If you want a fun one, look up Somerville Bowline. Great take on a bowline that is non-directional, non-collapsing, very hard to get wrong, small, quick to tie, and cannot be undone under tension. Oh and it’s completely symmetrical so you can pull on either end.
How strong is your knot?
21–30 of 139 posts
Re: How strong is your knot?
#22I'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...
So instead of trying to repeat the steps of the knot, form a set of verbal directions in your mind. Then close your eyes and picture yourself doing them. Then grab some rope and try with actual rope, again with your eyes closed. Repeat the same knot 10 times a day for 10 days.
This method works really well for most because closing your eyes removes all extraneous info. You see the model of the knot and the instructions for tying it, not the messy tangled up physical rope that you aren’t even using yet.
Re: How strong is your knot?
#23Can we get the link replaced with an HTTPS one (https://news.mit.edu/2020/model-how-strong-knot-0102)?
Re: How strong is your knot?
#24Practicality is also big one. There are tons, but I've learned bowline over 10 years ago and use it every day when sailing. It's easy to tie and can be taken apart by hands.
The bowline is fine for non-safety-critical uses, but cyclical loading causes it to slip, so I'd suggest anyone who's learning the bowline to learn a "safer" variant and just always use that one (examples are Yosemite Bowline, End Bound Single Bowline, Double Bowline, Bowline on a Bight).
Been using bowlines for safety(fire dept) and sailing 35yrs. Never ever ever seen a proper bowline "shake loose". Can tie it weakside one-handed, upside down, behind my back, in the dark, underwater, while brushing my teeth.
Re: How strong is your knot?
#25My 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 cr…
As for climbing, don't forget the double-fisherman's... To tie two ropes together for a double-rope rappel. It's the knot equivalent of a wrist-handshake.
Re: How strong is your knot?
#26My 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 ov…
I can think of at least one situation where an overhand knot is better than a figure-eight, where speed and ease is more important than strength.
Re: How strong is your knot?
#27My 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 cr…
The trucker's knot is awesome. Hugely practical. I use that knot on every load.
Re: How strong is your knot?
#28Earlier quoted context omitted.
> 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.
Shame on them.
Re: How strong is your knot?
#29Obligatory link to this handy reference of different knots and how to tie them: https://www.netknots.com/rope_knots
Re: How strong is your knot?
#30My 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 ov…
I can think of at least one situation where an overhand knot is better than a figure-eight, where speed and ease is more important than strength.
Figure Eight knot is tied almost identically to an overhand knot, except you "turn left" instead of "turning right" into the loop. Under no circumstances is a figure eight knot harder to tie than an overhand knot.
https://www.101knots.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/How-to-T...
In fact, I've practiced the figure 8 knot so much, that it takes more effort for me to do an overhand knot these days. Figure 8 is really easy.
Just as the "Granny Knot" is a mistaken square knot / reef knot... the "Overhand Knot" is basically a mistaken figure-8 knot. Just turn the other way, and the knot will be far, far stronger.