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Top 10 Survival Knots You Need to Know
Survival knots are a critical skill for anyone spending time outdoors or in emergency situations. They can be used to secure shelters‚ tie down gear‚ and create tools and traps. A well-tied knot can mean the difference between a secure shelter and a disastrous collapse. There are countless knots‚ but we’ve got them down to the 10 most critical knots for you to learn right away.
Knowing how to tie a variety of knots will let you be more adaptable in different survival situations. I’m a visual learner‚ but I also pick things up quickly when I practice with rope in my hands- so grab some paracord or cordage and follow along below.
Contents (Jump to a section)
Why Survival Knots Are Important
Trucker’s Hitch
Double Fisherman’s Knot
Alpine Butterfly Loop
Lashing Knot
Figure Eight Knot
Rolling Hitch
Zeppelin Bend
Clove Hitch
Bowline Knot
Square Knot
Survival Knot Resources
Why Survival Knots Are Important
Knots are the type of thing that you can learn once and then have a great skill to rely on the rest of your life with very little practice. You can find a knot to do pretty much anything with the right cordage‚ letting you address all sorts of problems.
Whether you are lashing gear down‚ making survival shelters‚ or even climbing – knots are the versatile and reliable way to get it done. You’ll need knots for fishing‚ weaving‚ sewing‚ suturing‚ and plenty of other survival skills as well.
Not all knots are created equal though. You may want a hitch or loop for your application. Once you get a few knots under your belt you can build on that knowledge for even more possibilities.
But‚ don’t wait until an emergency or survival situation to learn them. As with everything prepping: the time to prepare is now.
Trucker’s Hitch
The trucker’s hitch lets you apply a significant amount of tension to a line with easy adjustments.
It uses a blend of loops and half-hitches to provide a mechanical advantage against a heavy load.
This makes it ideal for:
tying loads down tightly
shelter lines
clotheslines
hoisting supplies up a tree
It is a relatively difficult knot to tie if you haven’t practiced it‚ but it is easy to disassemble and very strong.
In my opinion‚ the Trucker’s Hitch is within the top 3 survival knots you should learn.
Double Fisherman’s Knot
The double fisherman’s knot lets strongly and securely join two rope ends together.
This lets you lengthen rope‚ repair rope‚ or tie fishing line (of course).
This makes it ideal for:
extending fishing line
repairing fishing nets
create a long rope from shorter ropes
It is an easy knot to learn‚ and can really help you out when you need longer cordage.
Its versatility makes it a crucial survival knot to have in your repertoire.
Alpine Butterfly Loop
The alpine butterfly loop lets you make a fixed loop in the middle of any rope.
This lets you anchor your rope mid-line and opens up plenty of climbing and shelter applications.
This makes it ideal for:
anchoring shelter lines
rescue harness loops
gear attachment points
It is an easy knot to learn‚ and you can tie it really fast once you learn it.
It’s one of the survival knots you’ll use often.
Lashing Knot
The lashing knot lets you attach several poles‚ sticks‚ or other objects in a row.
This lets you create a tripod on the fly or securely join large branches for other applications.
This makes it ideal for:
creating a tripod shelter
making a field stretcher
constructing log rafts
It is an easy knot to learn‚ but it can take a while to tie depending on how large you make it.
It’s a very survival-specific knot that you can practice with bushcraft skills.
Figure Eight Knot
The figure eight knot is a versatile knot that is a secure non-slip loop.
This lets you create anchors or stoppers for other slip knots.
This makes it ideal for:
pairing with other knots
attaching gear/carabiners
making a rescue harness
It is an easy knot to learn‚ and you may already be familiar with it.
It’s a common knot that is just as important for survival applications as it is for everyday use.
Rolling Hitch
The rolling hitch is a useful way to attach a rope to a pole or other rope and secure it in place.
This lets you attach ropes to anchor points for climbing‚ or attach ropes to anything cylindrical.
This makes it ideal for:
climbing
making bucket handles
tying tarp shelters to poles
It is a simple knot although it is not one of the more common knots outside of the climbing community.
Learning this knot will add to your survival skillset and give you options when making shelters‚ carrying gear‚ or climbing.
Zeppelin Bend
The zeppelin bend is another knot that helps you join two rope ends together strongly and securely.
Rescue climbers use it when strength and reliability are essential.
This makes it ideal for:
lengthening rope
making a rescue harness
It is an easy knot to learn‚ and it can come in handy for a wide range of survival situations.
If you need a reliable connection between two ropes‚ you’ll want to start practicing the zeppelin bend right now.
Clove Hitch
The clove hitch is another knot that helps you attach a rope to a pole.
This lets you tighten a rope to anything cylindrical and keep going.
This makes it ideal for:
shelter line
running tripwire
animal tie down (leash)
It is an easy knot to learn and is a common one for survival shelters.
You may already know the clove hitch‚ but it doesn’t hurt to practice and learn its applications.
Bowline Knot
The bowline knot is one of our favorite non-slip knots for the end of a rope.
This lets you put an attachment point on the end of a rope that is still easy to pop loose if you need to.
This makes it ideal for:
pulley loops
securing to poles
gear attachment loops
It’s not a complicated knot‚ but it’s quick to tie and even quicker to disassemble.
The bowline is certainly in our top 3 survival knots and is something I often find myself using at the end of paracord.
Square Knot
The square knot is another knot that lets you join two ropes together‚ and it holds well under tension.
It is the most common knot on our list‚ easy to learn‚ with wide applications.
This makes it ideal for:
splicing rope
tying loops
attaching gear
Simple and effective‚ you probably expected the square knot on this list. It’s a very easy knot that most people are already familiar with and you can get a lot done with just a square knot.
Of course‚ the square knot is in our top 3 survival knots and is probably one you already know- so why not learn the rest?
Survival Knot Resources
I’m not a knot expert‚ but there are people that have dedicated their lives to knots. Topology is the study of knots (mathematically‚ not practically)‚ so some people take knots pretty seriously. If you want to go beyond the survival knots we have suggested there are several resources to help you learn even more.
One of my favorite resources is the timeless Ashley Book of Knots – the definitive book of knots. Commonly referred to as “ABOK”‚ it has over 3‚900 knots first published in 1944.
Besides ABOK‚ I recommend checking out:
Animated Knots by Grog – we worked together previously and Grog’s website is a thing of beauty with simple animations on a huge range of knots.
Knot Terminology (Wikipedia) – learn all of the lingo and talk like a topologist.
ClimbingTechniques.org – if you plan on climbing with your knots‚ this is the resource you need.
If you know of any great knot resources that we missed‚ drop the link in the comments below so we can all be better off for it.
The Final Word
Well‚ now that you have some knots under your belt- why not check out some other useful survival hobbies that are quick to learn? Learn something new every day since survival skills always trump prepping supplies.
Here are some other guides our subscribers have found helpful:
Best Paracord for Survival
Beyond Paracord: 8 Other Cordage Types You Need to Know
Bug Out Bag List | 44 Essentials
Keep exploring‚ stay prepared‚ and be safe.
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