11 Essential Camping Knots You Should Know To Unlock The Wild

In this article, we will cover 11 essential knots that every camper should know before heading out on their next adventure! Camping is a great way to get outside and experience nature, but it can be dangerous if you don’t know the basics of camping safety. And knowing how to tie essential knots is honestly an important part of staying safe while in the backcountry.

These knots are used for all sorts of tasks ranging from setting up tents and tarps, tying down gear, making repairs, building shelters, hanging food, ascending a cliff, and everything in between.

From basic hitches and bends to more complex knots and lashing techniques, these 11 knots will help ensure you will be prepared while exploring the outdoors.

So grab some rope, paracord, and a beer, and let’s get started learning these essential camping knots!

What Are The Most Essential Camping Knots? 

1. Overhand Knot

Okay, this is an easy one. But I include it because I wanted to start with something that you likely already know! Now into some more useful camp knots.

It has applications in true wilderness use as a stopper knot. Also, the bushcraft zip tie (arbor knot), uses the overhand knot so that it remains tight. Same thing with lashings as the overhand stops a clove hitch from loosening.

2. Truckers Hitch

The Truckers Hitch is one of the most essential knots to know when camping, as it has many uses and can be used to great effect. Personally, I use it every single time when setting up a ridge line because it allows you to make the line taught and secure it without having to tie a knot.

Also, I use the trucker hitch every time when securing loads whether that be a wilderness canoe to the top of a car or a duffel bag on a pulk sled. So yeah, it is definitely one of the most essential camping knots to know when traveling in the wild.

3. Double Fishermans Knot

The Double Fisherman’s knot is an essential knot for any serious outdoorsman because it allows you to join two pieces of rope together. This means that if you are in a situation where your rope breaks, then you can use the double fisherman’s knot to restore it. It is also handy when wanting to expand the length of your rope, as it can be used to join two pieces together and create a longer rope.

Also, you can just use this to create a necklace because this knot allows you to adjust the lengths if you want to do something crafty!

4. Prusik Knot

Tying the Prusik knot is a fundamental skill to possess when you’re exploring the great outdoors because of the knot’s wide use in the industry.

This friction-based knot secures one onto a rope, providing ample protection against any potential fall or descent; it’s especially useful for mountaineering, rock climbing, hunting, and rappelling! So if you plan on embarking on any of those types of trips, it could be wise to master this beforehand.

The Prusik knot can also be used for setting up a rope rescue system or when trying to pull yourself up and ascend a rope, which we practiced when mountaineering in Alaska. As you can see, it is an essential knot that any outdoor enthusiast should know.

5. Figure 8 Knot

This is a general stopper knot at the end of the line. It is similar to the overhand knot, but it is more secure and will not slip or come undone as easily. It also looks cleaner than an overhand knot, too.

Also, the Figure 8 follow-through knot is the most common way to attach your harness to your rope while rock climbing or mountaineering. So depending on your passions, you may use this every day.

6. Double Overhand Knot

This is a basic stopper knot and it is quite similar to the overhand knot but you just do one more loop. It is used to put a stopper on one end of a rope. Sometimes it is also called a barrel knot as it kind of mimics a barrel shape.

7. Water Knot

The water knot is used primarily to tie two pieces of webbing together. However, I also use it quite often whenever I need to tie two pieces of rope together quickly because it is more efficient in my opinion than the double fisherman’s knot.

8. Sheet Bend

Is used primarily to connect to ends of ropes of different diameters together. If you have something like paracord that needed to connect to a rope like 10mm anchor rope, this knot would be the best bet for securing the load.

9. Clove Hitch

The clove hitch is an essential knot for any serious primitive camper, as it is used in most lashings to both begin and end them. This knot is versatile, secure, relatively quick, and easy to tie. So if you want to learn about lashings, I would start by learning the simple clove hitch.

Then, the lashings should come pretty easily.

10. Bowline Knot

The bowline is my go-to securement knot for most of my outdoor endeavors, whether it be in the backcountry or simply at home in the backyard. It is incredibly strong and secure (when tied correctly) and also has a very simple structure.

I use it any time I have to secure something to a tree or any object. This can be anything from setting up a ridgeline, tying a canoe to a tree so it doesn’t blow away in this storm, and really just tying knots around anything.

11. Larks Head

This has a billion and a half uses as well, but I often use it when connecting a rope to a ring or closed circuit item.

12. Alpine Butterfly Loop

This, like most others on the list, has multiple uses. Most often, it is used in mountaineering to tie people into the rope since it can be tied in the middle of the line.

However, for camping and general backcountry use, it is excellent as it can be used to create loops in the middle of ridge lines to allow you to hang items up.

What Are Some Rope Terms?

Knots:

A knot is basically a type of securement formed by looping and tying a rope or other material around itself or around another object. Essential knots for camping that we will go over include the overhand knot, Double Fisherman’s knot, Prusik knot, Figure 8 Knot, Double overhand knot, water knot, and of course the Bowline Knot.

Bends:

A bend is a knot used to join two ropes together, usually for the purpose of expanding the rope you have while camping. The most commonly used bends for wilderness use that we will go over are the Double fisherman knot and the water knot.

Hitches:

a hitch is a type of securement that is used to attach one piece of rope, webbing, or cord to another object such as a tree. Necessary hitches for camping and wilderness use include the trucker’s hitch and clove hitch.

Lashings:

My favorite! Lashings are commonly used for camping and wilderness use to join two items together, such as poles or logs. They involve two methods of securement, wrapping, and binding. These securements can be done with rope, cordage, or natural cordage if you know how to create it. Essential lashings for camping and wilderness use include the square lashing, diagonal lashing, round lashing, and shear lashing.

Now that we have gone over some of the basic terminologies when it comes to knots, let’s go over some of the types of ropes used commonly when camping.

Cordage Used For Camping Knots

Paracord:

Paracord as we all know it is an incredibly versatile cordage type that most of us carry every time we go into the wilderness. The uses are endless and it has inner strands that could have emergency uses like making a net, repairing clothes, etc. The only downside though is that compared to bankline, it is difficult to carry more than 100 feet of this as it just becomes bulky and heavy.

Bankline:

Bankline is an incredibly durable and lightweight type of tarred cordage that offers superior strength despite its relatively small size. An added bonus is the tarred coating, which helps to protect against damage due to moisture or wear. Also, it allows the rope to bite down on itself causing more secure knots… just don’t try to undo them!

Bankline can be wound up tighter than paracord, making it easier to transport and store for camping purposes; however, it doesn’t have access to internal strands like 550 paracord does. Bushcrafters specifically, appreciate this material’s versatility – you can use the bank line with ease when tying down tents or tarps, creating netting systems, or lashing various items together at your campsite!

Anchor Rope:

I have anchor rope on here because it is my preferred rope to practice knot tying on. It is large and slick allowing for easy untying even when knots are weight-bearing. I even have it in neon orange to allow me to see it or properly when practicing or demonstrating.

If you are getting into the art of knot tying, practicing with a large-diameter rope like this can help elevate your learning experience.

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As you can see, there are many essential knots that every camper, hunter, backpacker, survivalist, or general outdoor enthusiast should know. From the figure 8 knot to the lark’s head, each of these knots has its own unique purpose and application. Not only will mastering them help you in your adventures, but they also have a variety of practical applications as well.

So don’t be afraid to practice tying some different knots at home – it could prove invaluable when faced with an unexpected situation outdoors.

Although it is a bit daunting in the beginning, don’t give up as just picking up one knot at a time will eventually lead to you being a master at using a rope.