How To Tie The BEST Paracord Knots: Step-By-Step Paracord Knots Guide

The paracord is an essential tool for survivalists and preppers. You’ll want to ensure that you know exactly how to create the best knots using a paracord whether you’re on an outdoor expedition, or in an emergency situation. 

If you’re in disastrous circumstances and need to use your paracord urgently, the worst thing that could happen is for you to be unprepared. Avoid getting caught out and make sure you know how to tie the different paracord knots. 

We’ve researched extensively to find the best paracord knots to help you maximize your chances of survival in an emergency. Follow our step by step guide to learn how to quickly and efficiently create each knot. 

Why Use A Paracord?

The name itself is a shortening of the word ‘parachute cord’ and because it is a type of rope that is incredibly versatile,it’s the ideal material to keep in your bug out bag or get home bag. 

A paracord is made from nylon and has an extremely high strength to weight ratio. As well as being exceptionally strong, paracords are also lightweight and elastic. 

A paracord has a huge number of uses which can be broken down into the following categories: 

First Aid: 

• for stemming heavy bleeding by tying it above a wound as a tourniquet 
• to fasten a broken limb to a stick if you need to make a splint
• to create a sling for a broken arm or wrist

Survival: 

• It can be used, with a stone, for the bow fire starting method 
• for tying branches together to create a survival shelter 
• as a rescue line to throw to a team member in trouble 

Self defense: 

• Used as a tripwire to catch potential kidnappers or people following you
• Used as a restraint if you are being attacked

Hunting: 

• To create a snare trap when catching animals to eat 
• Used as a line to catch fish in the wild
• Thrown over a high tree to create a raised space to keep food away from bears

Knots Everyone Should Know 

We’ve broken down the paracord knots that everyone needs to know in case of an emergency and to help you make the most out of your outdoor escapade.

Cobra Knot

The cobra knot is a common lanyard knot. It can often be used to make decorative lanyards or bracelets but it can easily be applied to the outdoors for use in emergency situations. 

It is especially useful in survival situations when you may have to move on quickly as it is easy to untie. This makes it a useful knot to learn for when you may have to disassemble a shelter or set up with minimal notice. 

Take a look at this useful video to learn how to effectively tie a Cobra Knot using your paracord. 

Butcher’s Knot

This is a knot that many survivalists underestimate and is often overlooked. However the butcher’s knot is a brilliant binding knot and it’s ideal if you want something really secure. 

Hard to untie, this knot can be used for when you don’t have fasteners or items such as zip ties. You can also use it for securing lager items onto your backpack such as a sleeping bag or your tent. 

This video shows you how to practice a butcher’s knot using a soft item of clothing so that you’re fully prepared for when you need to use it in the wild. 

The Slip Knot

This is a very simple type of knot which can be easily untied simply by pulling one end of the rope. It’s a flexible knot where one end is tied to the middle in order to give it extra mobility. 

The slip knot is often used as a stopper to avoid rope sliding through a hole. It can be used when creating a trap to catch essential food if you’re in an emergency situation. 

You can learn how to make a trap using a slip knot by watching this video to help you prepare for catching food in the wild. Hi Licel! Please embed the videos so that readers can watch the videos while they are on our site and so they don’t click away from our page, hope you’re having a lovely day!

Constrictor Knot

Known as one of the most effective knots for binding, a constrictor knot is also a good option if you only have a small amount of paracord available. 

It is a simple knot to tie but is very difficult to untie and is good for situations when you want to ensure maximum security for items. There is an option known as a Double Constrictor Knot which is even more secure. Be aware however that some people end up making a constrictor knot too tight and it can become almost impossible to untie. 

Constrictor knots are used for anything that requires tight binding but may be useful for survivalists tying up batches of firewood or lashing together a survival shelter such as an A-frame. 

Figure out how to tie a Constrictor Knot by watching this YouTube Tutorial and practicing it at home. 

The Square Knot

This knot is also called a Double Knot or a Reef Knot. It is sometimes referred to as a Hercules Knot which shows its ancient history. 

The square knot is useful for temporarily tying things together and is simple and easy to learn. It is useful for camping, tying items together and raising food up high away from animals. 

It’s important not to overestimate the sturdiness of this knot – many beginners mistake its strength and exert too much pressure on it. This knot should not be used for climbing. 

Follow the instructions in this video to better understand how to tie a simple square knot. 

Taut Line Hitch

As the name suggests, this knot is used for lines under tension. This type of knot is an adjustable loop knot which is why it’s an excellent knot to use when the length of a line needs to be regularly adjusted to keep up a certain level of tension. 

A taut line hitch is most commonly used for securing down tent lines or tarps if you are building an emergency survival shelter. If you are a survivalist using a boat, you may want to consider this knot for moorings in tidal areas due to its adjustable properties. 

This video will demonstrate how to tie a taut line hitch in a camping scenario but the knot can be applied to different types of situations. 

Monkey Fist Knot 

This knot, which looks like a monkey paw, first became popular on sailing ships. It is thought to have been used as a weight which was thrown between ships to bring two of them together. 

The main uses of monkey fist knots nowadays are as a weight at the end of a rope. This can be excellent for self defense if you are being attacked. This is another example of how versatile a piece of paracord can be – just by tying it into a knot you have an instant weapon ready to go.

This video helpfully explains the steps you’ll need to take to make a monkey fist knot. 

Common Mistakes Beginners Make

Learning how to use paracord properly takes some time and effort. Make sure that you aren’t caught unprepared by prepping in advance and making sure that you understand the best ways to make different paracord knots. 

Common mistakes that beginners make include: 

• Burning a paracord: this is often difficult to avoid because you need to melt the ends in order to stop the paracord unraveling. 

Make sure you practice neatly melting the ends and not setting the paracord on fire to ensure you’re able to do it when SHTF. Often you’ll have much better control over the flame if you use a butane torch lighter. 

• Ending with the wrong kind of knot: you’ll need to use a paracord knot to keep things securely in place. This knot should be easy to untie at any point when you want to unravel the paracord. Try to use a lanyard knot instead of an overhand knot for your end knot. 

• Underestimating the length required: this can be really frustrating, especially if you’re under pressure and acting in an emergency situation. Experience really helps you to learn how much paracord is required for different tasks so always try to be fully prepped and practice your paracord knots as much as possible. 

• Buying small amounts of paracord: It’s simple and easy to buy paracord in bulk. Most retailers will offer it in upwards of 550lb quantities and it’s not hard to buy 1000 feet of this strong nylon cord. This is in fact the most economical way to purchase paracord. 

Many survivalists make the mistake of buying paracord in small quantities but this works out to be much more expensive. Store the extra paracord you don’t use in your bug out bag in a dry place and you can use it at a later date. 

Recommended Paracords

There are some fantastic paracord products on the market and you can find different quantities available to suit your needs. 

Try to buy the best quality that you can afford to ensure that your paracord is long lasting and performs well when you need it the most. 

Check out some of the best paracords on the market listed below: 

• 100 feet of Survival Paracord
• 7 strand Paracord and Carabiner 
• 650lb Paracord for Camping, Hiking and Survival

Conclusion

Learning how to tie the best paracord knots can save you in an emergency situation. By having a length of paracord and the skills required to tie knots with it, you’ll be able to benefit from a wide range of functions. 

From using a monkey fist knot to defend yourself, to tightening items onto your backpack with a butcher’s knot, having the skill to be able to tie knots with paracords is extremely valuable. 

Paracord is easy to carry with you in your bug out or emergency bag so there’s no excuse for being caught unprepared. Keep you and your loved ones safe by knowing the best ways to use it.