Learn Knots That Hold and Release
The best outdoor knot is one you can tie in the dark, with cold hands, and untie after it has been loaded overnight. Practice each knot until it is muscle memory.
The Ten to Master
- Bowline: the never-jams loop for anchor points
- Clove hitch: fast attachment to a pole or post
- Taut-line hitch: adjustable tent-line tensioner
- Trucker's hitch: cinch gear down tight on a vehicle
- Sheet bend: join two ropes of different sizes
- Figure-eight: secure loop at the end of a rope
- Prusik: ascend a rope with a sliding knot
- Alpine butterfly: mid-line loop for loads
- Square knot: quick tie for bandages and bundles
- Two half-hitches: finish any line to a cleat or tree
The Taut-Line Hitch Is Your Camp Best Friend
It slides to adjust, then locks when loaded — perfect for guy lines on your rainfly. Tie it at the stake end so you can adjust tension without moving the stake.
Pro tipCarry a 30-foot length of paracord in your pack. With these knots and 30 feet of rope, you can solve most problems in the woods.
Practice Makes Perfect
Keep a piece of rope by the couch and tie these while you watch TV. A knot you have tied 100 times is a knot you will never forget in the field.
Comments (1)
The taut-line hitch alone was worth the read. Rainfly held through a thunderstorm.