In this article you will learn 8 basic knots and their uses.

You will also learn about the different types of knots, and how to choose the right one for the job.

You can use these 8 basic knots in scouting, camping, climbing, general maintenance, first aid, etc.

I admit there are over 8 different knots and their uses in this article. But in trying to cover the most useful knots and uses I branched out. All the knots stem from 8 basic knots and their uses. You'll see what I mean.

First, I will explain the basic knot tying terminology in this post. It will make learning and tying the knots easier.

Any bend in-between the ends of the rope which does not cross over itself.

Bight

The point where the rope crosses over itself.

Crossing Point

Refers to the weight of the object you tie onto, e.g., if you are pulling a log then the log is the load.

Like a bight but the ends cross over creating a closed circle.

An overhand loop is when the running end lies over the top of the standing part. An underhand loop is opposite (the standing part lies on top of the running end).

Loop

A generic term referring to cord, rope, string, twine, or whatever material which is being used to tie a knot.

The part of the rope used to tie the knot. Also known as the working end.

The part of the rope other than the running end.

Shock load occurs when there is a sudden increase in load. In such a case the load will be much more than the actual weight of the object. An example of this is when a climber falls and his/her weight suddenly loads the rope.

A single wrap of the rope around an object. A round turn (pictured) is where the rope encircles the object.

Round turn

Although you can use any knot any way you wish, most of them are best for specific tasks. Here they are in 5 broad categories.

Stopper knots have a few uses. They can add weight to a rope, stop the rope from slipping through a hole, stop a cut rope from fraying, etc. You can also use them as a backup knot against knot failure, i.e., tied around the standing end.

Figure 8

Make loops by tying the rope to itself to create an enclosed circle. Their main use is as attachment points, e.g., as holds to climb up or to clip a carabineer onto it.

Overhand Loop

Hitches are useful for securing the rope to an object, e.g., a boat to the jetty or around a log you wish to drag.

Surgeons Knot

Use bend knots to join two or more lengths of rope together. This can be useful to repair broken rope or for creating a longer length from two shorter ones.

Figure 8 Bend

Use lashing to join objects together. It is useful for construction.

A Frame Lashing

Although all knots are useful, there will always be one that is best for the job you are doing. To decide which knot to use you must consider the characteristics of each knot. Gaining in one characteristic will mean compromising on another. You must find the knot with the best balance of these characteristics for the job you need it for.

Your choice of knot must be one that will fulfill the task you need it for. For instance, a loop knot will not be as effective for binding 2 objects together as a lashing would.

Security of a knot is about its ability to stay tied and tight, i.e., not come undone on its own.

Pressure, violent movement, vibration, and other things can compromise a knot’s security.

Choose the most secure knot you can. Remember that increase in one characteristic will decrease others. , e.g., a very secure knot may become very hard to untie. This will be a problem if you need it to be “quick-release”.

Every knot will weaken the integrity of the rope, some more than others. The strength of the knot refers to how much the knot weakens the rope.

This is important when the rope needs to hold weight and/or take shock load. This characteristic becomes important when doing things such as climbing and rescue.

When you have to tie something fast or it is a repetitive job, then ease of tying becomes more important.

Sometimes you may want the knot to be easy to untie. For example, if you want to release the knot fast without cutting it.

At other times you may want the knot to be more difficult to untie. For example, if you don’t want an animal to release itself, or to stop other people from being able to untie it.

Another factor is how easy the knot will be to untie after it has done its job. Some knots are easy to untie even after baring tension or swelling underwater, or both.

This is the simplest of knots and is the basis of many other knots. Overhand knots are difficult to untie once tightened.

Make an underhand loop by taking the running end of the rope and passing it under the standing end. Pass the running end through the loop from the front to the back.

Tying an overhand knot

Pull both ends to tighten it.

Three turns makes a blood knot

You can use the overhand knot can to create a loop. It works well with fishing line but can be hard to untie. Double up the rope to make a bight and then tie an overhand knot in the bight.

Overhand Loop

Clove hitches are a useful base for many other knots (such as lashing a tripod) and are good in their own right for binding.

There are two sets of clove hitch knot instructions.

This first method is good for when the rope is not under strain as you are tying it and you can slip it over your object.

Make two loops in the rope which face opposite directions as pictured below. Put the right loop over the left one. Put both loops over the object and pull the running end and the standing end apart to tighten the knot.

Tying a clove hitch

Here's an alternative method for how to tie a clove hitch knot step by step. Follow the clove hitch diagrams if you have troubles.

Wrap the running end of the rope around the object you wish to tie onto. The running end crosses over the standing end.

Wrap the running end around a second time and then pass it underneath itself.

Clove hitch method two

Pull it tight as before.

A reef knot (square knot) is a good binding knot that's easy to tie and untie.

Reef knot uses does NOT include joining 2 ropes together. There are far better joining-knots available.

To tie a reef knot put the rope around the object you want to bind.

Take the left end and pass it over the right from the bottom and then tuck it under the right end.

Now take this new right end and cross it over the left end and then tuck it under. Pull the left strands and the right strands apart to tighten the knot.

Tying a reef knot

An easy way to remember how to make a reef knot is with the rhyme "left over right and under, right over left and under."

A more secure version of tying a reef knot is the surgeons knot.

To tie a surgeons knot, make an extra turn when tying the "left over right" part of a reef knot. This keeps the knot in place while you tie the rest of the knot.

You could also make an extra turn in the "right over left" part to make it even more secure.

Surgeons Square Knot

This knot is fast to tie and very secure. It is also easy to untie even when placed under heavy strain.

To create the round turn, loop the running end of the rope around your object so the rope envelops it.

Tie a half hitch by bringing the running end behind the standing end. Make a turn around the standing end. Next, thread it through the gap you made between the running and standing ends.

Create a second half hitch, in the same way, ensuring it is underneath the first half hitch. Pull both ends to tighten.

Tying a round turn and two half hitches

In learning to tie a round turn and two half hitches you also learn how to tie the half hitch knot.

Adding the round turn makes it more secure, but if you don't have enough rope, then tying half hitches may suffice.

A bowline is a fixed loop that will neither tighten nor slip under strain.

The main bowline knot uses are to tie around things you want to secure/tether, e.g., a raft or a person.

To learn how to tie a bowline knot around something, hold the rope in your right hand with the standing end at the rear.

Make an overhand loop so that the loop faces to the left. Pass the running end up through the loop you made and then around the back of standing end.

Bring the rope through the loop and around the back