①Bind cargo to your car

To secure a large bag to a car roof, you need a knot that acts like a pulley (滑轮). The trucker’s knot works best. Start by forming an overhand loop, pulling a loop through, and tightening. Next, feed the rope’s free end around a roof rack (架 子) or an S-hook on the frame. Pull on the working end to obtain the desired tension; then use a quick-release half-hitch, a type of knot, to “lock” the tension in place (and make untying cargo quick and simple).

②Attach tent guylines (拉绳)

Attached to webbing loops at key stress points on the outer walls of tents, guylines are tied to the ground with stones. They stabilize the tent in strong winds by keeping the fabric walls tight. When setting up your shelter, tighten the guylines until no loose part remains in them or the tent walls. Fit the ropes with a tight-line knot, which lets you adjust the line’s length without untying the knot. When you move the knot by hand, it slides freely along the line, but it holds tight when the loop is tensioned—so the knot holds firm when gusts of wind pull tent walls hard.

③Lower a pack over a rock shelf

Some packs feature a strong leather belt for easy rope-pulls—but most require a bowline knot, which doesn’t slip no matter the weight. It is very easy to untie after it’s been loaded. Slide the loop around the middle of the pack, tighten it, then lower away. A handy recall- aiding device: The rope’s long end is the “tree”; the loop is the “rabbit hole”;

④Fasten a canoe to shore

The clove hitch is perfect for quickly fastening boats because it’s easy to tie, holds fast under tension, and releases instantly with a pull on the free end. This makes it a speedy way to fix a line to a tree. For extra security, add one or two half-hitches.