I think that, regardless of how you feel, attacking someone personally by name calling just isnt right. Honestly, name calling is the last resort of someone who cannot articulate their argument. But, you DID articulate yours. Others have disagreed without the name calling; I fail to see why you cannot. I am not trying to be mean here; I am simply stating that you have your opinion, which you are entitled to, as is everyone else. You werent verbally attacked, yet you insulted people who have a different opinion than you. Then, in your next post, you state how they should be on equal footing (the beginnings of PHRASECENSOREDPOSTERSHOULDKNOWBETTER.; all set with that). Yet, you continue with the namecalling with others who dont agree with you. That is being hypocritical. You lose all credibility with the name calling. Your point may be valid; your argument, however, is not.

A bowline is a loop. A buntline hitch is a hitch. The two types of knots server different purposes so you can't really compare them. A bowline is not my personal favorite loop knot, but it's not a bad knot, especially if finished off with a safety overhand or tied in one of it's more secure variations ("water bowline", "Eskimo bowline", "double bowline", etc.) A buntline hitch is not my favorite hitch either. They are usually secure enough (depends on rope material and diameter you are hitching to), but they can be quite difficult to untie.


I'm not trying to be picky, but a sheet bend is not a very secure knot. There are many many other stronger and more secure bends. Sheet bends are OK for low risk mundane jobs though, if you don't really need security in the knot. But they spill easily.

I appreciate what scafool said. oldsoldier, you could be 100% right, but I doubt it. Although, I do appreciate your words.

But, to try to reason with the likes of Russ and Tom_L would be like trying to make shiahaita edible; it's just not something I want to try to do.

I apologize for taking the thread off-topic.

I meant using a bowline versus a hitch to secure to something...say pulling a dinghy, I prefer the buntline to the bowline, and just cut it loose after wards.

So which hitch do you recommend?

Which bend do you recommend then if not the sheet bend?

A bowline has worked for me with almost any fiber, manilla, nylon, dacron, etc.

The more knots one knows the better. Knots are like tools. One mightdo the job, but it's better to have the right tool or knot for the job.

If I was limited to knowing only three knots, the knots would be a bowline, bend for tying two lines together (double becket bend), and a hitch (two half hitches and around turn).

I can only state my personal favorites. Everyone has their own favorite(s) based on what criteria is important to them.

My favorite hitches are the ground line hitch and the ossel hitch. Depending on the type of rope, what you're attaching to, etc., one of these two usually performs wonderfully and the other one often times doesn't work as well. I also often use a slipped constrictor knot as a hitch, even though that's considered a binding knot rather than a hitch. If you don't slip it, it's pretty much a permanent hitch - not wanting to be untied at all! I consider the buntline hitch you mentioned to be an very good hitch too, except that it's almost impossible to untie if it's gotten wet and been pulled tight. The hitch I use the most (because it fits the one specific job I do the most - tying up horses) I found in a knot book by John Shaw. He calls it the horse dealer's hitch, or something like that. The horses never get it undone with their teeth, and a quick pull on the slipped loop frees them immediately (while still leaving one wrap around the post you're hitched to so you can control them). That is a very specific use for a knot and most people don't need this functionality.


My favorites are the zeppelin bend, the very similar riggers (or hunters) bend, and a little known gem named the shake hands. I have only seen the shake hands described in one book - by Geoffrey Budworth.

If you like sheet bend style bends because you're joining dissimilar ropes, look at the simple simon (and variations, especially the simple simon under). These appear to have the similar heritage to the sheet bend, but are more secure.

For loop knots, you can't go wrong with the angler's loop or the double dragon. If you need a loop that tends to keep itself open in a circle rather than an oval, the Eskimo bowline works well. I finish this bowline variant off with a safety overhand to add security if necessary

Tying instructions/videos for most of these knots can easily be found by just typing their name into Google.

S.E.R.Eis Survival. Evasion. Resistance. Escape .

Which this is not.

This is S.T.B.R.

Survive To Be Rescued.

In SERE you do not want to be found.
In STBR you do.

I disagree. When I watch Bear I get that he is moving from one place to another and not at all awaiting rescue. I do not think he is teaching SERE skills, but like I said before, what he is doing is applicable to them, which is being able to survive on the move, having "more of an SERE outlook" as I already said. Bear has a military background which is apparent in his survival strategy of finding his own way out and which reminds me of SERE. Other than the possiblity that there may have been a few episodes I didn't see where he makes camp and awaits rescue somewhere, I don't know what you are talking about.

There are of course some hotels around where some SERE skills are required. The Silver Rock in Barbados comes to mind. And even in some excellent 5 star luxury hotels I have ended up spending the night out in a location such as a rocky outcrop, without any shelter, with no food and water in the middle of a island in the hotel pool.

That was brilliant!