Knot Tying

Like every else, knot tying gets a lot easier with practice. It’s hard to learn from a diagram and book without trying it for yourself. Find a short length of rope that’s 2-4 feet long and practice these knots before you go camping. After you go through the motions of tying each of the knots a few times, you’ll get more and more comfortable with how to do them. Practicing will also teach the various uses of each knot and what knots are best for different occasions.

If you’re looking for a scout meeting idea or a fun thing to teach your kids, tying knots can grab their attention, especially if you show them some practical applications in the field such as mooring a row boat, making a good climbing rope or building a fishnet.

The table below includes just a few basic knots that can assist you when you’re in the field. Click on the links for step-by-step pictures on how to tie each one. Try them on your next outdoor outing….

Lineman's Loop Knot	Square Knot	Bowline Knot
Prusik Knot	Clove Hitch Knot	Figure 8 Knot
Timber Hitch Knot	Overhand Knot	Loop Knot

Being able to tie knots is one of those skills where proficiency comes through practice. The basic knots above are just a few of the many hundreds of knots you can tie. Looking for some more knots? You may also enjoy the water bottle knot. So now that you know a few knots, make sure you pack some rope for your trip!!

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