Six Essential Knots for Summer Shenanigans

By Drew Prindle Published December 16, 2019

Knowing the right knot for any situation is one of the most useful skills a man can have, and with summer just around the corner, we thought it’d be helpful to give you a quick-reference guide to knots that will most likely come in handy during all the crazy recreational activities you’ve undoubtedly got planned. Enjoy!

Trucker’s Hitch

This knot comes in handy in lots of different situations, but it’s particularly useful for fastening large things (kayaks, rafts, bikes, etc) to the roof of your car. When tied properly, it works a lot like a pulley system and allows you to apply a great deal of tension to the rope before it’s secured.

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Bowline

Honestly, no good knot guide would be complete without a mention of the bowline. It’s sometimes called The King of Knots, and for good reason. It comes in handy in just about every situation. If you need a solid loop that won’t slip –for, say, securing a towrope to the back of a boat for waterskiing– this is the knot you want.

Fisherman’s Knot

This knot only really has one use, but there’s no better way to secure a hook to the end of a fishing line. There are other knots that get the job done, but this one is arguably the easiest to remember of the bunch.

Cleat Hitch

Now that boating season will soon be in full swing, chances are pretty good that you’ll encounter a situation where some kind of watercraft needs to be fastened to a dock. The cleat hitch is the fastest and most secure way to do this, and knowing it will make you a much more useful sailing companion.

Taut Line Hitch

This knot is immensely useful when setting up a tent, shelter, or any line that requires adjustable length and tension. When not under a load, the knot slips along the standing part of the line allowing you to remove the slack, but when placed under a load, it locks in place

Square Knot

Much the bowline, the square knot is another knot that’s great in numerous different situations. It’s great for tying two pieces of rope together — so long as those ropes will not be subjected to large loads. We’ve found that it’s particularly useful for tying up bundles of firewood for easy transport

Know of any other knots that might come in handy this summer? Tell us about ’em!

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