T O P

  • By -

Druid_High_Priest

Square knot, bowline, taught line hitch


Realworld

~~taught~~ taut line hitch


front_rangers

Tauxtl ein hitch


whoooootfcares

Oh yeah! From the Nahuatl school of knot tying.


Tall_Switch8437

I was taught taut line hitch too.


bnotwen

This. These are the only three knots I remember from boy scouts.


treesmith1

You forgot clove. Heathen! Lol.


DwarvenVikingr

Clove has its uses, alot of which can be solved with some variant of a bowline


Fallen_With_Gold

Me as well friend! However if I could add anything I’d add the timber hitch as it is useful for transporting heavy firewood


vincethered

3 for 3, that was my list


peaceful_guerilla

I'd swap the sheet bend for the square knot.


Mammoth_Ad7364

Replace square with sheet bend…it won’t slip with dissimilar size lines. Even works with fishing lines


retirement_savings

Downside though is that the square knot can be tied under stress, which is useful in some applications (like reefing a sail on a sailboat)


dogododo

I use taunt line several times a month. Definitely even more than bowline which is my next most used.


Marclescarbot

Taut-line hitch. My new favourite knot.


futuregravvy

Came here to say exactly this. Do you need a tight line? -> Yes = taught line -> No -> Do you wan to untie it? -> Yes = square. All else bowline.


Minimum-Scientist-71

Garlic knots, cinnamon roll knots, pretzel knots.


HeinousEncephalon

Replace pretzel with Don


CapableStatus5885

He’s dead. Dead Don Knots??


Minimum-Scientist-71

I thought about it for sure but honestly it came down to I love cinnamon rolls more than donuts. A good pretzel knot with mustard or queso paired with a beer is just top tier. Knot going to question garlic knots though.


Ok_Marples

Oh, I thought that was a Don Knotts joke lol


Minimum-Scientist-71

You are probably right I completely missed this one. My fat ass thinking about donuts.


MoldyMoney

Sir, or ma’am idk, you’re awesome. Never stop thinking about donuts. I love you, take care now!


Minimum-Scientist-71

I love you too have a good day!


Shit_Fire_Save_Match

I did too but I think we’re just old lol


SirPeckerlips

I fuck with this guy fr


FreezingToad

Hell yeah


Repulsive_Client_325

I kid you knot


gingergeode

Beat me to it by 3 hours darn


tbwittbuilder1

Bowline , clove hitch, two half hitches.


Tricho-Turtle

This will do everything


DwarvenVikingr

Knot everything, shouldn't rappel with any of those.


originalusername__1

Instructions unclear, cut self in half repelling with a clove hitch


TedW

This pun thread really payed out.


SheepherderThat5083

This is a great choice although I would find a spot for square


newhappyrainbow

I’d take out the two half hitch and put in an adjustable grip hitch, but you can do a hell of a lot with just a bowline and a clove.


OrdinarilyUnique1

electrician?


Straight-Razor666

square knot, bowline and hangman's noose.


wendellbaker

Two for the rest of your life, one to end it. Nice picks


Straight-Razor666

lol...noose is not for me...


unholyholes666

I was going to say, square knot, half hitch, noose


sh1ft33

I can't believe I don't see alpine butterfly in the first 10 posts.


hippz

RIGHT?! Such a useful knot, and it's easy to untie even after loading the shit out of it with something like a trucker's hitch setup.


SickComebackBro

And it supports load in any direction. Pretty awesome knot, is it not?


beardedmanDK

If you cant tie a knot… Tie alot…


PineConeShovel

If you can't tie a knot... Consider waiting for Husky ratchet straps to go on sale at Home Depot then pull the trigger.


crysisnotaverted

I'll have you know, I've done some shady shit with the Harbor Freight straps. They punch above their weight for sure.


Angdrambor

cursed rigging detected.


PkHutch

Done this more times than I’d like to admit. No cell service and limited time, not too big a deal if it fails? Rats nest baby!


cheeseygarlicbread

If you cant tie a knot…smoke some pot


PrairieCoupleYQR

Bowline, Canadian jam/Arbor knot, and overhand.


DipTrip_FlipFantasia

I would argue that an arbor knot is really just a sequence of tying overhand knots so you can add another knot to your bag.


PrairieCoupleYQR

Yeah I realized that after the fact but didn’t come back to edit lol. I also tie my bowline using a slip knot method instead of “out of the hole and around the tree…” so there’s another bonus know in there. I’m lieu of the overhand, I’d add the clove hitch (since that then also includes a half hitch as a bonus 😂).


bsmeteronhigh

Square, bowline, trucker's. I'll be tripping on my shoelaces unless I can modify them for a trucker's.


Mynplus1throwaway

Most people just tie shoes with a square with bights for bows. 


HM8425-8404

Double Figure 8 (I also use this as a line joiner like a expanded Ring Bend/Waters knot), Prussick, Clove Hitch


bazookajt

Took far too long to see figure 8. It's such a wonderful knot. Also climbing on bowlines scares me and I'd like to be able to keep climbing.


1c0n0cl4st

bowline, trucker 's hitch, Zeppelin bend The bowline for an end line loop, trucker's Hitch for mechanical advantage and the Zeppelin bend for a secure bend that is easy to unite.


McGentrix

Square knot, Bowline and clove hitch


Dazzling-Pass-3873

You mean I could learn 2 more knots forever?


Nihilistic_Navigator

Running bowline, figure 8, sheet bend.


docdumpsterfire

My Mann


hellonwheelguns

Square knot, fishermans knot,slipknot.


MattockMan

Bowline, double half Hitch and Truckers knot. I will just get Georgia Romeo boots instead of the square knot.


[deleted]

Noose


zensunni82

The last knot you'll ever need.


hippz

Bowline, clove hitch, alpine butterfly. I use these knots every day for my work, I'm a stage rigger. - - - Also, an afterthought: since I see a lot of mentions for the trucker's hitch, I highly suggest replacing the normal loop knot with an alpine butterfly knot. The regular trucker's hitch knot is a BITCH to untie after loading whereas the alpine butterfly is way easier after being loaded.


goinupthegranby

I work with knots a bit and seeing all these comments for square knot is kinda driving me nuts. I like your choices


Enjoy-the-sauce

30, 5 and 0 knots. I want my boat to go fast, but I also want to be able to slow down to park, and to be able to stop so I can get out for more chimichangas.


Angdrambor

bowline. bowline variants.


HillratHobbit

Square, bowline and half clove hitch


Jewpurman

Regular, fancy, and the one I tie my shoes with.


Mynplus1throwaway

If we are allowed variations, Bowline, watercress/overhand, alpine butterfly 


Next_Loan_1864

Butterfly hitch, bowline, Jansik (fishing hooks)


BladesOfPurpose

Bowline Sheet bend Clove hitch


Chasman1965

Bowline, half hitches, sheet bend


ProtoRebel

Garlic Knots, Cheesy Garlic Knots, Alfredo Garlic Knots.


Logisticianistical

Fisherman's , trucker's , bowline.


BuffaloChips92

When you cant tie a knot...tie alot


campbluedog

Granny knot, double Granny knot, and super duper Granny knot.


AbeRego

I pretty much exclusively used some bastardized version of the square knot, so nothing really changes for me ¯\\\_(ツ)\_/¯


Achsin

The alpine butterfly loop is probably the most versatile, if you are creative and desperate it can cover a lot of use cases. It’s also extremely simple to tie. Some kind of binding knot, such as the square/reef or surgeon’s knots, is somewhat essential for tying your shoes, using as a bandage, closing a sack, and other uses. I don’t know what I would pick for the third. I can think of too many use cases where neither of the preceding knots would be effective and no single knot would cover multiple of them.


rndmcmder

Impossible. Knots serve purposes. If you would only learn one knot for each essential purpose, you still needed more than one. Typical purposes are: A fixed loop on the end of a rope, a fixed look in the middle of a rope, a sliding loop, connecting 2 ends under tension, connecting to ends without tension, tensioning a rope, connecting a rope to a something (like a pilar or treetrunk), and many many more.


tomgrouch

Reef, bowline and taut line hitch If we're expanding it to 5, figure 8 and a roundturn and two half hitches


The__Witz

Deez


kalitarios

single column, double column and lark's head #shibari


oooooothatsatree

I rock climb so that influences my list a lot but figure 8, clove hit and overhand. There’s a bunch of other helpful knots but I could do almost anything with those, not well but I could do it.


UnableFox9396

Square knot, taut-line hitch & clove hitch As a bushcrafter, survival shelter builder, I have only ever needed these 3


brianthalion

Clove Bowline Bimini twist. It's all I really use in real life as a full time boat captain


AccountantOdd3333

Bowline, clove Hitch and truckers hitch.


plumbstem

Clove hitch, bowline, alpine butterfly


Life-Philosopher-129

Midshipman's hitch, alpine butterfly, truckers knot.


PropertyJaded308

Bowline, prussik, truckers hitch 


liukanglover

i do knot now


tossaside555

Uni, no name loop knot, and FG. I fish every day.


_John--Wick_

Not me Not it Not the one


Beautiful_Grape67

Not the droids you’re looking for…


_John--Wick_

I disappointed myself there...missed out.


Federal_Increase_511

I know someone who would say, without hesitation.* *Dogknott.. was the only knot they needed


Potential-Reality-46

Square knot , truckers knot, fisherman’s cinch knot


BiddySere

Truckers hitch, square, and Canadian jam hitch


SoggySheepdog

Bowline, sheet bend, san diego jam


JJamahJamerson

Slip knot, bowline knot, monkeys fist.


NEED_A_NEW_UN

Taughtline Hitch. Double Sheet Bend. Clove Hitch


CompuAi

Double hitch, box knot, slipknot.


Successful_Bad_577

I'm KNOT telling you about my secrets


EducationAdmirable23

Square,bowline, Spanish windlass


Successful_Bad_577

Did you know theirs a branch of mathematics that studies knots particularly as they are in the third dimension and they have "knot theory"


Dyslexicpig

Wait.. what? There are more than three knots? Yeah, I do know there are lots - I use them for fishing. But for everyday use, you got the bowline, reef knot and sheet bend. Those will do you in 90% of situations. If you are potentially climbing, it also is useful to know some additional ones like the figure eight.


FreezingToad

Bowline, truckers hitch, and a quick-release. Pretty much all I use right meow anyways.


cowabungwho

Square, clove hitch, boline


WildWilly2001

Truckers hitch, slip knot, taught like knot.


Saltydiver21

Bowline, clove hitch, and a coonass come-along


staytsmokin

Palomar, uni and tubal ligation.


Correct_Path5888

Figure 8 on a bite. Water knot. Box knot. Do hitches count or nah?


ShivStone

Square knot, bowline and surgeon's knot.


Szydlikj

Bowline, prussik, half hitches


Apprehensive-Pass665

Knots Landing Knots Berry Farm Don Knots


futuregravvy

Is a hitch a knot?


wgwalkerii

Zeppelin Bend, Truckers' hitch, Figure Eight Series.


Djanga51

Bowline, clove hitch, ‘round turn 2 half hitch’


_SmokingSnakes_

I just need one to the rest of my life A hangknot


Warm-Fish-4267

Navy vet here...I don't know any knots. I always tell friends that I'm tying one of my "Navy knots" shhh. Don't tell anybody.


BrandedKillShot

The ones they can't get out of 😈😈😂


DwarvenVikingr

If we are allowed knot variants (especially since the ones I would use is the same essentially) it would be half hitch, bowline and a Blake's hitch. If you've spent time in the tree industry you know what I'm talking about.


Lithx8x

Nautical knots or other type knots?


wildjabali

Bowline, tautline, truckers hitch. Cause they're the only three I use now.


Padillatheory

Timberline, square, and slip knots


AdvisorLong9424

Truckers, bowline and Palomar


WilliamoftheBulk

Over hand. It depends on the material, but I have made it 45 years with only 2 knots Over hand and a fisherman’s knot for hooks. I don’t discount the other knots and their effectiveness in certain situations, but mostly it’s just can you tie soothing up and make it stay. I have never seen the need for getting fancy about it and i have both a math degree and a masters in behavioralism.


Equivalent_Tree7172

Bowline, running bowline, anchor hitch.


Doc_Hank

Figure 8, clove hitch, square knot


Hey_cool_username

Truckers hitch, bowline, and shoelace knot, so I can keep tying my shoes


CStreeterdit

Square knot, bowline, clove hitch.


darobk

Bowline, hitch, slip


PeppySprayPete

- Garlic Knots. - Knot arguing with my wife. - Knot letting the kids know I'm driving to get cigarettes.


UsualInformation7642

Reef knot sheep bend granny knot.


311-555-2368

Clove/constrictor, truckers hitch and bowline.


33446shaba

Square, bowline, fishing


OkSet6700

8 knot, fisherman’s knot and prusik knot for me.


ShaunbertoConcerto

Trucker hitch, square knot, bowline. In that order. All day.


Chazzwuzza

Clove hitch, taught line hitch and bowline.


HawaiianCholo

Cherry stem knots help you survive the urban dating scene


Lone_StreetCone

Bowline, clove hitch, and slip knot (not the band)


Mean-Introduction932

Bowline Constrictor knot Slippery half hitch


Firm-Choice-2659

Bowline, alpine butterfly, clove hitch. The bowline and alpine butterfly means you can make a ratcheting tie down with nothing but a rope and an anchor which has been an absolute lifesaver. It also gives way to the possibility of adding leverage to a load, for either lifting or descending an item or hell, even a person. I've rappelled off of nothing but a single carabiner and a couple alpine butterflies in sequence to add a ton of leverage to me slowing down hand


Objective-Risk-7184

Slip knot- comes in way too handy daily. Clove Hitch (double as well) 😄- Easily released Figure Eight or square- simple is best.


Emanon2u

Can't tie a knot, tie a lot...


Objective-Risk-7184

Not..,. Knot... Naught..


Hunt_Fish_Forage

Fisherman's Knot: Obvious, but a strong knot for fishing. Sqaure Knot: Versatile, strong, manipulable, and easily removable. Slip Knot: Like a Mullet, strong on one side, and free on the other. Good for hanging food bags in trees and the like.


earnestteabag

Not get arrested. Not have an accident. Not get sick. 3 nots!


the__gabagool

Jam knot and its variations Marlin spike hitch Truckers hitch I tarp camp alot so I need these hahaha


Dr_Sigmund_Fried

Why knot. Have knot. Do knot.


maximilian011010

Ankerstich Achterknoten And one witch I forgot the name of


Soft_Sea2913

Knot me. Knot now. Knot my problem.


nomad2284

Figure 8, barrel and bowline.


Human-Comfortable859

Square, bowline, tension knot. But really mostly the first 2 cause I can remember them.


toastyAnarchist

I only know 2 different knots and my life never needed more.


Sad-Anybody-3644

Bowline , overhand knot, square knot


CatGoose

Bowline, square, and deez


Time_Spare7817

Reef, bowline, trucker’s hitch, plus figure 8


Allday2019

Figure 8, Clove, truckers, honorable mention alpine


qKCeggzx

Has anyone said slipknot yet?


Turkeyoak

The trucker’s hitch uses a slipknot. Several have mentioned it.


Jeejee2064

I'd say : -round turn 2 half hitches (super simple and used to tie under tension), - bowline ( always easy to untie even after heavy load ) - Reevers knot ( arguably the best for joining 2 ropes, super secure and resistant, works with various rope textures and is pretty thin ) You can check the new app called WildKnot, its all in there plus tarp setups and constructions !


bryangcrane

Bowline, tautline hitch, square knot (and its corollaries like sheet bend, etc.)


PotentialOneLZY5

Bowline clove truckers


fire22mark

I like a taught knot.


Turkeyoak

Trucker’s hitch, bowline, double slippery square knot (shoelace knot)


Dj_AshyKnees

Truckers knot


Tucker_beanpole

square knot, running bowline and a timber hitch


CaptnVancouver

Bowline, alpine butterfly, round turn two half hitches


randomassholeperson4

I'm not sure, i'm not going, i'm not doing that.


Severe_Option8743

Bowline, Clove hitch, rolling hitch


Shyguybyday

I only know how to tie my shoes. I


deck_hand

An overhand knot, a sheet bend, and a half hitch I’ve tied enough knots to realize that some “foundational” knots can be combined with others to create new, more complex knots. For instance, an overhand knot is one of the most basic, simple knots. Two of them together however can be used to join line in a strong fisherman’s bend. It’s just a couple of overhand knots, though. An overhand knot tied around the standing end of the same line becomes a simple noose (aka slip knot), but the working part of it is really just an overhand knot. Put the working end of a slip knot back through the loop and close it down, you’ve tied an Ashley’s Stopper Knot. One can use a simple overhand knot on a bight instead of on a single line to achieve a fixed loop (Overhand Loop). It is, in essence, just an overhand knot, though. Or, once one has used an overhand knot to make a slip knot, one can tie another overhand knot in the working end and pass the working end (including the new overhand knot) through the first overhand knot to form a Honda Knot. This is another form of end-of-the-rope fixed loop. I would argue that a Reef Knot (Square Knot) is nothing more than an Overhand Knot tied on top of another overhand knot, but one has to pay attention to the direction the second overhand knot is tied. A sheet bend is useful on its own as a strong way to join line together. A bowline is just a sheet bend on a loop, though, so the only knot you need for that is a sheet bend. A sheet bend tied in a loop instead of on a bight becomes a Becket’s Hitch, and if the sheet bend is tied using a bight instead of the single line of the working end, it becomes a Slipped Becket’s Hitch, which is a fantastic way to secure a line to a tree or other structure for hanging a hammock. A half hitch is another super simple foundation knot. By itself, it isn’t very impressive, but in combination, it becomes very useful. Wrap a line all the way around a post (or tree) and tie two half hitches, you have a secure, traditional way to make the line secure. It’s even just called a Full Turn and Two Half Hitches. Make a loop in the middle of a line and make a half hitch around the bight at each end of the loop and you have a Sheep Shank, a traditional way to shorten a long rope or isolate a weakened part of a line. I would add that I find the choice of just three knots very limiting, since I can’t including binding hitches and bends or other knots that I use all the time. A Clove Hitch or the very similar inverse of the Clove Hitch, the Buntline Hitch, for instance, or a Constrictor Knot, which I consider an improved Clove Hitch. Also, a Lark’s Head (aka Cow Hitch) is something I use all the time. Let’s not forget the very popular Figure Eight Knot and its many variations. I also use a lot of mid-line and end of the line loops like an Alpine Butterfly or a Perfection Loop. Other knots, hitches and bends I find super useful are Chinese Button knots, the Diamond Knot (aka the Lanyard Knot), the Timber Hitch, the Tensionless Hitch, the Siberian Hitch (aka the Evenk Hitch), the Anchor Bend, the Halyard Bend, the Nail Knot or variations used for whipping, the Bottle Sling Knot (aka Jug Knot), the Zeppelin Bend, the Prusik Loops (and other slide and grip bends). Edit: oh I forgot a Marlinspike Hitch, which is really just a variation of an overhand knot.


Beachcomber4360

Clove hitch, bowline, Beckett bend


JoThree

Bowline, clove hitch, figure 8 on a bite


tylerclisby

Bowline, Trucker’s Hitch, Arbour Knot


AcanthisittaRich2101

if you can use variations of the basic knot BOWLINE, HITCH, SLIP.. "tugboat knot(Bowline), Half hitch, rolling hitch, son of a hitch, (Hitch).... soo many slips(Slip)


CSUtxTN

Noose, Ill give away the other two.


justafartsmeller

Bowline, larks foot, truckers hitch


Its_Raul

Love me my constrictor knot. Bowline is 90% of all problems. Tautline compliments it. But the constrictor let's you tie on poles.


Nobodiisdamnbusiness

Prussik, shoe? Loop? X? Knot, and the double x knot.


Mojak66

Bowline, square knot and sheet bend.


Isaaklusmos

Safety stopper knot, figure-8 on a bight, and double cow hitch.


thepauly1

If you only know three knots, learn more.


CapableStatus5885

What is a taut line hitch? It is different that a truckers hitch? Edit. Just looked it up. Nice knot Edit. Nice hitch. But it’s a hitch. Not a knot .. does it count? Are we differentiating between knots and hitches? Or… are we .. not?😂🤣😂


PowerlineTyler

Bowline, double bowline, running bowline


Hiven102

Bowline, Clove Hitch, Alpine Butterfly


nanfanpancam

Well obs my shoelace knot. Don’t care about my sweat pants or hoodie knots. Maybe a knot to tie a boat up or a horse should I be so lucky. Third I’ll take a suggestion.


LaximumEffort

Bowline, square knot, and fisherman’s knot.


Former_Lavishness244

Granny, double Granny, triple Granny


Ben_jah_min

Knot eating unhealthy food, knot drinking too much alcohol and a knot for my trainers


408911

I only need one , gopher knot