5 Knots Worth Knowing (Video Instructions)

I learned the importance of knots at an early age starting with my time in the cub scouts.  I don’t remember much from those years but I’ll never forget when I earned my first patch, the one with the little bear on it, boy was I ever proud.  Back then the knots were pretty simple, just basic stuff used while camping out in the woods.  My knot tying skills improved during high school when I was in JROTC, we constructed rope bridges, swiss seats and tied off anchor points for rappel stations.  We would do things like this in order to prepare for competitions held every year which was always a great time.  To this day I can remember the knots and their sequences, a product of practicing them over and over again after school let out.  For some reason during rope bridge construction I always seemed to be the guy who had to wade across the muddy stream in order to secure the far side anchor point, at least that is how I remember it.

For practical reasons the basics of knots should not be lost to preppers.  Even something as basic as tying down a canteen to your bugout bag requires simple knot tying knowledge.  Things get more complicated when you use a combination of knots to secure a $1000 optic to the top of a weapon, having that thing fall off after getting bounced around in the woods all night would definitely be a bummer.  Fortunately my buddy Rob over at Trailmeiseter.com has whipped up a few videos which I’d like to share.  There are probably some knots he does not cover in these vids which you regularly use, if so feel free to point that out in the comment section.

Constrictor Knot:  The constrictor knot is one of the most effective binding knots.  Simple and secure, it is a harsh knot that can be difficult or impossible to untie once tightened. It is made similarly to a clove hitch but with one end passed under the other, forming an overhand knot under a riding turn. The double constrictor knot is an even more robust variation that features two riding turns.

Square Knot:  The reef knot or square knot is an ancient and simple binding knot used to secure a rope or line around an object. Although the reef knot is often seen used for tying two ropes together, it is not recommended for this purpose due to potential instability of the knot.

Clove Hitch:  A clove hitch is a type of knot. Along with the bowline and the sheet bend, it is often considered one of the most important knots. A clove hitch is two successive half-hitches around an object. It is most effectively used as a crossing knot. It can be used as a binding knot, but is not particularly secure in that role. A clove hitch made around the rope’s own standing part is known as either two half-hitches or buntline hitch, depending on whether the turns of the clove hitch progress away from or towards the hitched object.

Figure 8: The figure-eight knot is a type of knot. It is very important in both sailing and rock climbing as a method of stopping ropes from running out of retaining devices. Like the overhand knot, which will jam under strain, often requiring the rope to be cut, the figure of eight will also jam, but is usually more easily undone than the overhand knot.

Carrick Bend: The carrick bend is a knot used for joining two lines. It is particularly appropriate for very heavy rope or cable that is too large and stiff to easily be formed into other common bends. It will not jam even after carrying a significant load or being soaked with water. As with many other members of the basket weave knot family, the carrick bend’s aesthetically pleasing interwoven and symmetrical shape has also made it popular for decorative purposes.

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