4 Knots to Learn Before Summer

Getting excited for summer yet? So are we! But if the countdown is starting to make you a little impatient, we’ve got just the thing.

Pass the time and brush up on your warm-weather adventure skills with these four need-to-know knots for summer:

1. Fortified Square Knot

What: The square knot is the first knot many Scouts learn. Take it a step further by adding an overhand knot to each end of the original square knot and you’ll have an even stronger, fortified knot!

Why: The fortified square knot is less likely to slip out of place, making it ideal for objects you’d want tied securely like bandages or boat sails.

2. Chain Sennit Knot

What: Don’t let the intricate-looking Chain Sennit knot fool you—it’s actually quite simple! Just tie a basic overhand slip knot then use the loose end to tie another slip knot, then another, and another until the rope is shortened to your liking.

For a quick release, just yank the end of the Chain Sennit and you’ll have your full length of rope again.

Why: Dragging the extra length of a long rope can be dangerous and can also damage the rope. This knot helps you shorten the length of your rope without cutting it. The quick release feature also comes in handy when you want your long rope back.

3. Grapevine Knot

What: The Grapevine knot (or Double Fisherman’s Knot) connects two ropes of the same width strongly together. Tie two overhand knots with rope #1  around rope #2 and pull, then tie another overhand knot with rope #2 around rope #1 and pull.

Why: This knot is secure enough to use in a myriad of situations (even rappelling), but because it’s so tightly secured, it may not be very easy to untie.

4. Clove Hitch Knot

What: The Clove Hitch knot is one of the easiest knots to learn. Find a post strong enough to hold whatever you want to secure and wrap your rope around the post. Cross the line, wrap the leading end of the line around the post again and then tuck the end of the line under itself below the cross.

Why: The Clove Hitch is useful for the start and finish of most lashings, or any other time you want to tether an object to a post.

Learn More Knots

For further instructions on these knots or to learn even more knots, read the full Scouting magazine article.

Have any Scouting knots come in handy for you in the past? Tell us your stories in the comments below!