We’ve all been in the position of needing to secure, hold-up, join something using some rope or a line. How often do we fallback to one of our basic stalwarts (what problem can’t be solved with a combination of a square knot and a half-hitch, right!)?
Here’s a great article from Backpacker.com with easy to follow videos covering 8 essential knots for backpacking:
- Backpacker hitch (secure things to posts/trees using friction)
- Square knot (bind to lines of ~equal diameters)
- Girth hitch (attaches a sling or a webbing strap loop to your harness or to another sling, strap, or rope)
- Overhand knot (a simple stopper knot)
- Taut line hitch (adjustable loop knot for use on lines under tension, eg guy ropes)
- Clove hitch (holds a line to a post)
- Bowline (create a loop that won’t adjust in size, great for rescues)
- Sheet bend (join lines of different diameters)
Thanks to deputy Committee Chair, Mark Cahn, for the link.