4 knots

Taut line hitch, simplified trucker's hitch with an 8 instead of a slip knot, some kind of bend like a figure 8 follow through or a water knot. Those cover the vast majority of my knot use.
Probably need a list of suggested uses for whichever knots you choose. Hopefully they already know how to tie and double-knot their shoes!
 
bowline,clove hitch,trucker's hitch,figure eight-
those are most useful for me(sailing 40 years and first two cover 95% of my knot needs ;) )
 
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I don't know knots very well, but I find myself using (for hiking, hunting, camping, general duty) the square, bowline and half-hitch knots all the time.
 
sheet bend - I think you need a way of securely tying two or more cords together
figure 8 - a good stopper, can be used to make a loop, not hard to untie
half hitch - can be doubled with a round-turn to anchor your rope to something like a tree, can be used with figure 8 and you got a trucker's hitch (great for making tight a ridge line for a tarp shelter)
rolling hitch - you can lash stuff to packs, cinch bags and gear shut, use for shelter construction because it makes a fine jam knot; also its perfect for a guy line on a shelter/tent because it slides one way allowing you to adjust taughtness
 
1: Reef Knot
2: Bowline
3: Clove Hitch (3a: Rolling Hitch)
4: Alpine Butterfly - i think a butterfly is an allround more useful knot than a truckies hitch and can be used as a purchase for lashing if needed.
 
RandomAyes said:
Let's say we're making a preparedness kit for a family member who isn't even remotely enthusiastic about this stuff. So in the kit we're going to include a set of diagrams for some basic knots (this person will never bother to memorize knots, hence the how-to pics). We want to keep it as short & simple as possible, i.e. four knots that can cover most tying tasks.

Which four knots would you choose, and why?
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Fisherman's knot- in the event they need to try and fish for food

Square knot- easy to learn universal knot

Half hitch- easy, very useful

Double Becket bend- I use this all the time, love this knot. Learned it in the Navy. the harder you pull the tighter it gets. can be used for all sorts of stuff. Can be difficult to untie at times.
 
I cant think of four Id want someone not familiar with knots to be learning on the fly
3 tho :)

double 1/2 hitch , for tying to stuff
truckies hitch for making it tight
square knot for when youre ropes need to be joined

Id add whipping , as in the binding people do on the end of a bigger rope , but I consider it less of a knot and more of a seperate skill , but for holding wood together parrallel or making impromptu handles in things its hard to beat
 
I like the bow line, square knot, loop on a bite, and trucker hitch. The french bow line is kind of neat too.
 
It's so weird that I see this thread because I was thinking of starting one myself about this subject just this morning!

For me, I only remember the knots that I use frequently so based on that I'll say:

Prusik
Tautline hitch
Bowline
Larks head

With these you can put up shelter and tighten it down.
 
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