Knots & practical skills

Three useful knots to practise at home

A fixed loop, an adjustable guyline and a way to join cord: a small, useful knot kit.

Camping equipment arranged on an outdoor table.

Bowline: a fixed loop

A coil of cord, tent stakes and mallet.
Cord & camp fixings

A bowline makes a loop that does not slide smaller under a steady load. It can be handy for an ordinary camp tie-off. It is not a substitute for checking the whole setup: slippery cord, changing tension and poor dressing can affect security. Practise with a clear animation, then inspect the finished knot from both sides.

Adjustable hitch: a tent guyline

A coil of cord, tent stakes and mallet.
Cord & camp fixings

An adjustable hitch lets you change the tension on a guyline without retying everything. Its grip depends on the cord and conditions. Use the tent’s supplied adjusters when they work well, and practise a knot as a useful backup. Mark guylines so they are easier to notice at dusk.

Camping equipment on an outdoor table.
Worth remembering

Use the linked knot demonstrations for the tying sequence.

Sheet bend: joining cord

A coil of cord, tent stakes and mallet.
Cord & camp fixings

A sheet bend is a useful knot to learn for joining suitable cord, including cords of different thicknesses. Orientation matters, so use a reliable step-by-step demonstration and check the finished shape. Leave adequate tails and test gently before ordinary camp use.

Sources & further reading

Read the original guidance for more detail. Product reviews and demonstrations belong to their publishers.

Guide overview