Knots are a natural extension of Macguyvering. Take a rope, bend it to your will, (pun intended) and get some control over a situation. Stopper knots keep the free end from getting away and fraying. Bends attach two lines together. Hitches attach a line to a object. Fixed loops can be used to surround, suspend or attach objects and lines. Used in combination knots can provide mechanical advantage and or direct motion.
Here is just a partial list of the knots I use and their applications:
Bowline (and variants) - my "go to" loop for the end of a line. Alpine butterfly - Easily makes a loop in the middle of a rope you can't reach the ends of. Sheet bend (single, double and slipped) - put two ropes together and go. Figure of Eight (bend, loop, stopper knot) a good semi-permenant knot that you can trust. Clove hitch (single and double) - need to hitch something to a post? this'll do. Backhanded hitch - a good hitch to tie and release under load. Marline spike hitch - Want to quickly hitch a object for lifting, such as a shovel or a axe or create a T-handle, this will do it. Tautline hitch - when tied in a loop allows tent and load lines to be adjusted and yet hold under strain. Prussik hitch - attach a separate loop to a fixed line that can be moved yet will hold under strain. Anchor bend - permanent tie off.
So what knots do you use?
|