That's a really useful knot, especially if you also know how to tie two half hitches [1] for securing the other end in a way that can be tightened. The sheet-bend [2] and square knot [3] are my other two favorite useful knots.

[1] https://www.animatedknots.com/two-half-hitches-knot

[2] https://www.animatedknots.com/sheet-bend-knot

[3] https://www.animatedknots.com/square-knot

Truckers Hitch is also very useful. Allows you to get things very tight due to functioning like a pulley.

https://www.animatedknots.com/truckers-hitch-knot

This and the bowline are my favorite knots

I like a Lark's Head (https://www.animatedknots.com/cow-hitch-knot-end-method) with a Half-Hitch. Very easy for most people to remember, applicable everywhere.

Thank you! They seem very easy to learn.

These are exactly the knots they teach in Boy Scouts. All very simple and worthwhile to learn.

Every knot I know now, I originally learned in Boy Scouts. Because I actually sat down and practiced them for a week+.

Best advice for learning: get a convenient (2-4' depending on knots) piece of rope, thin enough to be portable, thick enough to be manageable, and practice tying knots as a fidget spinner

Initially it will be tough and require thought, but for a lot of the patterns you can do it without looking after a bit of practice. And repetition breeds memory.

The bowline is very useful, and there are several ways to tie it, depending on the thickness of the line.

I find I use the midshipman’s knot at least as frequently. It seems I’m always tying knots in lines that need to be adjusted: Boat covers, awnings, tent ropes, etc.

https://www.animatedknots.com/midshipmans-hitch-knot

The Bowline and Reef knots are the only two I've ever needed.

The Bowline is definitely the only knot to learn if you have to choose just one.

There are 3 (that I know of) different ways to tie it that are worth learning as a next step. One of them lets you prepare it so you can quickly tie it around something and have it invert on itself to form. Another technique actually revels that the bowline is the same as a sheet bend, just using one line folded back on itself to make a loop instead of 2 lines joined. So that’s a freebie (and the sheet bend is a great knot).

It’s super versatile.

I never use the reef knot anymore. Lost a dingy in Greece because I trusted it for about 5 minutes. I find it works itself free really easily.

> I never use the reef knot anymore. Lost a dingy in Greece because I trusted it for about 5 minutes. I find it works itself free really easily.

Hmmm... I'll keep that in mind. Thanks.