Essential Camping Knots

Knowing how to properly tie a knot is an essential skill every person should know. When it comes to outdoor activities such as camping, having the knowledge of some basic knots will better your experience and safety. The different variations of knots are endless, so we broke them down to some fundamental knots that you should know, learn, or simply brush-up on.

Knots

A knot can be categorized by using 1 rope to tie itself. For example, tying your shoes or tie are knots that we do almost every day. While camping, knots are used for guying out a tent, setting up tarps or shelters, setting up a clothesline, or tying gear down to the roof of a car. 

Here are knots you can implement for your next camping trip.

Bowline

Bowline knots provide a secure fasten that doesn’t slip when there is tension and will untie very easily when it isn’t anchored. It is used by tying around an object and functions as the beginning or end of a line.

Uses: tent stake loops, clothesline, bear bag line

Square Knot

Uses: Bundling wood, tying up a bandage, extending or combining two ropes

Hitch

Hitches are a favorite among many due to the ease of being able to adjust the tension. Hitches are used to tie a knot around a line or object usually a log, tree, or stake. 

Girth Hitch or Strap Hitch

A girth hitch is commonly used to attach a sling of webbing to a harness to create an anchor point. This hitch is considered a gold standard for rock climbers and search and rescue.

Uses: Search and rescue, rock climbing combined with a carabiner

Trucker’s Hitch

(Source: Animated Knots)

Probably one of the most popular and useful hitches among knot tying. The Trucker’s Hitch has a distinctive mechanical feature that provides a strong hold and allows for you to maneuver and easily adjust.

Uses: guying out a tent, securing heavy loads, tarpaulins

Bends

A bend is used for tying two different pieces of rope. It is used during times where your cordage is not long enough, so you may need to add another piece of rope to extend the line.

Sheet Bend

The Sheet Bend or Weaver’s Knot joins two ropes of unequal size. Though bends are not commonly used, it is still important to learn in case you need to Frankenstein some pieces of rope together.

Uses: Creating cargo nets, climbing nets, or connecting ropes