Four Knots, All the Jobs

Bowline · Trucker’s Hitch · Clove Hitch · Prusik

Skip the knot encyclopedias. These four do almost everything on trail: pitch tight shelters, tension tarps, anchor lines to trees or poles, and add sliding control for ridgelines and food hangs. Learn them slow at home, then practice with gloves on—cold hands teach what really works.

Line & Hardware Basics

• Cord size: 2–3 mm utility line for guylines; 5–6 mm cord for prusik loops.
• Friction: polyester/nylon grips hardware better than slick UHMWPE (Dyneema). If using UHMWPE, add extra wraps on hitches.
• Edge care: protect bark with a strap or cloth if anchoring around live trees.

1) Bowline — Fixed Loop That Doesn’t Jam

Why: a dependable loop for ridgelines, anchors, and around tree straps. It unties easily after load.

1. Make a small loop (“the pond”) in the standing part.
2. Bring the working end “up through the pond,” around the standing part “behind the tree,” and back “into the pond.”
3. Dress and snug: loop size set by where you hold while tightening.

Trail uses: tarp ridgeline end-loop, fixed loop for bear-bag carabiner, leash for securing gear to a branch.

Security add-on: finish the tail with a stopper (overhand) if the line is very slick or shock-loaded.

2) Trucker’s Hitch — Fast, Mechanical Tension

Why: gives 2:1 (or better) mechanical advantage for tightening guylines, tying down loads, or straightening a sagging tarp.

1. Tie or form a midline loop about a forearm’s length from the anchor (use an alpine butterfly or a simple slipped overhand on a bight).
2. Run the working end around the stake/tree, then back through the midline loop.
3. Pull to tension (you’ll feel the advantage), then lock with two half hitches or a slipped half hitch for quick release.

Trail uses: wind-tight tarps, canoe/roof lash, compressing a bear can atop a pack.

For icy cord, use a butterfly loop (won’t jam) and finish with a slipped hitch for mitten-friendly release.

3) Clove Hitch — Adjustable Anchor in Seconds

Why: fast, neat anchor around poles, branches, and stakes; slides a little for position, then bites under load.

1. Make two loops in the standing line in the same direction.
2. Cross the right loop over the left to form a “pretzel.”
3. Drop the pretzel over the post/branch and snug down. Dress so the strands lie flat.

Trail uses: lash to trekking pole tarp supports, start a clothesline, anchor to a bear-hang branch stub.

Add a half hitch or a backup overhand in gusty conditions or on slick metal poles.

4) Prusik — Sliding Grab for Control

Why: a friction hitch that slides when slack and locks when loaded. Perfect for adjustable tarp ridgelines, guyline tensioners, and as a backup on hauling systems.

1. Tie a closed loop of smaller cord (typically 60–80 cm loop using a double fisherman’s knot).
2. Wrap the loop around the main line 3–4 turns, keeping wraps neat and parallel.
3. Clip or pull the loop’s opposite side to load; it will bite and hold.

Trail uses: slide-adjust tarp ridgelines, tension food-hang lines, secure paddles or poles on deck lines.

Rule of thumb: prusik cord ≈ 60–80% of the main line’s diameter for reliable bite.

Putting It Together (Shelter Workflow)

1. Ridgeline: bowline around the first tree/anchor; the opposite end uses a trucker’s hitch to tension fast.
2. Tarp edges: clove hitch to poles or branches at the height you want.
3. Fine tune: prusik loops on the ridgeline corners let you slide the tarp left/right and tighten without retying.

Food Hang & Repairs

• Food hang: bowline to build a clean bag loop; trucker’s hitch for haul/tension; prusik as a progress capture on the haul line.
• Field repair: clove hitch to start lashings; trucker’s hitch to cinch splints or compress a cracked pole with a repair sleeve.

Practice Plan (15 Minutes)

• 5 min: tie/untie bowline with eyes closed; add a stopper.
• 5 min: trucker’s hitch with a butterfly loop; finish with a slipped hitch wearing gloves.
• 3 min: clove hitch one-handed around a trekking pole.
• 2 min: build a prusik loop and test on your guyline; confirm it slides/locks smoothly.

Safety & Care

• Inspect cords for glaze, cuts, or crushed fibers after heavy loads; retire sketchy sections.
• Pad tree bark with webbing/strap where possible; don’t cut living bark with thin lines.
• Wet cords shrink and bite harder—leave longer tails and re-dress knots after rain or freeze.

Quick Reference (Pin This)

• Bowline: fixed loop, unties after load · ridgelines, anchors
• Trucker’s: 2:1 tension · guylines, lash downs
• Clove: fast anchor · poles, branches, stakes
• Prusik: slide-then-grab · tarp adjusters, progress capture

Practice with gloves on. Cold hands teach what works.

TrailHaven kits pair low-stretch lines, reflective guylines, and compact hardware—so these four knots feel second nature when weather shows up.