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Essential Knots
6 min read
You don't need a rigger's repertoire — a handful of knots handles almost everything in camp. Knots are muscle memory, so practice these at home with a bit of cord until your hands know them. The short cues below are reminders, not a substitute for tying them a few dozen times.
Bowline — a fixed loop that won't slip
The 'king of knots.' Makes a loop that holds under load but unties easily after.
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Use for: a loop around a tree or through a grommet, a rescue loop, tying off a bear-bag.
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The old cue: make a small loop ('the rabbit hole'), the tail comes up through it, around the standing line ('the tree'), and back down the hole.
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Dress it and snug it down; add a stopper if it'll see a lot of movement.
Two half hitches — tie off to anything
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Use for: securing a line to a post, tree, or ring.
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Wrap around the anchor, then tie two identical hitches around the standing line.
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Simple, secure, and easy to learn first.
Taut-line hitch — an adjustable grip
A friction hitch that slides to tension, then holds where you leave it.
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Use for: tent and tarp guy-lines you want to tighten without re-tying.
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Slide it up to add tension; it bites under load and won't creep back.
Trucker's hitch — serious tension
Gives you a 'pulley' to crank a line drum-tight.
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Use for: a tarp ridgeline, lashing a load, hoisting a bear bag.
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Make a loop mid-line to act as the pulley, run the working end around the anchor and back through the loop, pull tight, and lock it off with a couple of half hitches.
Square (reef) knot — join two lines of equal size
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Use for: tying off a bundle, a bandage, or joining two similar cords under light load.
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Right over left, then left over right. Don't trust it for anything that must hold weight — it can capsize.
Figure-eight — a stopper that won't jam
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Use for: keeping a line from pulling back through a grommet or device, marking the end of a rope.
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Bulkier and easier to untie than a simple overhand stopper.
Text can only take knots so far — practice each one with real cord before you count on it, and watch how it behaves under load.