Written by

Craig Caudill

Useful Knots

Here we go with a the second in our series on the topic of knots and ropes.  In this post we want to take a look the three specific ways to make a loop in your rope.  We demonstrate how to do this on both the end of the rope and in the middle.  The first knot, the over hand knot, most everyone knows. Most people shun this one in regards to rope because it is incredibly hard to untie.  I personally like it for survival trapping because of that reason.  I do not want my trap lines to get untied  after they have been set by off by an animal.  Watch the video to see the overhand knot and continue watching, and reading below, to see some details for the figure 8 and the bowline.

Those are fun and easy to do.  The diagrams below will help you with the  figure 8 and bowline as well.

Figure 8

The figure 8 is a great loop to utilize on the working end of a rope.  It is fun and easy to make and can be made by utilizing only one hand if the need arises.  This can be done for the end of a climbing rope, at to to create a drag, to make a cinch piece as well.  It is easy to untie,  however after it has been put under stress it becomes more difficult to untie.

The last knot we wanted to show you is the grand daddy of all knots, the bowline.  This knot is an incredibly cool knot to know and is very useful.  The coolest part is that is does not slip along the rope once it is tied, it is VERY easy to untie even after lots of stress have been put on it, and it has great stories that go along with it.  If you have not heard the stories, you must watch the video!  One of them is about Mick Jagger.

So that is is it for some basic knots on the end of a rope that create a loop.  Again, this is the second in this series of knots and ropes.  (The next is coiling rope).  With the feedback I am getting, you all must like these vids.  I am glad they are proving to be useful.

Until next time, I hope to see you on, or off the trail!

Bowline