Guide · Tools and knots

Six essential knots

You don't need to know dozens of knots. These six cover almost every job, from tying a shelter to securing a load. Practise them now with a bootlace so you can tie them in the dark or with cold hands.

A few terms: the working end is the end you're tying with. The standing part is the rest of the rope. A bight is a U-shaped bend in the rope.

1. Reef knot (square knot)

Joins two ends of the same rope, such as tying off a bandage or bundle.

1. Right over left, and tuck under.
2. Left over right, and tuck under.

It should lie flat and look symmetrical. Don't use it to join two ropes for anything that takes a heavy load; it can slip.

2. Bowline

Makes a fixed loop that won't slip or tighten. Good for tying around a tree, a post, or a person in a rescue.

1. Make a small loop in the standing part, with the working end lying on top.
2. Pass the working end up through the loop from underneath.
3. Take it around behind the standing part.
4. Bring it back down through the small loop.
5. Hold the working end and the side of the big loop, and pull the standing part to tighten.

The memory aid: the rabbit comes out of the hole, round the tree, and back down the hole.

3. Clove hitch

Quickly ties a rope to a pole or post. Useful for starting lashings.

1. Wrap the working end around the pole.
2. Cross over the standing part and wrap around again.
3. Tuck the end under the last wrap.

It can slip under changing loads, so add a half hitch for security.

4. Two half hitches

A simple, secure way to tie a rope to a ring, tree or post.

1. Pass the end around the post.
2. Wrap it around the standing part and tuck it through. That's one half hitch.
3. Repeat in the same direction for the second.

5. Taut-line hitch

An adjustable loop that holds under tension. Ideal for tent and tarp guy lines.

1. Pass the rope around a peg or tree.
2. Wrap the working end twice around the standing part, working back towards the peg.
3. Make one more wrap further up, outside the first two, and tuck it under itself.
4. Slide the knot to tighten or loosen the line.

6. Sheet bend

Joins two ropes, even if they're different thicknesses.

1. Make a bight in the thicker rope.
2. Pass the thinner rope up through the bight, around behind both sides of it, and tuck it under itself.
3. Pull tight. Leave long tails.

Tips

• Always leave a tail of at least a few centimetres.
• Dress the knot: neaten it before tightening so no strands cross.
• Test every knot before trusting it with weight.

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