Newbie Knot guide

[surreal_trip]

So was reviewing some of the knots I used to know and some of the new one's I'll need to know as a hanger. Got me thinking--- Which when I recovered from the pain of brain activity---

Which knots do you use in the wild, and what are they used for?

To start off, The only knots I remember are:

Bowline: Simple but effective loop knot. A thousand different uses and the first knot I learned past tieing my shoes.

Harness Bend: good for joining up ropes with a strong hold. Break in the line quick fix.

Prusik Knot: A friction hold knot. another class favourite and the one I hear the most of from here. when bearing a load it has great strength but when loose moves up and down a line very easy.

Heaving Line Knot: Adds weight to a line. Good for bear bagging, and getting a line over a body of water to help with river crossing.

Any other suggestions on knots to pick up?

[JWinNC]

In general, not necessarily Hammock specific...

Joining knots:
Zeppelin Bend
Fisherman

Non sliding loop:
Bowline

Sliding Loop:
Double overhead noose

Others I use a lot:
Double overhand stopper
Marlin spike hitch
Lark's head

Others I use a little:
Tauntline hitch
Half Hitch
Clove hitch
Square Knot

None of these are difficult.

[half-a-jeep]

To expand on the importance of the bowline: once you've learned how to tie it, you've also just taught yourself the sheet bend. It's the same knot and tied the same way, but is used to join two ropes instead of a loop. It's also good at joining two ropes of different size, the larger one is the U-shaped portion and the smaller one does the "up and around" part (I'm sure there's technical terms for these).

Rolling hitch: a friction knot that can be tied in the end of a rope, good for tightening tarp lines, or anything that has to be adjustable.

Trucker hitch: used as a pulley to increase force in the line, for when something has to be really tight.

[mbiraman]

A few others you might want to have a look at are
1- canadian jam knot
2-slipped buntline hitch
3-Mors knot

[timabababaluka]

Seems like every time I hang I use:

a bowline, larkshead, marlinspike, prussic, adjustable grip hitch (similar to the tautline), Canadian jam knot, trucker's hitch, alpine butterfly.

Other good ones to know:

Zeppelin bend, water knot, figure eight (and figure eight loop), diamond knot (creates a loop that you can larkshead around the knot for insta-shackles if you're ever in a bind or just too lazy make 'em the real way).

And I'll find just about any excuse to tie a Solomon bar for no other reason than I enjoy tying it

[Teegs]

A truckers hitch would effectively replace a figure 9, correct?

[timabababaluka]

A truckers hitch would effectively replace a figure 9, correct?

I believe so. You use it like a pully to crank down on the line and make it nice and tight. Figure nine is probably easier/quicker, but I always have cordage on me. Conversely, I can never find hardware when I need it .

[JohnSawyer]

Oh, and while you're trying to figure out how to tie all these gems... Here's a site that will help...

http://www.animatedknots.com/

[Fish<><]

+1 on the site listed above by mr John sawyer

[JohnSawyer]

Mr. Sawyer was my father. . . my friends call me John...