharing. I love the bowline
Bowline, Alpine Butterfly Loop, and Adjustable Grip Hitch are what I use the most. Particularly in applications where you might use a trucker hitch, I find the adjustable grip hitch provides the same use but with more control.
Honorable mentions to the constrictor hitch which I use for zip tie applications, and the fisherman’s knot for joining two ropes.
The bowline deserves to be at the top of the list. Easy, quick, and essential. Suppose someone breaks through ice and can’t get out. If you throw them a loose rope, they might not be able to hang onto it. But if you put a large loop in it with a bowline there is a double advantage. First, the extra weight of the loop will make it easier to throw to the person needing help. Second, he can put his head and arms through the loop and hang on even if his fingers are freezing.
Good point and great use case
I'd actually tie a fig-8 on a bite, just make the loop nice and big. The problem with the bowline is that unless the line is under tension the tail end can slip loose (unless you tie a back up know with the tail...which by then you could have tied the fig-8 and tossed it).
This is late, but the bowline and specifically the one handed method of tying it are essential. The one handed method is easier and faster for people that don't know much about knots. It's literally a life-saver.
I was taught how to tie the bowline knot one handed around my waist in the Boy Scouts as a kid. I have it so locked in my muscle memory that even today, although I have a hard time remembering how to tie it, but as soon as I wrap the rope around my waist, I can automatically tie it one handed with my eyes close.
I love the Alpine Butterfly loop. You can tie it without needing a free end, it's a load bearing loop in either direction of pull, and you can untie it pretty easy. I also like the Jug Knot, but I've never memorized how to tie it.
Very important add. Alpine Butterfly is probably worth calling out in it's own video even!
when they taught me the alpine butterfly, it was a complicated wrap this, and shift that and under this and over that process. I deconstructed it, and now I tie them by taking the rope, wrap it three times around my hand, crossing pinky to thumb and laying each loop going from fingertips towards thumb. the second wrap will be the most prominent. grab that, pull your loop, and then tuck it under the other wraps from wrist to fingertips and pull the whole thing off your hand.
Thanks a lot!
Now if I become Tom Hanks from cast away ill be able to make a house on an island!
:)
Hopefully there is not planes landing on deserted islands anytime in your future
I found that it was easier to learn the bowline knot when I turned off the sound because you don't go through the loop you made in the beginning. Thank you!
I´ve been in the scouts many years ago, and the only knot I can remember how to do is the simple "everyday" overhand, so this video was really helpful for me - So thank you, you´ve gotten yourself a new sub.
Thank you for the support!
The correct knot for tying your shoes is a square knot. It's pretty much guaranteed that if you use a square knot and pull it tight that it won't come undone until you loosen it yourself.
You have accomplished with an excellent presentation on how to learn these 3 knots, and ways in fine tuning them making it easier to master.
Thank you.
It would meaningful to me and think others including other useful outdoor knots with your method of teaching.
I am looking forward to your 2022 video series.
I'm glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for watching and engaging!
With the trucker’s hitch, if you double-wrap your terminus through the loop, it locks the tension, making it easier to tighten and tie off without dropping tension.
Going to try that on my bi-weekly practice run. Thank you!
@@PracticalPreparedness I learned it on a Corporal’s Corner video. Hang on, I’ll find it: ruclips.net/video/VUerD-QvFnc/видео.html
There ya go!
Favorite knots bowline and clove hitch
Can't go wrong. Maybe 1 for joining ropes too?
Bowline is my top. I use that for everything. It is so versatile.
Thanks for the info
to a 60 yr old woman
who never was taught
Life saving knots
Thanks for watching Trish
The Lapp loop is most useful and universal knot for everyday.
It's a slip loop as Mooring hitch.
It's an adjustable fixed loop as Lapp loop.
It's great knot for binding!
It has many easy ways to tie on on any part of rope!
It's one of bowline/sheet-bend family!
It's exploding knot!
I'd say the most common and useful knot is the half hitch. It's so easy for anyone with basic knot tying skills that we often overlook it. Maybe not as common but the bowline is up there along with clove hitch, and square knot. Another of my favorites is a variation of the bowline, an inline bowline and a running bowline, along with a timber hitch.
Right on!
Prussic and reef for me. Both super simple to remember.
Always
Thank you so much for tips, my go too knott in almost all situations is the slip knott, true story ive done this knott for as long as i can remember and never knew the name till today😮 knowledge is power, youve got urself a new student in the bluegrass state 😊
This made the bowline knot easy for me when being instructed by captain John during coastguard training in Anchorage AK.
Make a loop, take tag end..rabbit comes out of the hole, goes around the tree (main line) ,goes back down the hole. Never forgot the most useful knot you will ever need.
Amen! Thanks for sharing
When were you in the Coast Guard and in Alaska??? My uncle who just passed away from cancer was in the Coast Guard, his name is John. Just curious, thanks
@PracticalPreparedness hello preparedness, I was at Anchorage coast guard auxiliary in 2008 for my week-long class to get my 6 passenger guide on unnavigable rivers license, captain John was half native Alaskan, with several thousand ton rating for piloting freighter vessels in a Alaska waters. Very impressive man. Hope he is well.
He was the instructor.
Bowline, round turn and 2 half hitches, and, better that the truckers knot - the tautline hitch. After 70 years in the scouts, the navy, and camping, these three will cover pretty well everything
Covering one of these in a couple days!
Let’s go brandon 🍦🍦🍦
If you have a trailer, like we do for construction, the truckers hitch is #1. Once had a 30 gallon barrel that I didn't want to be affected by sharp bounces from potholes and rough road I had to travel as the lid wasn't in great shape. Managed to make kind of cradle with ropes and knots so it was slightly suspended off the bed and anchored to 4 points so it couldn't tip over. Was my proudest tie down. 🙂
Haha nice! There is totally a sense of pride making your own knots. I get the same feeling too
I'm in the process of moving, luggage strapped to my motorbike. This video really helps. Thank you.
Just starting out and this video taught me these simply and successfully! Thanks bro!
Very well done video.
Your demonstrations are easy to follow and practice with.......
keep brining this kind of stuff i love it i use the siberian hitch all the time to tie one end of a load down the i finish with the auto locking trucker's hitch
You bet jeff!
Reef Knot or Square Knot great to join rope & lines, you wouldn't believe how many people get this wrong but yet it's so a simple knot.
very useful knotting
I dont consider that I know a knot until I can tue it behind my back without looking. This developes muscle memory and give a strong mental image of the knot in long term memory.
For the last knot (the slipknot going around the post) you can also use a round turn and two half hitches. I find this can also replace the bowline.
Ya know the best knots in the world, are the knots power cords, earphones, fishing line and other cables do all by themselves in storage! Takes forever to undo them :)
ugh, rats nests.. hate them with a passion..
Arbour knot, to be able to loosen or tighten as needed, cool stuff.
Nice group of knots and well presented.
Agree with your three, but would add Sheetbend and Larks head, and probably Prusik.
Great additions sir!
I always preferred a taught line hitch, completely adjustable. Learned it in Boy Scouts.
My favorite! Eagle Scout approved!
I always use a "directional figure 8" in my trucker hitch, but when I tie a trucker hitch its usually in heavier rope; I guess I trust it more than the slip knot, but in paracord I can see wanting a slip knot that won't jam up -- easier to get reamers and pliers into heavier line to help untie.
I'm really glad you included trucker hitch in this list! When I started the video I was thinking "I hope he has bowline and trucker hitch on this list"... Nice!
In my experience with the landscaping, forestry, and construction industries, I would say you can get 90% of everything done with a bowline, trucker hitch, clove hitch. The other 10% is a double overhand bend and a rolling hitch. 5 knots, that's it, and it'll be a very rare or unique situation where one of these wouldn't cut it.
Thanks for your advice on this. Clove was definitely next and will be included in a future vid without doubt. Thanks for watching and supporting the channel!
Thanks. You just never know when you are going to want this skill until you suddenly need it.
Yes! Exactly
The fact that I remember my basic fishing knot is already making me happy. But it seemed easier 40 years ago.
Another must-know knot!
When tying the truckers hitch I quit using a slip knot after spending to much time to untie it and replaced it with a sheepshank if I had to long a rope or the alpine butterfly, either of those after being under tension is much faster and easier to untie.
The marlinespike hitch is in that family of "overhand slip knots" (including the J-bend) that is SO handy when working with any rope...but these work particularly well in any flat ribbon like rope (so like a nylon strap). This is part of my hammock suspension - tied in the tree strap.
The sheet-bend and it's various cousins (double sheet-bend, Becket Hitch, bowline, netting-knot) are SUPER helpful when attaching ropes to ropes, or ropes to rings. This is part of my hammock suspension - to connect the tree strap to a continuous loop.
The larks-head and it's various cousins (cow hitch, Prussik, taut-line hitch) are good for setting up attachments to ridgelines and guy lines.
The clove hitch and its various cousins (millers knot, constrictor knot) are the foundation of MANY lashings for attaching ropes to poles, or poles to each other, or for closing a bag or cinching down a sleeping bag or tarp.
I just covered the sheet bend actually in my newest vid. I love the clove, hands down one of the most useful. Thank you for sharing your experiences
Ok chat gpt
I am a big fan of the taut-line knot for tensioning guy lines.
I'm going to cover this next @Luther Hendricks, you're right on!
Spanish Bowline is one of my favorites. I use it in place of the Trucker's hitch. I can cinch a load down extremely tight and when you release tension, the whole thing unravels easily. Use a standard Bowline at your first attachment point and you can tie some with tons of force and the knots come right out.
Thanks for sharing this!
I'd love to know how you use the Spanish Bowline as a tension knot:
ruclips.net/video/eKe8h4fNVAA/видео.html
Same here
Prussic knot.Good for adding tention or climbing
Overhand knots are great, but by adding a twist you can make it into a figure 8 which is a little more secure...
One thing that you may want to also remind people is that whenever you put a knot into a rope you are cutting the strength of the rope. A simple overhand knot in the middle of the rope creates the weak point and reduces the strength by 50%.... It is best to use knots that don't twist the rope where there is tension...
The truckers knot is great for tying things down and holding light weight... but a Taut line doesn't reduce the strength of the rope.
As mentioned by another person, a clove hitch or running clove hitch is a great anchor point because it doesn't reduce the work that can be done by the rope. In a survival setting, these knots can work quickly... but if you are going to have the rope do any work or hold SERIOUS weight, you need to keep that rope as straight and free of knots as possible.
Excellent EXCELLENT feedback! Thank you and I will do this!
Coming from a firefighter with rope and rescue certifications what you said is 100% true and I’ll even take it another step and totally forget the bowline. The bowline is ok but it’s not a life safety knot and a figure 8 on a bight is and easier to add to muscle memory tbh.
I'd say 50 percent strength reduction is very general, not just for the overhand knot. Could be more or less depending on the knot, rope material, anchor point size or angle, etc. If you are doing some serious rigging, you should take that into consideration.
@@alexandergillis6276 It is not a matter of testing... it is a matter of physics... and the 50% is a generalization... but when a rope is straight and pulling on the strands in the rope it is at its strongest... but when you put a simple overhand knot in the middle of the straight part... the rope then has to pull on its self and no longer pulls in a straight line... the forces twist. and no longer are in line with the rope. Plus... if there is a knot, the rope is most likely to fail at that point. The only way to truly strengthen the rope would be to splice.
@@JaredBetts i didn't disagree with your first comment. And i didn't mention "testing". I meant that there are other variables that affect rope strength that should be considered when calculating load limits. A 1000lb rated rope with an overhand knot in the middle pulled through a 2 inch rolling block or over the edge of a wall or through a carabiner may not be good for 500lbs, for example. And, no, a splice does not strengthen a rope. It's the better option, but it does reduce rope strength.
Zeppelin Bend for joining two lines. Easy to tie, highly secure, easy to undo intentionally. For unequal line sizes, you just wrap the tail of the thinner line twice through the center loop. Alpine butterfly for midline loops or done at the end for very stable fixed loop.
Water bowline is what I tend to do in place of standard bowline for a fixed loop, as it's somewhat more secure and appropriate for dry or wet conditions (especially with synthetic cordage that slips more than natural fibers or bankline).
Thanks for sharing this @adx442
Zeppelin Bend must be what we were taught in Cubs as the Sheet Bend.
@@aaronleverton4221 No, the sheet bend is completely different, and, while useful and quick, is far less secure and stable than the Zeppelin.
@@adx442 Well, I can confirm we were never taught it, then.
@@aaronleverton4221 I'm not surprised ... it was a bit of a "lost" bend for a period of 40 years, used in the 40's, and then rediscovered in the late 80's or early 90's. Give it a try, it's really easy to learn and remember, and one of the few structurally perfect knots with total symmetry.
Great trio of knots!!
Hands down best video ive seen with all the most important survival knots all in one , thank you for taking the time yo make this , nice job and well done !
Nice job and I definitely like these kind of videos a lot. Teaching skills and in a very simple Manner
Jason I found all three knots useful. Kudos!
Alpine butterfly, and taught-line hitch are also both great to know
Well explained 👌 , we use the bowline and truckers hitch also during commercial Diving jobs very usefull
It's aptly named isn't it?
@@PracticalPreparedness yes it is 👌
Bowline, Square knot, and Clove hitch. We learned all three in the Navy and how to use them properly. Even in the wilderness, you really don’t need anything else.
@@PracticalPreparedness
Don’t get me wrong, knowing how to tie different knots is helpful. It’s just more useful to know what to do with them.
“A sharp blade without something to cut is pointless”
@@ironfae I appreciate this and will incorporate more examples in my future videos
Hi I like the fisherman's knot.., similar to the hangman's noose but a little different with at least 3 to for loops on my fishing hook I use 5 loops ...this is a different version of your slip knot.., to tighten the other end I like a hitch knot...I can get it really tight ... another knot I use is to connect two pieces of cord or rope together ...these 3 knots have served me well over fourty years.... The fisherman's knot is tighter and if I don't want it to be able to to loosen I'll put another knot behind it similar to the slip knot...on the fisherman's knot also the more loops you add the harder it is to loosen to get undone ...I think the hangman's noose has 12 loops and when tightened is very hard to loosen up.. and takes more time to make to be practical for average day to day use.
Awesome feedback! Thank you
Nicely demonstrated. Respect sent and have great 2022 .
A long time ago we were taught to tie a bowline with one hand with the rope looped around your waist/chest. This was an important safety/rescue knot since it could be used to lift a person without putting the squeeze on them. One hand tying was important if you had fallen and were keeping yourself from falling further with the other hand. I'll have to think and try it to remember how.
ruclips.net/video/xu2KOVUGnQs/видео.html
I was taught to tie the one handed Bowline about 65 years ago. Recently learned the "Locked Bowline" which makes it an even more secure knot.
40+ years ago I learned the Zeppelin knot and have been using it and teaching it ever since. I was a Scout, but the "Square knot" is dangerous and useless.
As far as tying shoes, tying the top with both bows instead of the loose end around the bow makes a far superior knot.
A Sheet Bend or a Slippery Sheet Bend is far superior to a Square knot.
Clove hitch and figure 8 are two common knots. The clove hitch has a tie for fixed objects and for ones with an open end to loop over.
With a good Stopper Knot, like the Figure 8. Yeah, if you don't use a stopper knot, the Clove Hitch can roll out, and you're better off with a Larks Head. Just add a half hitch to anchor the loose end. Either the lark's head, or clove hitch can be tied in the center of a rope, without either end.
Favourite knot (currently) - Reverse Somerville Bowline, a more elegant non-collapsing knot than the boola boola to use for single& double column ties in
Shibari
Very good footage on knots. Knots. A great invention! Learn and PRACTISE the knot for the right application. It can save your life, or just make your every day's life easier. The only thing you have to do is PRACTISE it. Takes just one minute. To safe your life, i'd say that's good investment.
Yes, totally agree. I practice once a month, just a couple knots, then the next month I do a few more, making sure I don't forget the important ones at least!
3 great knots. I really liked the arbor knot. The stop knot could be a quick release rather than an overhand, that way, it's very easy to untie. Thanks for the nice clear demo
Great work, I feel the bowline is one of the best knots there is especially for self rescue. Never seen anyone tie a figure 8 knot one handed with a bite. Would love to see that. Great job 👍
Thanks for watching!
How would you use a bowline for self rescue? I've used a double bowline (which you can't tie single-handed) before but never a single. If I needed a fig-8 on a bite I'd already have it tied and clipped on with a carabiner.
Square/reef, tape, figure eight and double fisherman's are all very useful, also prussic or Blake's hitch for emergency climbing
Nice. Thanks Thank my higher power for the pause and frame by frame feature😁
Isn't it great?!
I learned the Farrimond Friction Hitch from the Essential Craftsman channel. It's trickier than the taut-line hitch, but has a quick-release function and you can tie it midline with excess rope. I think ot works as well or maybe even better at holding adjustable tension.
My favourite is the sheepshank knot, I use it all the time when camping to shorten guy ropes.
Great knot, I’ll look to cover this one in an upcoming vid
I love learning new stuff like this!
🙂
I use a marlin spike as the loop in my truckers hitch so there's nothing to untie aside from the bowline. I use it when tying off audio points and ridgelines mostly. Also, anytime you're going through a loop, you can add an extra wrap to reduce slippage.
Nice, thanks for the tips!
What's your take on the two half hitch? I find it quick and easy to tie.
Hey @MHOrmond, I have no problem with 2 half hitches personally. I try to keep my setup as quick-release and quick-setup/takedown as possible, but that knot would definitely fit the bill for a good chunk of my purposes!