It Could Save Your Life – Crucial Knots & Their Applications

Knots are essential to survive in the outdoors, in emergency situations, and is required to sail a boat and remain afloat. Knowing which knots to tie and how to properly perform the actions can mean the difference between security and safety or death.

Knowing how to tie a knot can help you to create a rope ladder to scale down the side of a skyscraper, create a stretcher, secure materials and so forth. Whether you need to secure your rations and essentials in a tree from a bear or the wildlife during the night or to create a makeshift shelter – knowing how to tie a knot will allow you to survive longer in tough situations. Below are just a few knots that can help you to survive in an urban environment or the complete wilderness.

Knot: Hunter’s Bend

Category: Bend

This knot was devised in the early 70’s and is a simple and quick method to secure two separate pieces of rope together without slippage. The downside to this knot, is that it will jam with just a slight amount of weight and therefore makes it hard to untie but also helps to secure the knot during use.

Applications: This is a perfect method for a make shift rope to haul materials up and down slopes and also ideal to use for temporary covers and lashings. As you can see in the illustration – the two pieces of rope are lashed together and looped several times before pulling taunt, which ensures a stable and secure connection.

Knot: Figure Eight

Category: Stopper

A common knot method in both rock climbing, sailing, and camping and is by far one of the simplest of knots that does not require cuttings or splicing. Commonly used as a stopper for tree swings and rock climbing.

Applications: Is best suited for use when creating a rope ladder with thick rope. Tie the figure eight knot every few feet for the entire length of the rope. The knots will create little footholds for you to grip when descending or climbing.

Knot: Bowline

Category: Loop

A Bowline is a very useful knot for creating foot holds in rope and for creating a handle at the end of a pulley. It is also a common knot used in the sailing industry to secure lines and sails.

Applications: The bowline will assist you in creating a loop at the end or beginning of a line. Excellent to use for handles, foot loops, or for securing sails and is commonly used in the boating industry. Can also be used as a quick life saving knot with a large loop for a person to secure around themselves or to grab onto the loop at the end of the line.

Knot: Slip Knot

Category: Running

The slip knot is a very useful knot that can secure items and tightens as required and can also act as a trapping technique by snaring the foot of an animal or bird. Because of the multiple uses from adjusting the taunt and providing means of food, it is essential to learn the slip knot.

Applications: An adjustable knots that is crucial to learn for surviving in any environment as it can be used to snare small animals and birds and therefore provide a means of obtaining food when a weapon is unavailable.

Tune in next week for five more knots.

-Stay Safe