Knot in October GAW

[ReamerPunch]

I'd put the Clove Hitch up in the "Top Five Essential Knots" to know. No kidding--fantastic knot.   

So, which are the other four?

[Nix]

So, which are the other four?

Oooooh....good question.....let me dwell on that a bit.....always possible that my 'Top Five List' evolves with time..... 

[Don Pablo]

I bet you're making up a top 5 list right now.  

[Syncop8r]

I bet you're making up a top 5 list right now.  

And I bet you you have 4 or 6 top knots to choose from.

[Nix]

Here goes...in no particular order:

1.  Clove Hitch  --  simple, easy, adjustable, and easy to untie.  This is a great knot for sailing, camping, mountaineering, and anywhere a temporary knot is required to secure a working end.

2.  Figure Eight knot -- easy to tie and use to form a Flemish Bend or Flemish loop or just a stopper knot. Strong and secure. This has to be one of the most useful knots to know.

3.  Uni knot -- specifically for fishing. This knot can be used for just about all fishing tasks. Used as a Grapevine or Fisherman's knot it is very useful outside fishing as well.

4.  Prusik hitch -- Throughout this thread, we've seen various friction hitches and they are awl great. The taut-line may be the worst of the bunch, but it is dead simple to tie, effective, and used the world over. The Tarbuck is a good one to know, and I really like RP's Les Stroud friction hitch, but the Prusik is, in my eyes, the iconic friction hitch and is incredibly versatile. I may use the taut-line (or Midshipman's variant) more often, but I think the Prusik might be more 'essential' to know. If you understand how the Prusik works, you can invent any number of friction hitches. (Tough choice here.)

5.  Trucker's hitch -- there is a formal way to tie a Trucker's hitch, but these days it is more of a concept than one specific knot. Still, the idea of creating a 2:1 power advantage by creating a loop (pulley) in a standing line, then feeding the working end back through that loop is...genius. This is the best way to secure a load, but the concept can be used (multiplied with additional loops) to move a heavy or stuck object. I would put the "Trucker's Hitch" right up there in any list of crucial knots.


Boy.....that is a short list and leaves out some great and crucial knots for me: Bowline, Reef, Surgeon's, Half hitches, Double Dragon, Sheet bend, Buntline hitch, etc....  Still there is little I can't do with that short list of knots. 

I'd be curious in other people's "Top Five Knots" lists!   

[Nix]

1.  Clove Hitch:





2.  Figure Eight knot:






3.  Uni knot:





4.  Prusik hitch:






5.  Trucker's hitch:

[Hevy (CT-782)]

Really nice pictures Nix.

And good choices for the "5"

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[Nix]

 

[Aloha]

 

[Nix]

An excellent 5 minute video on the European Death Knot (w/an alternative):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQn9m8ehffw

[enki_ck]

In no specific order ... I just chose the knots that I use most often and think my life would be more difficult without them.

1.  Clove Hitch - useful in so many ways, can be tied one handed, adjusted easily and holds almost half a ton. So simple and yet so useful
2.  Figure Eight Knot - my go to knot for rope work, hanged of it and trusted my life to it more times than I can count
3.  Strangler Knot - If you need something to stay in place, a tight knot that gives you a tight grip on things it's tied to, this is it
4.  Midshipman's Hitch - while I do appreciate the use and tradition of the prusik as the mother of all friction knots, the only time I actualy use or used it was when I learned and thought the traditional climbing and rope work techniques to others and I hope I never have to use them to ascend any distance of rope due to my Croll or hand ascender failing.
5. Trucker's Hitch - as you said, 2:1 power advantage, when you need to haul something up or make a ridge line really really tight.

[Nix]

    Great choices.  I'd have to agree with your list!

[Swiss Guy]

I think the top 5 knots are the ones that will give you a basic understanding of most other knots.

1) Overhand knot / half hitch
This knot is probably the most common knot used as well as the easiest to tie. It is also the base knot for many other knots.

2) Marlin spike hitch
This amazing knot is not only great in its own right, but it's the basis to create the noose, slip knot, bowline, sheet bend and part of a trucker's hitch.

3) Clove hitch
Another great hitch that other hitches build from. From the clove hitch comes the buntline hitch, rolling hitch and constrictor hitch, to only name a few great ones created from the base of the clove hitch.

4) Figure 8
A classic knot that shows up in the siberian hitch and a knot that is instrumental to climbers.

5) Alpine butterfly, Bowline, Farrimond hitch, Trucker's hitch
I cheated. These are the knots I use the most so I am putting them all at number 5.

Being a knot nerd, I like all knots but there are about 25 I keep in my "toolbox" and practice regularly (when bored) to keep up the muscle memory.

[Nix]

I find practice is helpful.....and keeps a set of knots active in working memory.   

I very rarely use an overhand knot. Hmmmm....I guess I use a figure 8 more often.   

[Alan K.]

Calling a knot the knot of death kind of dissuades me from wanting to use it.

[Nix]

  

[Huntsman]

I used it every time I abseiled on numerous mountaineering trips (in Europe by coincidence! )  .... And I did not die on any of them   

PS. Nice vid Nix - He also explained about the Fig. 8 covering at least twice the length that the overhand knot travels when/if it rolls!

[Nix]

 

Some good information there!   

[Nix]

Oooooh! An update from our spy camera in Croatia!






 

[enki_ck]

Yup, I'we been checking daily

[Don Pablo]

Oooooh! An update from our spy camera in Croatia!


(Image removed from quote.)



 

So we'll get to see it again in 20 years?

[Nix]

🤷‍♂️

[Aloha]

  The anticipation.  All I can say is itll be so worth the wait. 

[enki_ck]

Well there is some movement. I got a letter from the customs office in Zagreb, and they are asking for a bill or proof of purchase, so as I don't have either I'll probably send them a link to this thread.

[Nix]

Well there is some movement. I got a letter from the customs office in Zagreb, and they are asking for a bill or proof of purchase, so as I don't have either I'll probably send them a link to this thread.

If they closely at the customs form it says "Gift".   

[enki_ck]

Yeah, but cause people misused that option they are more careful and suspicious about it. I'll give them a ring in the morning and try to liberate the poor thing from its captivity.

[Aloha]

 

I can vouch this was a gift. Just in case the customs office reads this 

[Hevy (CT-782)]

Not a single word from the customs here. No sign of life.

Maybe one of the Vogons who work on brazilian customs put the papers under a pile of peat...

But as we are still waiting I ordered a small gift to my little boy. A pumpkin bead for a lanyard to remember the challenge.



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[Nix]

Cool!   

[Aloha]