5 Knots Everyone Should Know

Practice these knots before you actually need to use them... you'll be so happy you did!
Learn to use a ratchet strap here: • 7 Ratchet Strap Pro Tips
The knots in this video are:
Girth hitch, Larksfoot, or Cow hitch
Bowline
Engineer's or Fiddle String Knot
Water Knot
Sheep Shank
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[@Deerhunterjs]

A hitch needs something to bind to, without that it will fall apart. A knot is self-sustaining and will stay together without an object to tie around.

[@petpaltea]

Thanks for the answer! GIGACHAD

[@jasondalton6111]

And a bend is a knot that attached two ropes together.

[@alrightnow7521]

Took the words outta my mouth

[@rrwareing]

Thank you! I'm a climber so tie knots all the time but never knew this fact!

[@Deerhunterjs]

@@rrwareing so am I, and this was the first thing I was taught when I went through rescue climber training.

[@monikamccartney7096]

I think you made my husband's day. He retired, 26 years in the Navy. He loves his knots. He called out each one as you made it and truly appreciated your making this video. We've been watching y'all for years, but this was definitely his favorite. Thank you.

[@threeriversforge1997]

Thank your husband for his service. And challenge him to try tying the "Moana" Knot. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hKK0laZnh99lqsk It's good fun and surprisingly difficult if you don't have a heavy/flexible rope. 😁

[@sqqqrly7750]

​@@threeriversforge1997that is the cutest young woman. She is inspiring me to learn a flying bowline

[@stephenkerpan9819]

Y​@@threeriversforge1997

[@koreysmith3635]

Knots are way more fun than video games. I practice in the garage cuz I don't use them enough to remember. Excellent video - entertaining and edjamakational!

[@jerebigler7520]

I never looked at knotting as an "essential" skill but, by golly, I now see that it is. Thanks for sharing.

[@EagleScoutT108]

Thank you for this excellent demonstration of 5 useful knots. You didn't mention my favorite knot, the taughtline hitch. Soon I will be celebrating 53 years in the Boy Scouting movement, and a good knowledge of knots, how to tie them, and what application each knot is best used in, is invaluable.

[@tudyk21]

I became facinated with knots the moment I first saw 6-8 hand-drawn examples in an old dictionary that I saw as about an 8 or 10 yo boy. I later found 'The Ashley Book of Knots' in my public library. My mother noticed that I had been checking out the book several times and had the librarian order one (about 15 years before the days of Amazon). I seemed to always have a piece of cordage with which to practice knotting. I still have the book, but it no longer has it's dust cover.

[@GTL77]

When I was in the ironworks we had to learn lots of knots! And one of the most use knots I use is the bowline with a quick release and a clove hitch with a bit! And a barrel hitch! There’s lots of knots I’ve learned but those three were the most used! And I was once told by and old timer that if you can tie a bowline behind your back you’ll never forget it 😂

[@marcberm]

Boy this really brings me back to my old Boy Scout days and my official BSA "Forty Knots" illustration card and practice kit.

[@happyotto6436]

According the Ashley Book of Knots (or ABK) knot #1010 Bowline, running end should be inside the loop, yours one is outside

[@vansage2691]

That’s how the Boy Scouts taught me too. Leaders always said they didn’t want that running end getting snagged on something when lifting someone.

[@rgbrown90]

Lou from tips from a shipwright has a good bowline video

[@haraldlinne1775]

it is a left hand/cowboys bowline, the strength is the same.

[@schutzhund3933]

Rabbit goes out of hole, around tree, back in hole. BSA!

[@timleduc1493]

One of the things I used to stress to Boy Scouts when teaching them knots is that if you know how to tie a knot correctly you'll know how to untie it with ease. Love your videos.

[@mvblitzyo]

As an arborist I use these ALL of these knots often, any explanation for a new person to learn any these knots is ok with me as long as they learn the knots

[@leehart9055]

Good morning from the Great State of Texas. I like this video. Due to my firefighting career I learned about knots and rope rescue stuff. We used to put a safety on the end of all knots. When lifting objects overhead of anyone, a safety is good to have.

[@bobmanns3623]

Trucker's hitch is my go-to!!

[@webb-cast1030]

Add an Ashley stopper knot to the list. It's a must for securing the handle on a rope recoil starter.

[@johnn2557]

I’ve been teaching knots to Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts for years and I always use two different colored rope which make it very easy to understand the knots! Great job Scott!

[@FreekHoekstra]

Thats a great idea!

[@Vrtigo1]

Yes, exactly. I'm a scoutmaster as well and love my knots. Two different color ropes, and cotton rope makes things easy for learning. Scott tied the bowline "upside down" from the way I'm used to seeing it, but either way works.

[@Belboz99]

OK, Eagle Scout here... had to look up that variant of the Bowline because it's not the classic bowline knot. It's called the "Cowboy Bowline". Apparently it's more secure with cross loading (ring loading) than the regular bowline. But just a heads up... if you do it that way and you're in Scouts, your SM will probably tell you it's wrong. :P Oh... and with cyclic loading it can spontaneously loosen, so it's not reccomended for life-critical applications. IE, don't tie this version around your waist or another's as a rescue knot.

[@1990Co]

How did you learn the bowline? I'm an Eagle Scout as well and this is how we learned it. Turn a bight, rabbit up through the hole, around the tree, back down the hole. I have seen many ways to tie the bowline though, but this is definitely a proper bowline. I was also taught in scouting that a bowline is absolutely a useful knot for rescue, as I will not cinch around your body. In my experience I haven't had any issues with it loosening with cyclic loading, but if I am in a dangerous situation and using a bowline, I tie a half hitch in the tail to back it up, and you're about as failsafe as you get from there.

[@Belboz99]

@@1990Co It's virtually the same, but the cowboy bowine enters the hole near the bottom of the loop, so it crosses behind the tree in the opposite direction (right), and exits back through the hole near the top of the loop. The classic bowline I was taught enters the loop near the top of it, then passes behind the tree / standing part towards the left, and exits the hole near the bottom of the loop. They look very similar, and if you didn't know where the end actually was they couldn't be told apart. But the regular bowline has the bitter end below the strand that makes up the loop, whereas the cowboy bowline has the bitter end above. Edit: It's also called the "left hand bowline" because if you imagine someone doing it with their left instead or right hand, this is what you'd come up with.

[@1990Co]

aaaaaah ok I see@@Belboz99

[@towertrash978]

I didn't know I was tyin' cowboy bowline for years. The riggin' community told me that havin' the tail on the outside of the loop was liable to "catch up on things" and come un-done. Never seen it. I've used it for dragging all kinds of shit through the mud and brush and whatever and I've never had a failure.

[@brendanmulhall]

As a young man at Chief Logan Reservation boy scout camp, they had a series of "knot clubs" beginning with the "six knot club" and working up to 50 or so if I remember right. I don't think I ever made it past the six knot club but I still remember and utilize those knots often. Great video Scott!

[@bmck-ss3zb]

Our motivation in our troop was tying a set amount of knots blind folded ,the prize was a giant size candy bar.I enjoyed mine!

[@todmills]

small world....my oldest brother, Tom Mills, was the camp director at Chief Logan back around the late 70s early 80s and one summer I filled in for a week (or two?) as a provisional scoutmaster for someone who couldn't make it with his scouts.

[@brendanmulhall]

@@bmck-ss3zb that's a cool idea!

[@brendanmulhall]

@@todmills small world! I would've been there in early 2000s. I think it has recently closed and been sold. Sadly. It was an incredible place for young men to learn and explore.

[@williamdemilia6223]

I remember working with my boys and other scouts, teaching knots. It was fun. loved making a monkey fist. But ... I also taught another knot that I felt was an important knot for young men. I good Windsor knot while tying your tie.

[@bcnubynby4056]

My dad was a lineman for the power company and he taught me many practical knots when I was a boy. I can't tell you how many times I have used this knowledge during my life. Your video present a very good as well as practical info and philosophy. Thanks.

[@gregchoma7693]

You sure he wasn't a lineman for the county?

[@ADBBuild]

Paracord is great for practicing. It's bigger than string, but more manageable than rope. 2ft. of it is small enough to fit anywhere and long enough to practice any knot.

[@johnknight8040]

I’m a climber and my favorite knot is the clove hitch. Very simple and falls apart when you unhitch it from the thing it’s tied to. If you ever update the video add that in after the girth hitch.

[@dunep6465]

Nice tutorial for the beginners Scott. A lot of this comes down to experience and use. The bowline is the best for darn near everything you want to hold onto. The sheepshank is too complicated for the beginner and they will get discouraged with it quickly. My favorite for tying down loads is the truckers hitch which I will generally start with every time. Taught by my grandfather on the farm to us youngsters. And my favorite for repairing line is the blood knot. Most would never even try this, but I've used it all my adult life, so it really is simple to me. Well done. Enjoyed it... 🙂

[@JoeZasada]

Other knots which are highly useful: -Figure-eight follow-through loop -Figure-eight loop on a bite -Alpine Butterfly (with a carabiner) -Double Fisherman Most knots reduce rope working strength by 1/2 - However, the figure-eight family of knots only reduce strength by 1/3.

[@tudyk21]

6:54 You mentioning fishing and also the way the knot is constructed and tightened reminded me of the bimini twist. It's a next-level knot for tought ocean fish.

[@yougetagoldstar]

As one of those men out there who are the product of the crazy life-plan of the 60s that leads to broken families, I deeply appreciate you taking the time to share this knowledge. Those are beautiful knots. For the longest time I thought the only knots were the "tying a shoelace knot" and the "make a loop, stick the end of rope in the loop and tighten knot".

[@jeffputnam8554]

Thank you to the Boy Scouts. sure miss them

[@texomatinker414]

What you called a sheepshank is different from what I learned in the Boy Scouts 60 years ago, but I like the knot! The know we learned was more of a climbing know because you could tie off on the top of a drop, descend, and then recover most of the rope. That required cutting the loop at one end of the knot - tension kept the line solid. Once you were down, you could shake the rope and the knot came apart leaving only a small piece of rope tied above. My father was in the Coast Guard and he taught me a lot of different knots, including a way to tie a one-handed bowline around yourself. You might also consider doing a video on lashing. I've used those basic methods a number of times in projects over the years. Loved the video!

[@tanguerochas]

Nice video. A hitch is for tying a rope to an object. A knot is a rope tied to itself. A bend is tying two ropes together. A lashing is using a rope to tie two objects together. (Boy Scouts, a loong time ago.) I guess I would add a Zeppelin Bend to your collection. Trucker's Hitch is also very useful. Here is my list of knot links.

[@robertschickling8217]

Holy cow hitch Scott. Great video right to the bitter end.

[@Papas220Garage]

I don't comment much but great video and delivery. I am that guy that can't use a rope and envy those who can. I'm going to start with your 5, learn them and teach them with my 11 and 8 year old. Love that shop you have, this is your only video I have seen but I'm going to look around now. Thank you for mentoring.

[@omnarasi9637]

Thank you, EC. I have been practicing around 15 different knots/hitches for last three or so years. I dare say that it is a very useful skill. It is always nice to know one's way with ropes and strings.

[@threeriversforge1997]

Highly recommend First Class Amateur's channel here on YT. He shows some really smart ways to use rope around the house in everyday kind of activities that you'd just never think to do. Genius stuff, really.

[@alex-craft]

You use non standard bowline knot, the end of rope outside, its ok but its a bit less secure than the standard bowline knot with the end of rope inside the loop.

[@timmatthews1708]

A cowboy bowline I think

[@petercrizer6102]

I debated how 'troll-ee' I was going to be about this (very fine) point of the bowline knot, but, yes, properly, the loose end goes to the inside of the know, it stays more secure, and is less prone to snagging, but either way is really o.k.

[@mydoggylives]

@@timmatthews1708 Yes. I think it's also called a "Left Hand Bowline" as well.

[@WayneSmith-yf3fg]

Scott, Like you I know only a few that I like to use. I did learn something new today with the water knot. By the way, I have a string line that is 40 years old. I don't cut string lines because I'm cheap and don't want to buy a new one!

[@michaeldougfir9807]

Well, about the hitch and the knot. Twice I have tied the knot and got hitched. Very sadly, they are both gone now. But these are two of the best things I have done in my life. ❤❤

[@georgewelker2846]

A bowline and a “cow hitch” and your “slip not” are my favorites and I use them all the time

[@guysquarred]

Hey Scott. I grew up whieout doing any of the things you said, but thanks to you, mainly, not only am I not embarrassed when I pick up a rope, but I'm the one showing rope tricks to people around me !

[@FarmsteadForge]

From packing mules I learned a lot of knots, some of the ones you demonstrated I use almost on a daily basis. However I learned a few new ones today, so thank you for that! Handy knowledge to have, thanks for the video.

[@erickvelazquez7171]

🐰 Can you tie a knot? 🐖 I cannot. 🐰 Ah so you can knot? 🐖 No, i cannot knot. 🐰 Can not knot? 🐻 Who's there?

[@AwsomeSauce11910]

I DIED LAUGHING WHEN I SAW THAT SCENE🤣🤣🤣

[@zodeseeker]

Knot - a knot is tied in a rope or piece of webbing. Hitch - a hitch connects a rope to another object like a carabiner or even another rope. Bend - a bend is a knot that joins two ropes together.

[@tudyk21]

TodayI tied a handful of bow lines a few cloves and a couple trucker's hitches when securing a load of furniture that I was moving for my daughter.😊

[@SeekAndDestroyTM]

The bowline is the only knot I have remembered after all these years (20) since I left the trades.

[@sui24fu]

I've been watching your videos for years, really appreciate them, and always look forward to the tag line at the end. So, back atcha, brother. Keep up the good work!

[@DSH1LL]

I get a lot from your many videos. Thanks and best to you!

[@billk8780]

Scott, a.k.a. the Sheriff of Knottingham! Love the video as always!

[@scotteddleman823]

Hey Scott-just remember if you can't tie a KNOT...tie A LOT !!!! Thanks for all of the great videos over the years and keep up the good work!!! Your friend Scott.

[@biggsweaty]

God bless you for posting things like this. I mean that. What a stellar example to set, and also to just see the beauty of human ingenuity. Thank you to Scott and everyone involved and Merry Christmas.

[@myfriend57]

It's cool that there is an online knot community, and I am tickled that others spend time practicing knots like I do. Most close friends (and my wife) are never compelled to do this so just knowing there are knot tiers out there is nice. You'll know you're good when you can tie the right knot for what the situation calls for. Even if it's as simple as 2 half hitches. But God forbid we have to leave all our knot tying skills on the table for 2 half hitches. 😂

[@tc9148]

Thank you. So much fun to watch.

[@gtbkts]

Thank you for all the amazing work and great videos!!

[@HelenaOfDetroit]

Good video for sure. I have a variation on the trucker's hitch that's also easy to undo in a hurry. But this is the first time I've seen the sheep's hitch. Thanks for the info! I'll be updating my modified trucker's hitch to make it even better now.

[@elliotwhite32]

I love you Scott. Good way to start the work day

[@oscara.8176]

Great video as always. Thanks.

[@sennest]

😎👍👍🙏🙏🥳🎉🥳🎉you NEVER cease to inspire me! Thank you!

[@nayandhillon5322]

Seine twine is a maritime wonder I didn't find about till too late. It comes in a bunch of sizes, usually tarred. Strong enough to do most things you use Paracord for and wayyy cheaper. Use it for damn near everything now

[@jeffbarnard3050]

Thanks!!! Nice job!

[@lukehunter3902]

All young men should know this!!! Great video, boys

[@keithreay]

“Same racetrack from opposite directions” 👏👏👏

[@adamsheffield4704]

Taught line hitch is another scout knot that I use often as a tie down. Fun topic and good memories.

[@gleneverett9728]

Great stuff practice practice PRACTICE.

[@murphyrp01]

Always great content from this channel. Great explanation and demonstration.

[@manakamar]

I am a knot aficionado, too. And you're right: You need them all the time, once you know them.

[@Prism19]

Epic presentation.

[@squatch2461]

I learned knot tying from growing up working on boats, then Boyscouts, and the Army. I love that you tie a Cowboy Bowline, where the working end lies outside vs a "normal" ; ) bowline where the working end lies inside.

[@GibClark]

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻great demonstration

[@greatitbroke]

We were encouraged to take a rigging course when I was in the carpenters union back in the day. Though taught us knots in there. Even gave us a book to learn more. was an amazing course.

[@malquisedeccastillo2127]

Thanks for the loops now igot somethinh to do❤

[@BeeWhere]

Great video and thank you, I use paracord to practice on, thin and manageable, but strong enough for most of the things I need to secure

[@MrDeleoco]

Nice teaching video

[@storres9198]

Awesome

[@richos2591]

I don't know many knots because I didn't go to boy scouts, that turned out to be a good thing as I'm not one of the eighty-two thousand kids that got molested by scout masters, keep up the good work.

[@robrickard]

Sir, you did really well in explaining this and demonstrating. I wish you would do more instructional videos on knot tying as I believe you just turned me into wanting to know more as a beginner. Do more videos they inspire.

[@johnniecarter3013]

You taught me to be able to tie a bolden with ease a few years ago. I also learned if I flip the hole over it makes a secure slip not. Thx again Scott!!

[@hugozavala33]

Great lessons as always I’m amazed by the way you explain it easy simple clear great job as always

[@davidknott6124]

You would have been an incredible teacher Scott! I believe I’ve read an earlier comment on another video that someone stated that they thought you would have been a great shop teacher, and I wholeheartedly agree!! Took four years of metal shop back in high school, and back then I would have signed up in a minute to take whatever classes you taught. Thank you for your videos!

[@nannesoar]

YES i literally needed to tie a knot right this flipping moment thank you.

[@Giroux68]

We all need to up our knot game!!

[@lheigert]

The connecting string knot will come in handy with my sewing. 😊

[@bradpendleton5675]

It's amazing the name differences. Growing up on a farm and working in a shipyard, I use all these knots all the time.

[@monsterq6]

Praise God I grew up working in the theatre and had a multitude of knots drilled into me from the beginning. I think I'll probably be able to do a clove hitch on my death bed. The best advice is to practice them when you're between tasks! Knots are immensely freeing time saving workforce multipliers. Great video.

[@tomnewell5529]

My 10 year old asked if you were going to show how to do a granny knot 😂 i told him maybe not on this video Thanks guys very informative

[@adnacraigo6590]

When I was younger I was a lineman for the Bell System and we used bowline knots more than any other type to hoist cables, strand, etc because it prevented the loop from tightening up as you lifted the load into the air.

[@mwarhol]

A fantastic skill for the bowline that's many times called the 'rescue knot' to learn to tie it with one hand. It was the way I was first taught it and the only way I knew how to tie it for a long time.

[@tristanconnolly5675]

Nice.

[@horatiohornblower868]

Reminds me of my boy scout’s time 60 years ago!

[@A.X.76]

Bowline is a fantastic knot! But a a clove hitch is my favorite and most versatile. It’s usage in other knots makes it king. Sheep shank is a bowline with two ropes. Taught line is a clove hitch on a line. Rope predates the wheel

[@perryfire3006]

For construction work a running bowline is a good choice, followed by half hitches for lifting things. A clove hitch would be good to know too. For tying two ropes together a flemish bend, a sheet bend, a Zeppelin bend and a double Fishermans work really well, but the water knot is fairly simple. Learn 10 good knots and there's not much you can't do.

[@a.s.c.2909]

I had to go find my piece of cotton rope I used to keep by my recliner to practice on. I definitely need some practice. I was taught that the sheep shank was used to take up length if you have a much longer rope than needed. My Dad used a truckers hitch to tie things down like square bales on a trailer. Kind of amazing how tight you can cinch a load down with that.

[@ikust007]

That kind of video makes me knots…;))

[@vanish85]

"You've got something better to do than just sit there and play video games for crying out loud, I know you do!" -- Wadsworth, Scott If there is any kid watching this, or someone wasting time on video games for that matter. It probably sounds silly, but listen, learn and apply! How fortunate it must be to have a role model like this growing up!

[@joshbrucksch]

That’s how I learned the bowline in scouts. We used to have contests to see who could tie them one handed the fastest. 😂

[@totherarf]

It will matter little to you here but I tie my Bowlines slightly differently! I form the overhand knot part upside down so the main line is upward. Then holding the free end near the end I put my wrist (still holding the end) up through the "hole". It is a simple slight of hand to transfer the free end back behind the main line and once I have that pull my wrist (again still holding the free end) out of the "hole" and the knot is tied .... a Lot quicker than explaining it! I was taught that "The rabbit comes out of the hole, goes round the tree and sees "you lot" then bolts back down his hole!! You can shorten the action further to holding the free end take your whole forearm over and back towards you under the line and after transfering the free end behind the line simply pull your arm out and the deed is done! One fluid motion too quick for folks to see what you did! Your Sheep shank adaption is known as a Lorrymans knot in the UK ....... Used in the past for securing loads down on lorries! Although to be fair it will be known by many names! Also we say Bow-Line not Bowlin! Two countries separated by a common language ;o) Thanks for the jog to remember some of my scouting days 50 years ago!

[@Belboz99]

Yeah, that's not a typical bowline. It's a varient or similar knot... but not a bowline.

[@totherarf]

@@Belboz99 It's the same knot mate! Just done upsidedown! (and quicker) ;o)

[@tjsmith2812]

if you want you can do one over splices in three strand rope. i have to use them pretty often.

[@mediaphile]

Paracord is excellent for learning knots and hitches.

[@chrisevans2645]

Another important one is the constrictor knot. It's similar to a clove hitch but the two ends cross under the middle. It can function as a zip tie or even a temporary hose clamp in an emergency

[@joevanarsdale981]

You got my sub with this comment 15:40. Really enjoying your videos.

[@IamVince1aa]

Best thing about a bowline is you can untie it no matter the load that was on it

[@floodo1]

ALWAYS tie a knot or two on the tail of a Bowlin lest that end work its way back through the knot!

[@Captainwonderlad]

As a mariner, I use the bowline, clove hitch and figure eight most often. Besides making off on cleats a boater should at least know those three. The great thing about the bowline is that no matter how much load you give it, you can’t easily untie it by breaking its back.

[@Eli-el7mr]

Hey Scott and community, I dont know if i'd call myself an expert, but I do have some insights that may prove useful. 1. A huge knot to keep in this arsenal is the 2 half hitches for the end of a knot that needs security. It's an essential for preventing a knot from coming loose. 2. Bowlines are wonderful things, but tied incorrectly, they can slip and fail at terrible times. The kicker? It looks nearly identical tied correctly vs incorrectly. If your life depends on it, consider using a bowline if youre very experienced with it. Otherwise, try a different knot with redundancy(fail safes like extra loops, multiple lines, etc) 3. Water knots are fantastic, but if you need extra strength, some suggest the fishermans knot, because it can be adjusted and also because its strength has been shown to exceed the water knot in some capacities(especially the double fisherman) 4. Trucker hitches are wonderful things, but we can improve any truckers hitch by looping the line twice with our end of the line we pull to tighten the hitch. It will self lock in most cases, no pinching! Its a real life saver if your hands are freezing, arthritic or both. 5. Highly recommend adding the alpine butterfly to this line up. It has a plethora of uses, but chiefly I use them for 3 reasons: It unties easily, it can be used to skip a damaged piece of rope by isolating it in the loop that forms, and it can be used to make a truckers hitch! 6. Some knots would benefit from a failsafe in the way of redundancy. Many climbers use a double figure 8 because if one loop fails, it is already secured to another, sparing the climber from a potentially deadly fall. The same can be said when hoisting, securing, towing, etc. if it would be catastrophic if the knot fails, use a redundant knot. 6.nearly all knots will weaken a rope by 50%, some knots claim to only weaken it by 20%,30% or what have you, but I would say its sage advice to use a rope that can handle in excess of 200% the forces you intend to use it for if the thing youre tying up matters. 7. a lightermans hitch is a wonderful hitch that meets all the criteria of a top notch knot: ties easily, ties quickly, unties with no fuss! Wonderful knot if you have a use for it I love the fiddle string knot! I've been using it since you put out your video on chalk lines, I believe. Thanks for that, Scott!

[@makenchips]

You should have started your conclusion at the beginning of the video so well said Columbus Michigan

[@YouTuber-mc2el]

I've asked this question before and didn't get a response so I'll try again. What is the reason for the blockout in your floor where there is only gravel? Great video. The pulley knot is a good one that I can see myself having a lot of use for.

[@adamelliott2302]

I tie my canoes up with a bowline. I leave the tag end long to set a couple of stopper knots below it.