Essential Knots for Hikers in Australia
Knot-tying is one of those skills that looks minor until you actually need it: securing gear, hauling a pack up a pitch, rigging a shelter, fixing something that’s failed on the trail. Knowing the right knot for the job, and knowing it well enough to tie it without thinking, makes a hike safer and a lot less frustrating. Below are the knots worth learning properly, what each one is actually for, and where each one falls short.
Reef Knot: A Versatile and Reliable Knot
The reef knot, also known as the square knot or sailor’s knot, is a simple knot for tying two ropes together, securing a rope to an object, or forming a loop. It’s quick to tie and untie, which is exactly why people reach for it, but it’s not a knot I’d trust for joining two ropes under any real load. Reef knots are prone to capsizing or slipping when the tension isn’t even and constant, which makes them reliable only for binding purposes, tying a bundle together, where the load stays steady. If you actually need to join two ropes that will take tension, use a sheet bend or a double fisherman’s knot instead.
How to Tie a Reef Knot:
- Lay the two ropes side by side with the ends aligned.
- Make a loop with one of the ropes (rope A).
- Pass the end of the other rope (rope B) through the loop made by rope A.
- Bend rope B around and up through the loop it just created.
- Pull on both ropes to tighten the knot.
Clove Hitch: Secure Your Rope with Ease
The clove hitch is a fast, reliable way to secure a rope to a post, tree, or any round object, and it’s a common way to start a lashing before building it out further. It holds well under steady load, but it can slip if the pull isn’t roughly constant, so I wouldn’t rely on it alone for anything load-bearing without a backup.
How to Tie a Clove Hitch:
- Pass the rope over the top of the post and around it, crossing over itself to form an X against the post.
- Wrap the rope around the post a second time, laying the new turn alongside the first.
- Tuck the working end under this last turn, trapping it against the standing part.
- Pull both ends firmly to seat the two turns against the post.
Figure-Eight Knot: Strong and Versatile for Climbers
The figure-eight knot is a strong, versatile knot used for securing a rope to a harness, creating a loop, or stopping a rope from running through a hole. It is also called the figure-of-eight descent knot when used for descending a rope. It’s one of the easiest knots here to check at a glance, which is part of why it’s trusted so widely.
How to Tie a Figure-Eight Knot:
- Make a loop in the rope, leaving about 6 inches (15 cm) of tail.
- Bring the working end through the loop and down the other side.
- Pass the working end around the standing end of the rope and up through the loop.
- Pull on both ends of the rope to tighten the knot.
Two Half Hitches: Quick and Easy Rope Attachment
Two half hitches is a simple, effective way to secure a rope to an object. It ties easily even in wet or dirty conditions, and it holds well, though it’s a different knot from the clove hitch above despite doing a similar job.
How to Tie Two Half Hitches:
- Pass the working end around the object once, in a single turn.
- Bring the working end across and behind the standing part, then up through the loop formed to tie a half hitch.
- Repeat the same hitching action a second time around the standing part.
- Pull the standing part to snug both hitches firmly against the object.
Taut Line Hitch: Adjust Tension Easily
The taut line hitch is genuinely useful for tarps, tents, and anything else you need to tension and re-tension, since it lets you adjust the tension without compromising the knot’s security.
How to Tie the Taut Line Hitch:
- Create a loop and attach the rope to the object you want to secure.
- Pass the working end around the object and through the loop.
- Bring the working end around the object again, wrapping it around the standing part of the rope once.
- Pass the working end through the loop you created earlier.
- Pull on both ends to tighten the knot.
Sheet Bend: Secure Two Ropes Together
The sheet bend, also known as the weaver’s knot, is the one I’d reach for over a reef knot any time I’m joining two ropes of different diameters. It holds a strong, reliable grip where a reef knot would slip.
How to Tie the Sheet Bend:
- Form a loop with the thicker rope, leaving about 6-12 inches of tail.
- Pass the working end of the thinner rope through the loop.
- Wrap the working end of the thinner rope around the thicker rope twice.
- Pass the thinner rope back through the loop.
- Tighten the knot by pulling on both ropes.
Bowline Knot: The Essential Loop Knot
The bowline forms a fixed loop in the end of a rope, and it’s earned its reputation: lowering packs, securing gear, anywhere you need a loop that won’t tighten or slip under load but that you can still untie easily afterwards.
How to Tie the Bowline Knot:
- Make a loop in the rope, leaving a 6-12 inch tail.
- Pass the working end of the rope through the loop from underneath.
- Bring the working end around the standing part of the rope.
- Pass the working end back through the loop, going from top to bottom.
- Pull on both ends to tighten the knot.
Fisherman’s Bend Knot: Attaching a Rope to a Ring or Anchor
The Fisherman’s Bend, also called the anchor bend, attaches a rope securely to a ring, spar, or anchor point. It’s a different knot from the Double Fisherman’s Knot, which joins two rope ends together rather than attaching a single rope to a fixed point, and it’s worth keeping the two straight since mixing them up means tying the wrong knot for the job.
How to Tie the Fisherman’s Bend Knot:
- Pass the working end through or around the ring, spar, or anchor point twice, forming two round turns.
- Bring the working end back across the turns and tie a half hitch around the standing part.
- Add a second half hitch through the round turns for extra security.
- Pull all parts tight and dress the knot so the turns sit neatly against the anchor point.
Prusik Knot: Ascend or Descend a Rope Safely
The Prusik knot is used in rope climbing, canyoneering, mountaineering, and other activities to ascend or descend a rope using friction. It’s one I always carry a length of cord for, since it works purely on friction and needs nothing mechanical to function.
How to Tie the Prusik Knot:
- Create a loop with the Prusik cord, leaving a 6-12 inch tail.
- Wrap the Prusik cord around the main rope 3 times.
- Pass the loop end through the created loops.
- Tighten the knot by pulling on both ends of the cord.
Three wraps is the standard to start with. On icy or slippery rope, adding extra wraps gives you more grip, since the friction between the cord and the rope is what makes the knot hold at all.
Alpine Butterfly Knot: Secure Loops for Climbing and Rappelling
The Alpine Butterfly Knot is a strong loop knot used for climbing, rappelling, or attaching gear to a carabiner.
How to Tie the Alpine Butterfly Knot:
- Wrap the rope around your hand or wrist two or three times.
- Fold the near loop over the other loops sitting on your hand.
- Tuck that folded loop underneath the remaining loops.
- Slide the result off your hand and pull it snug to form the knot, then tighten by pulling on both ends.
Essential Tips for Tying Knots
- Practice regularly to tie knots quickly and securely.
- Use the right rope size for each knot.
- Ensure the ends of the rope are smooth.
- Tie the knot tightly and evenly.
- Always check your knots before using them.
Other Useful Knots for Hiking
- Square Lashing: Used for lashing two poles together to create a stretcher or shelter.
- Guyline Hitch: Secures a guyline to a tent or tarp peg.
- Tripod Lashing: Lashes three poles together to create a tripod.
If I had to narrow this whole list down to what’s actually worth carrying in your head every time you hike, it’s the bowline, the sheet bend, the clove hitch, and a Prusik loop if there’s any rope work involved at all. The rest are worth knowing, but those four cover most of what actually comes up on the trail.
What’s your go-to knot? I seem to use the clive hitch more than anything else.
it’s the ” you take care of it” knot!
Jim Roberts hahaha. Love it
Great post Darren. Thanks.
What’s your go-to knot for hiking or outdoor adventures, and have you ever had a situation where knowing how to tie one made a real difference?
The clove hitch seems to be my goto for a lot of things.
A bow in my shoelace is the limit of my knot tying ability. But I do tie a double bow on extreme hikes 🤣.
Fiona Cunningham haha. That made me laugh. It’s one knot I struggle to master. Just when I think I have it right, I get snagged in undergrowth and it comes undone.
Alpine Butterfly is a great knot for tensioning a guy by creating a solid hitch in middle of a rope, and is easy to get undone
Darren Hocking I do like that one too. Learnt it at SES training. One of my favourites now.
Bowline, taut-line, trucker’s, alpine butterfly, prusik, clove, constrictor, rolling, and sheet bend … And basically you can do anything out in the bush.
Add knowing how to make and work soft shackles and soft links …