Survival Skills

The Clove Hitch is a simple hitch for securing a line to a post or pole or other round object, somewhat larger than the diameter of the line. In most situations the round turn and two half hitches will do just as well, and the clove hitch is known to …

Named for a nomadic ethnic group living in the Russian steppes, this knot is similar to the bowline, but is ‘quick release’, meaning a bight (instead of the working end) is put through the final step, and the working end can be pulled to immediately open the knot. This knot …

“The Bowline is the king of knots, or if you like it, bends A Bowline on a bollard is the best of journey’s ends” –A. P. Herbert, Brithsi novelist The Bowline (pronounced ‘BO-lin’) is probably the most useful you could ever learn, hence the quoted poem. The Bowline is best …

The Timber Hitch is for hauling large logs (or anything that shape), often many times the diameter of the line used. It will not jam, will not slip and will always come apart easily once unloaded. The Timber Hitch is effectively a much improved, much stronger version of the same …

The Reef knot (also called the Square Knot or Double Knot) is easy to remember and probably the widest taught and widest used knot as a bend. It is also not a bend, and should never be used as such. Clifford Ashley (author of the Ashley Book of Knots) wrote: …

When SHTF, you will be dealing with multiple threats to your life and the lives of your loved ones. On top of the chaos, you may find yourself in a situation where traditional products and medicines are inaccessible, simply unavailable, or cost-prohibitive even if you could get to them safely. …

This is a quicker-to-tie version of the standard trucker’s hitch, which affords a mechanical advantage for pulling a load (like a pulley or a winch might). It’s really useful for things like tent guylines or cinching down lashings (like for bundles of kit on the back of a truck) really …

The Poldo Tackle is a mechanical advantage system made of rope, specifically for drawing two objects together. In practice, only one object has to actually move, as this is enough for the two to get closer: a load drawn up towards the ceiling, the sides of a backpack being compressed …

The Directional Figure of Eight is a directional loop, meaning that the loop lies naturally along the axis of the rope it is tied in (unlike for example the Alpine Butterfly, which stands perpendicular to the rope). So this knot should be used when the load on the loop is …

The Barrel Hitch is a knot for lifting a bucket, barrel or similar container straight up, as for moving equipment in. You are unlikely to need it often, but will be very glad of it when you do. This knot was often used by sailors for hoisting barrels or buckets …