Top 10 Survival Knots You Need to Know

The trucker’s hitch lets you apply a significant amount of tension to a line with easy adjustments.

It uses a blend of loops and half-hitches to provide a mechanical advantage against a heavy load.

This makes it ideal for:

• tying loads down tightly
• shelter lines
• clotheslines
• hoisting supplies up a tree

It is a relatively difficult knot to tie if you haven’t practiced it, but it is easy to disassemble and very strong.

In my opinion, the Trucker’s Hitch is within the top 3 survival knots you should learn.

The double fisherman’s knot lets strongly and securely join two rope ends together.

This lets you lengthen rope, repair rope, or tie fishing line (of course).

This makes it ideal for:

• extending fishing line
• repairing fishing nets
• create a long rope from shorter ropes

It is an easy knot to learn, and can really help you out when you need longer cordage.

Its versatility makes it a crucial survival knot to have in your repertoire.

The alpine butterfly loop lets you make a fixed loop in the middle of any rope.

This lets you anchor your rope mid-line and opens up plenty of climbing and shelter applications.

This makes it ideal for:

• anchoring shelter lines
• rescue harness loops
• gear attachment points

It is an easy knot to learn, and you can tie it really fast once you learn it.

It’s one of the survival knots you’ll use often.

The lashing knot lets you attach several poles, sticks, or other objects in a row.

This lets you create a tripod on the fly or securely join large branches for other applications.

This makes it ideal for:

• creating a tripod shelter
• making a field stretcher
• constructing log rafts

It is an easy knot to learn, but it can take a while to tie depending on how large you make it.

It’s a very survival-specific knot that you can practice with bushcraft skills.

The figure eight knot is a versatile knot that is a secure non-slip loop.

This lets you create anchors or stoppers for other slip knots.

This makes it ideal for:

• pairing with other knots
• attaching gear/carabiners
• making a rescue harness

It is an easy knot to learn, and you may already be familiar with it.

It’s a common knot that is just as important for survival applications as it is for everyday use.

The rolling hitch is a useful way to attach a rope to a pole or other rope and secure it in place.

This lets you attach ropes to anchor points for climbing, or attach ropes to anything cylindrical.

This makes it ideal for:

It is a simple knot although it is not one of the more common knots outside of the climbing community.

Learning this knot will add to your survival skillset and give you options when making shelters, carrying gear, or climbing.

The zeppelin bend is another knot that helps you join two rope ends together strongly and securely.

Rescue climbers use it when strength and reliability are essential.

This makes it ideal for:

• lengthening rope
• making a rescue harness

It is an easy knot to learn, and it can come in handy for a wide range of survival situations.

If you need a reliable connection between two ropes, you’ll want to start practicing the zeppelin bend right now.

The clove hitch is another knot that helps you attach a rope to a pole.

This lets you tighten a rope to anything cylindrical and keep going.

This makes it ideal for:

• shelter line
• running tripwire
• animal tie down (leash)

It is an easy knot to learn and is a common one for survival shelters.

You may already know the clove hitch, but it doesn’t hurt to practice and learn its applications.

The bowline knot is one of our favorite non-slip knots for the end of a rope.

This lets you put an attachment point on the end of a rope that is still easy to pop loose if you need to.

This makes it ideal for:

• pulley loops
• securing to poles
• gear attachment loops

It’s not a complicated knot, but it’s quick to tie and even quicker to disassemble.

The bowline is certainly in our top 3 survival knots and is something I often find myself using at the end of paracord.

The square knot is another knot that lets you join two ropes together, and it holds well under tension.

It is the most common knot on our list, easy to learn, with wide applications.

This makes it ideal for:

• splicing rope
• tying loops
• attaching gear

Simple and effective, you probably expected the square knot on this list. It’s a very easy knot that most people are already familiar with and you can get a lot done with just a square knot.

Of course, the square knot is in our top 3 survival knots and is probably one you already know- so why not learn the rest?

I’m not a knot expert, but there are people that have dedicated their lives to knots. Topology is the study of knots (mathematically, not practically), so some people take knots pretty seriously. If you want to go beyond the survival knots we have suggested there are several resources to help you learn even more.

One of my favorite resources is the timeless Ashley Book of Knots – the definitive book of knots. Commonly referred to as “ABOK”, it has over 3,900 knots first published in 1944.

Besides ABOK, I recommend checking out:

If you know of any great knot resources that we missed, drop the link in the comments below so we can all be better off for it.