I'm somewhat fascinated by people's ability to tie knots that are more complicated than the basic shoelace one. I've watched hundreds of videos on knot-tying and, even with basic step-by-step instructions, can't manage one properly. Is it just the fact that this stuff is better taught practically or am I just somehow the worst knot-tier of all? Even that reef knot gif eludes me...
How strong is your knot?
11–20 of 139 posts
Re: How strong is your knot?
#12I'm somewhat fascinated by people's ability to tie knots that are more complicated than the basic shoelace one. I've watched hundreds of videos on knot-tying and, even with basic step-by-step instructions, can't manage one properly. Is it just the fact that this stuff is better taught practically or am I just somehow the worst knot-tier of all? Even that reef knot gif eludes me...
> I'm somewhat fascinated by people's ability to tie knots that are more complicated than the basic shoelace one.
> Even that reef knot gif eludes me
--------
These statements are in contradiction. The reef knot IS your shoelace knot. If you can tie your shoelaces, you can tie a reef knot, by definition.
Specifically, a "shoelace tie" is the slipped reef knot. "Slipped" means that you leave little loops so that its easier to untie later. Get rid of the "loops" in your shoelace tie, and you'll make a fine (more permanent) reef knot.
Re: How strong is your knot?
#13IMO, the 2 most useful knots I know (aside from the shoelace knot) are the Carrick Bend and the Bowline. The Carrick bend is especially useful - it's basically a square knot that doesn't come undone on its own.
The bowline is rather special as it
* doesn't tighten the big loop when you pull on it.
* it can be done with one hand (with lots of practice!)
I wonder how strong the bowline is compared to the others though.
Re: How strong is your knot?
#14I'm somewhat fascinated by people's ability to tie knots that are more complicated than the basic shoelace one. I've watched hundreds of videos on knot-tying and, even with basic step-by-step instructions, can't manage one properly. Is it just the fact that this stuff is better taught practically or am I just somehow the worst knot-tier of all? Even that reef knot gif eludes me...
> I'm somewhat fascinated by people's ability to tie knots that are more complicated than the basic shoelace one. > Even that reef knot gif eludes me -------- These statements are in contradiction. The reef knot IS your shoelace knot. If you can tie your shoelaces, you can tie a reef knot, by definition. Specifically, a "shoelace tie" is the slipped reef knot. "Slipped" means that you leave little loops so that its e…
I think many use the granny for their shoes.
Re: How strong is your knot?
#15IMO, the 2 most useful knots I know (aside from the shoelace knot) are the Carrick Bend and the Bowline. The Carrick bend is especially useful - it's basically a square knot that doesn't come undone on its own.
My vote for most useful knot is the figure-8. Can be used to secure something to a fixed anchor, as a bend, or to put a loop in the middle of a line (something like an Alpine Butterfly is a better option there, but if you only know the figure-8, it will get the job done).
Re: How strong is your knot?
#16My list of favorite knots:
1. Square Knot / Reef Knot -- This is the shoelace tie, and its one of the simplest knots. Learn this knot backwards and forwards you'll use it a lot. Avoid the granny knot (a mistaken reef knot). Beginners will often tie the granny knot instead of the square knot. If you can do a square knot, the "Surgeon Knot" is a useful variant which is more secure.
2. Figure Eight -- Superior to the overhand knot in almost every way imaginable. Never use an overhand knot, always use figure eight instead.
3. Bowline Loop / Sheet Bend -- When a loop must be sturdy and unmoving, the bowline is one of the best. The Sheet Bend is nearly the same, except you tie two different ropes together. I keep a bowline loop on any "pocket twine" because making a bowline loop is the start of many advanced knots. Such as...
4. Package Tie -- Presents obviously look nicer with a ribbon in package tie form, but any large, box-ish object can be secured with the package tie. Really good for lunchboxes / bags in daily usage. Add another Bowline loop on the end for a convenient handle. https://www.animatedknots.com/package-tying-knot
5. Cable Lacing -- When working with wires and electronics, the cable-lacing knots are great for organizing wires. Its quick to tie and organize, and looks great. https://www.flight-mechanic.com/lacing-tying-and-cutting-wir...
6. Poacher's Noose -- When a loop needs to "collapse" to bind objects together, various nooses come in handy. Poacher's noose is my favorite, ties easily and fewer people recognize it compared to the hangman's noose. Both nooses have political implications however so be wary of who is watching you when you tie a noose.
7. Butterfly coil -- When storing most paracord, twine, or ropes... butterfly coil is fast and effective storage.
8. Over-under coil -- Wrapping up thicker wires / cables (especially electronic cables / wires, but also garden hoses) is best with over-under coil instead of butterfly coil.
9. Half-hitch -- Its the knot you've been using all the time, and you probably don't even realize it. Its called a "half-hitch", because you need two of them to actually make it secure. Two-half hitches solves many problems.
Re: How strong is your knot?
#17I'm somewhat fascinated by people's ability to tie knots that are more complicated than the basic shoelace one. I've watched hundreds of videos on knot-tying and, even with basic step-by-step instructions, can't manage one properly. Is it just the fact that this stuff is better taught practically or am I just somehow the worst knot-tier of all? Even that reef knot gif eludes me...
I couldn’t remember them until I started needing them. Figure eight, clovehitch, barrel knot, overhand, and fisherman’s are my daily drivers for climbing. Prussiks are useful, but there are more efficient ways of doing progress capture.
Bowlines can be used instead of figure eights, but they can shake open if you aren’t careful, which is obviously bad.
Re: How strong is your knot?
#18The zeppelin has always been my favorite "knot" (the zeppelin is a bend), but one knot is not the "best"... the alpine butterfly they compare it with is a loop. They're used in different contexts. I'm just knot layman, but other knots I like are: the icicle hitch, bowline (+yosemite stopper), trucker's hitch, siberian/evenk/halter hitch, tumble hitch, and the chinese button knot.
A Trucker's Hitch is a _super_ useful thing to be able to rig. There are dozens of ways to tie it, and just as many situations where it is useful.
Re: How strong is your knot?
#19I'm somewhat fascinated by people's ability to tie knots that are more complicated than the basic shoelace one. I've watched hundreds of videos on knot-tying and, even with basic step-by-step instructions, can't manage one properly. Is it just the fact that this stuff is better taught practically or am I just somehow the worst knot-tier of all? Even that reef knot gif eludes me...
It really takes practice. I can tie a bowline or a figure eight in my sleep, because I used those for climbing.
The taughtline hitch is an amazingly useful knot... but I flub it most of the time. Similarly, the square knot -- even if I take my time, it's a granny with about 45% probability. These aren't knots my life has depended on, and I don't have the muscle memory.
Re: How strong is your knot?
#20My favorite, as many others are sharing here, is the figure 8. For climbing, it's a super versatile knot and there's lots of variations for specific use cases. It's also a great knot for discussing the properties of a good knot.
I also have found the trucker's hitch really useful from time to time. It allows you to tie down a load, for example a kayak on top of a car. You tie the initial hitch, and then you get to crank down on the hitch before tying the final knot. It's like a mini pulley system without a pulley.
The knot I use every day is a modified shoelace knot. You do an overhand, and then the first loop. Before you make the second loop though, you make two wraps around the first loop instead of just one [0]. Once I started using that knot, I don't think I ever had a shoelace come undone.
[0] Third video here, "Two Loop Shoelace Knot": https://www.sunnysports.com/blog/3-best-knots-tying-shoelace...