My favorite knots

[Steinar]

I'm a firm believer in learning a few knots well enough that you can rely on muscle memory, and then stick to those. (And add to your vocabulary later as need arises.)

Those I find myself actually using, in no particular order:

• Clove hitch
• Sheet bend
• Bowline and water bowline
• Zeppelin bend
• Sliding sheet bend ( http://legacy.earlham.edu/~peters/writing/explode.htm )/Mooring hitch
• Butterfly loop
• Crossing knot
• Figure eight knot
• Varieties of the square knot
• Overhand knot
• Constrictor knot (this I find new uses for all the time)

And probably a couple more. What's your favorites you find yourself returning to?

(Sorry about the lack of pictures, I just added links for those I know are a little more unusual. )

[captain spaulding]

Its funny you started this thread as I was thinking about starting the same thread a few days ago. The last few days I have been practicing the knots listed below. I want to learn a few knots a week.



Clove Hitch
Square Knot
Slip Knot
Noose Knot


The slip knot and noose knot are similar, but function differently.


I already have a few knots I use for fishing I know by heart and they come in handy for other things. I just need to find some info on a knot/knots to use for tying things down in say a truck bed. I already have a method that works great, but remember my grandfather teaching me a knot when I was young (forgotten now) where you tie your load down and when you sinch down the rope it tightens everything down.

[detron]

Yacht Knot

Show content

Yacht not tie anything like that     

[WWW]

Good idea for a topic! I think my favorites/most used are:

Ashley/Oysterman's stopper knot
Constrictor
Evenk

There are probably more but I can't remember.

[NKlamerus]

The Eagle Scout in me Loves this thread.

Can I add fishing knots?

-Polamar for Braid. (With an extra half hitch)
-Improved Clinch for Mono/Flouro
-Double Uni for Braid/Flouro

This pretty much covers all basis. There are certain knots like the Bimini Twist and Arbor that are a little more specialized and aren't always necessary.

[batosai117]

I am also an Eagle Scout (2004) and rely on a few knots for day to day activities.

Taut line hitch - it slides but holds under friction. I use this on everything and for fishing.

Square knot

Bowline

Clove hitch




Sent from my electronic multi-tool.

[Steinar]

I already have a few knots I use for fishing I know by heart and they come in handy for other things. I just need to find some info on a knot/knots to use for tying things down in say a truck bed. I already have a method that works great, but remember my grandfather teaching me a knot when I was young (forgotten now) where you tie your load down and when you sinch down the rope it tightens everything down.

Perhaps something like a versatackle? http://www.notableknotindex.webs.com/Versatackle.html

[Steinar]

Evenk

I didn't know that one.  I have usually used a sailor's hitch. (They obviously have different characteristics, but some of the problems they solve are the same.)

[enki_ck]

Six, eight, nine, double eight, tripple eight, clove hitch, alpine butterfly, ... and many more but I don't know the names of them in English. I'll tie them at some point and post pics so you guys can help me identify them.

[hiraethus]

Tautline hitch, clove hitch and figure eight loop are the ones I seem to use the most, particularly while camping.  I like bowlines (there's a quick way to tie them that is really satisfying) and sheepshanks (though they have limited practical use, IME) too.

[enki_ck]

A few quick ones. My camera died.

[WWW]

Evenk

I didn't know that one.  I have usually used a sailor's hitch. (They obviously have different characteristics, but some of the problems they solve are the same.)

It is so quick to tie and uses so little cordage. It is also quick release, I used all the time.

[detron]

my favorite is

[WWW]

my favorite is

(Image removed from quote.)

That is a really good one!!!

[enki_ck]

[Steinar]

enki_ck, those I can recognize and know the name of in English without looking them up, may be the correct naming is different in the form you use them:

No 1 is a figure eight loop, 3 has the geometry of a crossing knot, 4 is a clove hitch, 5 a square knot, 6 a fisherman's knot.

You do rock climbing?

[enki_ck]

#2 is an adjustable double figure eight,
#5 = we call ambulance knot,
#6 = double tightening knot, good for tying two pieces of rope of different diameters together.
#7 = is the Barrel knot
#8 = double bowline knot
#9 = i think you call tautline hitch

Nope, not rock climbing, I'm more of an underground type of guy.

[Steinar]

Spelunking where people push themselves through narrow openings with real danger of getting stuck is smurfing scary.

(And exposed to heights, I feel "the attraction of the void", so I'm really not the adrenaline junkie kind of guy.  )

[enki_ck]

Spelunking where people push themselves through narrow openings with real danger of getting stuck is smurfing scary.

(And exposed to heights, I feel "the attraction of the void", so I'm really not the adrenaline junkie kind of guy.  )

Well there are also really deep pitches. 1431m is the deepest we have.

[AimlessWanderer]

Figure 8 stopper
Figure 8 loop
Figure 8 bend
Clove hitch
Round turn and two half hitches
(or even a clove hitch and two half hitches)
Overhand loop
Lovers knot (#6 in Enki's list - two knots drawn together)
Chain sennit

[Steinar]

Well there are also really deep pitches. 1431m is the deepest we have.

(Image removed from quote.)

I stand by my previous  and add  a

[Steinar]

[...]
Chain sennit

Does the rope look OK after prolonged storage, or do you have to stretch it?

[AimlessWanderer]

[...]
Chain sennit

Does the rope look OK after prolonged storage, or do you have to stretch it?

I only tend to use it for paracord/utility cord to stop it getting tangled. It doesn't unravel straight, but who cares, it still works 

[batosai117]

I received this laminated knots pamphlet as a gift from my parents when they picked up some equipment for my younger brother at the local BSA store recently. This thread reminded me of it so I thought I'd share.


Sent from my electronic multi-tool.

[Sea Monster]

I already have a method that works great, but remember my grandfather teaching me a knot when I was young (forgotten now) where you tie your load down and when you sinch down the rope it tightens everything down.

I use truckies hitches.

They're simple and quick (they can take a bit of learning. I've been teaching them for years, some people get it straight up, others never learn.

Once you've got it though, you'll use it for everything.

I'm a bit of a knot fancier. Working with ropes is how I ended up carrying knives in the first place 

I've been learning a little shibari in the last year as well, but that's another subject entirely 

[kmanct3]

The only 2 I use at the Marina ... Bowline,Truckers knots

[Gerhard Gerber]

Thanks to fishing and specifically fly fishing I have several go-to knots, except for the clinch knot in its various forms I don't know their names.... 

Does a Prusik Loop count as a knot?  That's probably close to the most useful thing I've learned this century 

[Steinar]

Well, Ashley counts the Prusik as a knot, so I don't think anybody's in a position to protest.

[styx]

gotta start knotting again. one of those little credit cards might be a solution at this moment

[Syph007]

I use a constrictor alot, and also a double fisherman's knot.