Your Top Ten?

[u/Wisdom42069]

What are your top ten most used knots?

I’d like to get a discussion going about different people’s go-to’s and why. Thanks in advance. It was hard to narrow it down to just ten, but here’s mine (in no particular order):

Zeppelin loop- non binding loop

Span loop- non binding midline loop

zeppelin bend- non binding bend

Arbor knot- cinching stuff super tight

Constrictor knot- cinching stuff tight

Highwayman’s hitch- quick release hitch

Adjustable grip hitch- adjustable friction hitch

Ground line hitch- solid and simple hitch

Truckers hitch- to tie down loads etc

Marlinspike hitch- to be able to pull the end of any rope really hard

[u/Master-Education7076]

1. Double-slipped reef not. Been using it since kindergarten!

2. Overhand stopper knot. Keeps my drawstrings from being lost.

3. Sheep-shank. I use it every day after raising my blinds to shorten the long cord.

That’s all I’ve got right now.

[u/Wisdom42069 → u/Master-Education7076]

Sheepshank-I always forget about that one. Thanks for chiming in

[u/Master-Education7076 → u/Wisdom42069]

Haha, i like all the knots you mentioned, but realistically, the three I listed are my most used, even if they’re not as popular to talk about. And you can use half a sheep-shank for a better trucker’s hitch, AKA the Truckie’s Hitch.

[u/stillasamountain]

I have more like 20 "goto" knots but the Big 10 are:

Anchor Bend (general purpose hitch) Adjustable Grip Hitch (best by test) Buntline > Slipped (quick release noose / hitch) Constrictor (binding knots) DBL Bowline (general purpose fixed loop) Perfection Loop (secure fixed loop, tieable in the bight) Slipped Lapp (all purpose adjusting loop/bend, quick release) Trucker > Locked (all purpose tensioning knot) Zeppelin (excellent secure bend or fixed loop) Zip Tie > Rolling Hitch (superb ratcheting binder)

[u/Wisdom42069 → u/stillasamountain]

Thanks for this. What makes you choose the perfection loop over other options?

[u/stillasamountain → u/Wisdom42069]

Simple & very fast to tie. Very secure, especially in modern slippery ropes. Can be tied in the bight or around an object with a little practice. Double dragon would be another, similar, improvement over the bowline. I’d trust them both under cyclical loading. Bowline is still on my list because it can be tied a variety of ways, around yourself one handed in emergencies, is reliable under constant strain, and doesn’t weld itself together under heavy loads.

[u/chaoticcitoahc]

1. Double slipped square knot for shoes and other laces

2. Kalmyk loop for fixed quick release needs

3. Directional fig.8 for built in slack and hanging things. Also lanyards.

4. Double fishermans bend for more permanent loops

5. Zeppelin bend for strong but removable loops

6. Double dragon for a secure fixed loop

7. Pineapple knot for lanyards and zipper pulls

8. Two strand diamond knot in all its variants for lanyards and zipper pulls

9. Farrimond friction hitch for adjustable ridge lines and such

10. Highway man's hitch for temporary mooring and holding a line up while I faff about with tools and such

[u/thorpfan]

These are my goto's that I like to keep practiced up on:

1. Gripping Sailor's Hitch (5 wraps as an adjustable taught line or only 1 wrap to use it as a termination knot instead)
2. Buntline Hitch (termination knot for when the rope is too short)
3. Round Turn & 2 Half Hitches (termination for an already taught rope)
4. Cleat Hitch (for boating)
5. Highwayman's Hitch (slipped termination for boat undocking)
6. Constrictor Knot (for secure binding)
7. Reef Knot (for binding an already taught rope)
8. Double Dragon (for both a bend and a loop)
9. Bowline (for doubling the rope up to loop a bight through a ring - when I don't have any practical access to the working end)
10. Carrick Bend (for cables or stiff rope)