What is your favorite general purpose knot for overlanding?

[Dave Decker]

In overlanding there are numerous applications for knots from lashing gear to setting up tents and many other things. What is your favorite general purpose knot, why, and how do you tie it? Here is my contribution:

Prusik knot. I like this knot because it is multi-purpose. It can be used to tighten down a rope used for lashing down your gear, it can be used on a tent guy-line for tightening, and if you're a caver or climber, it can be used to climb ropes!

I've attached a file that explains how to tie the knot. It can also be tied from the bitter end, meaning it doesn't need to be in a loop to work.

 

[JimInBC]

A bowline, on or off the bight. It gives you a solid loop. It is nice that it will not overly tighten under load.

It can be used for rescue. Can be tied single handed with practice. Can be used for lashing.

There are not my videos but they are clear and short.

On a bight

Off a bight

PS I like a truckers hitch too. Great for putting canoes on the roof , but needs to be used with caution as it gives enough leverage to bend a boat.

 

[Boort]

@XJinBC

A bowline, on or off the bight. It gives you a solid loop. It is nice that it will not overly tighten under load.
It can be used for rescue. Can be tied single handed with practice. Can be used for lashing.
...
PS I like a truckers hitch too. Great for putting canoes on the roof , but needs to be used with caution as it gives enough leverage to bend a boat.

Modified Truckers Hitch with a Bowline for the upper Figure 8 Knot. Or sometimes Modified Truckers Hitch with a Alpine Butterfly for the Figure 8 Knot if it is a large/heavy load and I need symmetrical pressure on the upper loop. Also good if you don't know where you'll need the upper loop placed.

@Dave Decker
If you're a fan of the Prusk check out the 4 / 1 Distel. Great for bringing up gear as you climb with the Prusk. Learned it when my uncle used it on a sailboat to safely bring a tool bag up to repair a damaged pulley.

Boort

 

[old_man]

Knot running out of gas....Knot breaking in the middle of no where.......

 

[Dave Decker]

Knot running out of gas....Knot breaking in the middle of no where.......

Knot rolling off a cliff... LoL!

 

[blackntan]

IF YOU CARN'T TIE KNOTS TIE LOTS

 

[JimInBC]

IF YOU CARN'T TIE KNOTS TIE LOTS

Hahahahahaha. Had a friend who was a kayaker. Watched him load his roof with his boat. Asked what he was doing after he tied the fifth knot on the first line....

 

[Cort]

Taut line hitch is what I use the most. Bowline and the figure 8 family follows.

 

[blackntan]

Got taught what they called the wagon hitch when i was a kid on a farm way before these straps i used it all my life but find it hard to show people as iam left handed and right handed i can not tie it lol my other fave is a bowline I sail so use quite a lot , i like tying old rope turks heads and monkeys fists etc and love splicing some thing soothing about knots and splicing My podger is allways ready

 

[blackntan]

For the land lubers amongst us Top one is a dogs dick , used to finish of the end of a line , the bottom is a monkeys fist used for a heaving line , throwing a line ashore or used back in the sailing ship days for smuggling contraband

 

[LVCoffeeguy]

Figure 8 - follow thru or a double figure 8. I first learned it rock climbing, now I use and teach everybody it! It is easy to tie and easy to un tie no matter what kind of pull/force was put on it. Not to mention, if it is good enough for me falling off of a mountain it is good enough for my rig.

 

[Boort]

@blackntan

Got taught what they called the wagon hitch when i was a kid on a farm way before these straps i used it all my life but find it hard to show people as iam left handed and right handed i can not tie it lol my other fave is a bowline I sail so use quite a lot , i like tying old rope turks heads and monkeys fists etc and love splicing some thing soothing about knots and splicing My podger is allways ready

LOL... My mom is left handed and back in the day was asked to teach a Macrame class. Frustration and Hilarity ensued!

Boort

 

[AZ WANDERING BEAR]

Bowline, trucker's hitch, prusik, Candian jam knot, whip knot, clove hitch, taut line hitch. With those I can pretty much solve most any cargo or camping issue that arises. Learned all of them while I was seriously into bushcraft.

 

[Overland Commander]

Taut line hitch. Use it daily.

 

[TerryD]

My two main knots are the Trucker's Hitch and the Prusik. There's also a simply loop I use for securing our canopy at the beach but I'm not familiar with the name. I've been studying and playing with Amsteel splicing techniques as well. I try to get my kids involved and the oldest and I have made a few Whoopie slings for our hammocks as well as a bunch of continuous loops for securing gear to my roof rack since my straps don't all have enough slack on the mechanism end to wrap around the big tubes they used on the Xterras.

This kind of stuff is what I attempt to study during my down time. I'm not one to idly watch YouTube for the cat videos. I'm generally watching something that engages me mentally and teaches me a skill unless it's off-road videos.

 

[Overland Commander]

View attachment 59327 View attachment 59324 View attachment 59327 View attachment 59324 For the land lubers amongst us Top one is a dogs dick , used to finish of the end of a line , the bottom is a monkeys fist used for a heaving line , throwing a line ashore or used back in the sailing ship days for smuggling contraband

SailorKnots! Hoo-Ya!

 

[Joel S]

Taut line hitch. Use it daily.

Heck yeah, super versatile, great for guide lines

 

[blackntan]

"IF YOU CARNT TIE KNOTS TIE LOTS "

 

[Nickzero]

I am still learning how to use knots. I know the truckers hitch, mooring hitch, bowline, butterfly and standard hitches. These come in handy when tying down a kayak to the roof rack.

 

[Welding Goats]

I find myself using a trucker's hitch most often followed by the Prusik knot.