Best Knots - Animated and Illustrated Rope Knots

This selection of rope knots for outdoor use includes a range of basic, work-a-day utility knots. Although there are literally thousands of different knots, the knots illustrated and animated on this page include the best knots from the three primary knot categories: Loop Knots, Bends (rope to rope knots) and Hitches (rope to object knots).

Bear in mind that it is far more important to learn a few knots well than to half learn a whole bunch of knots!

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	Click on one of the 38 knot names below to see the illustration, animated knot and explanation of the knot.


	Knots by Name


	Knots by Usage

	Backup Knot	Add security to a primary knot.
	Better Bow Knot	A more secure shoelace knot.
	Blake’s Hitch	Arborist ascending/descending knot.
	Bowline	Forms a secure loop.
	Bowline On A Bight	Forms a loop in the middle of a line.
	Buntline Hitch	Tie items to the end of a rope.
	Butterfly Knot	Form a secure loop in the middle of a rope.
	Carrick Bend	Join heavy ropes together.
	Clove Hitch	A simple knot to tie a rope to a post.
	Cow Hitch	Tie a rope to a post or object.
	Constrictor Knot	Tie up bundles of items.
	Double Fisherman’s	Join two ropes.
	Figure Eight	The strongest knot for a loop at the end of a rope.
	Girth Hitch	Attach a strap loop to an object.
	Half Hitch	Basic overhand knot.
	Heaving Line Knot	Adds weight to the end of a rope.
	Honda Knot	The lasso knot.
	Klemheist Knot	Climber’s movable loop knot
	Mooring Hitch	Quick release knot.
	Monkey’s Fist	Decorative ball knot.
	Munter Hitch	Climbing belay knot.
	Pile Hitch	Attach a rope to an object.
	Prusik Knot	Secures a movable loop to another line.
	Rolling Bend	Secure a line to a post.
	Rolling Hitch	Secure a line to a post.
	Running Bowline	A slip knot.
	Sheep Shank	Use to shorted a rope.
	Sheet Bend	Join ropes of unequal size.
	Slip Knot	Another knot for a sliding loop.
	Slipped Buntline	A quick release knot.
	Stopper Knot	A stopper knot for the end of a rope.
	Square Knot	Secure non critical items.
	Tautline Hitch	An adjustable knot.
	Timber Hitch	Secure a rope around a post.
	Trucker’s Hitch	Load securing knot.
	Valdotain Tresse	Arborist ascending/descending knot.
	Water Knot	Best knot for webbing.
	Yosemite Bowline	A very secure loop knot.

	Bends (Tie Two Ropes Together)
	Backup Knot	Add security to a primary knot.
	Double Fisherman’s	Join two ropes.
	Sheep Shank	Use to shorted a rope.
	Sheet Bend	Join ropes of unequal size.
	Square Knot	Secure non critical items.
	Water Knot	Best knot for webbing.
	Hitches (Tie a Rope to an Object)
	Blake’s Hitch	Arborist ascending/descending knot.
	Buntline Hitch	Tie items to the end of a rope.
	Clove Hitch	A simple knot to tie a rope to a post.
	Constrictor Knot	Tie up bundles of items.
	Cow Hitch	Tie a rope to a post or object.
	Girth Hitch	Attach a strap loop to an object.
	Half Hitch	Basic overhand knot.
	Klemheist Knot	Climber’s movable loop knot
	Mooring Hitch	Quick release knot.
	Munter Hitch	Climbing belay knot.
	Pile Hitch	Attach a rope to an object.
	Prusik Knot	Secures a movable loop to another line.
	Rolling Bend	Secure a line to a post.
	Rolling Hitch	Secure a line to a post.
	Slipped Buntline	A quick release knot.
	Tautline Hitch	An adjustable knot.
	Timber Hitch	Secure a rope around a post.
	Trucker’s Hitch	Load securing knot.
	Valdotain Tresse Knot	Arborist ascending/descending knot.
	Loops (Make a Loop in a Rope)
	Bowline	Forms a secure loop.
	Bowline On A Bight	Forms a loop in the middle of a line.
	Butterfly Knot	Form a secure loop in the middle of a rope.
	Figure Eight	The strongest knot for a loop at the end of a rope.
	Honda Knot	The lasso knot.
	Running Bowline	A slip knot.
	Slip Knot	Another knot for a sliding loop.
	Water Knot	Best knot for webbing.
	Yosemite Bowline	A very secure loop knot.
	Miscellaneous
	Heaving Line Knot	Adds weight to the end of a rope.
	Stopper Knot	A stopper knot for the end of a rope.
	Monkey’s Fist	Decorative ball knot.


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	Disclaimer: Any activity involving rope can be dangerous and may even be life threatening! Knot illustrations contained in this web site are not intended for rock climbing instruction. Many knots are not suitable for the risks involved in climbing. Seek professional instruction. Many of these knots have histories of use tracing back hundreds of years. However, many critical factors in their use today cannot be controlled, including: the appropriateness of knots used in particular applications, the age, size, and condition of ropes (knots weaken the rated breaking strength of rope anywhere from 50% to as much as 80%, even more in the case of old and worn rope); and the accuracy with which these descriptions have been followed. No responsibility is accepted for incidents arising from the use of this material.


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	Updated: December 7, 2011


	© Copyright 2011 John E Sherry All rights reserved Copyright Information


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Click on one of the 38 knot names below to see the illustration, animated knot and explanation of the knot.

Knots by Name

Knots by Usage