Survival Skills: The Top 10 Knots You Need To Know

Knot tying is one of the basic skills that every survivalist should know and at the same time one of the most overlooked. As a prepper, we tend to concentrate on other aspects of preparation as we see knot tying as something less of value… But is this really true? How can you secure a line if you can’t even tie a decent knot? Make sense right? So for today, I decided to explore on the top 10 knots that every prepper should know and share it all to you to improve your survival skills.

After reading this article, you will never look at knots the same way again because you will realize that they too can save lives!

1. Square knot – This is a classic type of knot and should not be left out in this list. To do this, get 2 ropes and tie it by overlapping right over left and then left over right. A square knot is great for simple tasks like collecting firewood and for making longer ropes for pulling light objects.

2. Flemish knot – Also called as the Figure 8, this type of knot is great for securing lines at the end (stoppers). To do this, simply let get a rope from your survival kit the rope pass over itself to create a loop and to the same the other way around until you are able to achieve a number 8 figure.

3. Sheet bend – This knot is done when you are using 2 ropes with different thickness. To do this, bend the thicker rope to form a letter ‘J’ or a fish hook then let the other rope pass through the bend from behind. Wrap the bend area of the thicker rope once and insert thinner rope under itself.

4. Fisherman’s knot – True to its namesake, this kind of knot is best used for securing fishing lines. To do this, get a rope and do a large loop. Interlink both ends of the rope about 5 to 6 times. Then grab the shorter end of the rope and tie it to the loop using a simple overhand knot. Stretch both ends of the rope to secure the knot and now you have a strong line to use whenever you do fishing in the wild.

5. Water knot – This kind of knot is perfect for combining 2 flat ropes or belts for survival use. To do this, combine the 2 ropes and tie them altogether by doing an overhand knot. Then pass the other end of the strap at the opposite direction and follow the path of where the overhand knot was tied. And lastly, pull the 2 ends to tighten the knot.

6. Rolling hitch – This kind of knot is best used when you want to add another ‘arm’ to an existing rope line. Rolling hitch is often used for hooking dogs into the main sled line. To do this, grab the other rope loop it to the extended line about 2 times. Then, take the end of the connecting rope and wrap it around the 2 loops you have created. And lastly, tie the end of the connecting line to the extended rope by doing a simple overhand.

7. Timber hitch – This kind of knot is best used for securing cylindrical objects for hauling or support. To do this, wrap one end of the rope to the log or branch and then wrap it around the other end once they meet. Continue wrapping the end line 3 to 4 times and pull the longer end to secure the wraps against the log.

8. Blood knot – This type of knot is perfect for securing fishing lines and for attaching broken ropes to create a single line. To do this, get 2 ropes and overlap them together. Then, grab the end of one line and wrap it to the other rope about 5 to 6 times and do the same with the end of the other line. Lastly, get both free ends and connect them back to the initial overlap. Pull both ends of the rope to tighten the knot and then spit on it to lubricate the 2 cords and avoid friction damage.

9. Barrel hitch – This kind of knot is best used for carrying watertight containers or soda cans when there is no more space available inside your bug-out bag. To do this, stretch a strand of rope and put a can of soda (or water bottle) over it. Then, lift both ends of the rope and tie a loose overhand knot. Lastly, separate the knot to embrace the can and lift both ends again for easy carrying.

10. Square lash – This type of knot is often used for making rafts or shelters where 2 poles are to be joined in an overlapping manner. To do this, perform a clove hitch on one of the poles and twist the short end around the longer end to be wrapped around the 2 poles. Go over in alternate manner and go over and under in 2 each of the poles at least 3 times. Tighten the knot by encircling it with 3 to 4 frapping turns. Finish the last by tying at least 3 half hitches.

Conclusion:

Can you think of other knots to include in this list? Which of these knots would be very useful during survival situations? Please share your thoughts by leaving a comment below.

About The Author:

Michael Martin is a former Navy Pilot who believes no matter the circumstance, one should always be prepared. Upon entering the civilian world, Michael spent his time traveling the globe and observing different cultures. Growing up in as the son of a serial entrepreneur it was only a matter of time before he took his love of the outdoors and passion for helping others to new heights by founding Bug Out Bag Pro. As a survivalist & entrepreneur, his vision is to help educate and prepare families everywhere with the information, skills and tools to survive any situation they may face! 

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