We all learn how to tie our shoelaces when we’re kids, but the usefulness of knots doesn’t end there. A good knot can be invaluable in the outdoors, from hanging a laundry line to staking your tent’s guy lines to bundling firewood. While there are a number of easy knots that will serve you well in a variety of situations, these three are among the easiest, and definitely ones you should know how to tie.
1. Bowline
The bowline knot is a simple way to affix a loop at the end of your cordage. It’s not only easy to tie, but just as easy to untie, especially after having been subjected to a load. This easy knot is commonly used in sailing, rock climbing, rescue missions, and a wide variety of outdoor activities. You can use the bowline knot to tie up your hammock, hang a bear bag, or fasten your tent’s guylines.
2. Square
You’ll find the square knot helpful if you have a length of cordage you want to secure around something, like a bundle of branches for firewood, or as a belt or shoelaces. Because it lies flat when finished, it is a very popular knot for tying bandages. It can be used to connect two lengths of rope together, or to connect each end of one rope securely to the other. However, it is not as strong for keeping two pieces together, and should not be used as a load bearing knot in this case.
3. Sheet Bend
The sheet bend knot is one of the strongest of the easy knots to tie, its major advantage being that it can be used to secure two different types of cordage together — quite handy in a survival situation! This is a very effective knot for joining lengths of cordage together to make a longer piece and has unlimited uses in the outdoors.
Related article: 5 Essential Camping Knots
Featured Image from Robert Zunikoff/Unsplash
