How to tie knots - Square knot, Slip knot, & fishing knots

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Basic Scout KnotsThese are the eight basic knots that all scouts should be able to tie without even thinking twice. Click any image for an animation of the knot Square (or Reef) Knot Used to bind a package or bundle. ...

Bends Midspan Sheet Bend

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Bends Zeppelin Bend

Zeppelin BendAlso known as the Rosendahl Bend, it's perhaps the best way to connect two ropes that there is. It's absolutely secure and jerk-resistant in all materials and is perfectly symmetric. It's also remarkably easy to untie after use, ...

Hitches Midshipmans or Tautline Hitch

Midshipman's Hitch or Tautline HitchThis hitch is really just an adjustable loop used for non-critical applications where you need to adjust the size of a loop to apply tension to guy lines, like on your tent. After you tie ...

Hitches Pile Hitch Double Pile Hitch

Pile HitchThis is a convenient hitch when you have access to the end of the post. If you need a more secure hitch, you can make it a Double Pile Hitch by spiraling down the post an extra 360 ...

Hitches Sailors Hitch Gripping Sailors Hitch

Draws up without having to work the hitch snug to form a strong, secure hitch that will not jam. It may be used as a way to tie a smaller rope to a very large rope. (The smaller rope should ...

Hitches Slipped Buntline Hitch

Slipped Buntline HitchAlthough a standard buntline hitch has a terrible tendency to jam up, the slipped form of the buntline hitch helps alleviate this problem and thereby makes it more useful. As shown, just push a bight of rope through ...

Hitches Timber Hitch

Timber HitchThis is one of the few classical hitches that is truly useful and reliable. Its security is admirable and it always casts off without trouble after use. Just remember that a true Timber Hitch must have at least ...

Larks Loop and Double Larks Loop

Lark's Loop Double Lark's LoopAn easy-to-remember end loop that can be tied around or through an object. It appears more secure than a bowline in slippery rope. It's easier to tie than re-threading a figure-8 loop as required for ...

Loops Nooses Butterfly Loop or Linemans Loop

Butterfly Loop or Lineman's LoopThis is my favorite loop knot tied in the bight. It's secure, strong, approximately symmetrical, easy to tie, and never jams, even when wet. There are actually two good ways to tie it, and the easier ...

Loops Nooses Slippery 8 Loop

Slippery 8 LoopThis adjustable loop was described to me by Dave Poston and probably was discovered by him. It has surprising security for an adjustable loop and has the unique feature that the loop cannot possibly contract under tension ...

Loops Nooses The Bowline

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Loops Nooses Water Bowline

Water BowlineThis is a very secure loop probably developed for use in an environment that make security properties for most knots change dramatically... underwater. Although shown separated for clarity, draw the two half-hitches snug together before using. Some theorize that ...

Other Storing Your Rope

Storing Your Rope (2 Methods)The first of two methods I'll describe is shown above. It goes by many different names including an Electrician's Braid and a Double Monkey Chain. Parachutists use such a method to keep their chute cords ...

Other The Boa The Constrictor Knot

The Boa Knot & The Constrictor KnotThe Boa and the Constrictor are both excellent binding knots. They are not intended to be hitches nor would I recommend it because they are hard to untie and generally don't perform well as ...

Poldo Tackle

Poldo TackleAn interesting contrivance that allows you to instantly apply and release tension on the line. Push the loops together to slacken, and pull the loops away from each other to tension the line. The diagram is shown very loose ...

The Power of Friction

The Power of FrictionThe frictional resistance force, shown above, varies exponentially with the number of turns around the fixed round object and exponentially with the coefficient of friction. What that means is that given a big enough rope and a ...

Tip for untying jammed knots

How to Untie Tight KnotsAre you looking for an easier way to untie jammed-up knots? One way is to quickly twist the parts of the rope just outside the knot back and forth as you push in slack. The reason ...

Knots

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