I'm currently using a double fisherman's bend to tie my kit together but it's a bit fiddly to take apart. Is there a better knot for the task?
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Do you need anything else than being quick-release?– RofloJun 17, 2016 at 18:00
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@Roflo Ideally I want a single knot to hold this stuff together, not a separate knot at each end– Chris JJun 17, 2016 at 18:32
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What kind of objects will you be securing? Personally, I prefer no-fuss carabiners for most gear.– QuintoJun 17, 2016 at 18:47
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1@Quinto small items, compass, fire tin, etc - in the photo are the alternative settings for my walking sticks.. I may use carabiners in the future but like the idea of using what I have, plus I can swap it out for Firecord which I like as you can never have too little tinder!– Chris JJun 17, 2016 at 19:02
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1@BenCrowell the loop is fixed - I can't open it up– Chris JJun 20, 2016 at 8:08
3 Answers
Girth Hitch
I think the knot you're using is appropriate if the idea is not to lose your kit, another knot may run you the risk of losing something because it came untied without your blessing.
If you're using cheap cord, then don't bother with the knot if it's giving you grief, just cut it at the knot, your cord will get shorter each time, but it still usable for a couple cuts.
If you want to be able to attach something to your bag or belt quickly without fiddling with your knots, then I recommend simply girth hitching it:
Keep your loop tied to whatever with a double fishermans, then you can girth hitch it to practically anything as long as you can fit the loop around. In the image above I tied the cord around my strap, then passed a loop through the basket and folded it back around; only takes a second. You could even girth hitch both ends, then you don't have to tie cord around everything, just keep a bunch of tied loops, this makes it easy to use with a small carabiner too.
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This works if he can open op the loop at the top that's being tied in to. I've asked the OP to clarify the question.– user2169Jun 18, 2016 at 23:56
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If the loop at the top doesn't open, you could make a slightly longer loop and girth hitch at the top as well. Using lighter cord would make it neater - the cord illustrated is surely overkill for this application? Jun 19, 2016 at 9:10
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@Tullochgorum The loop at top doesn't need to open, I already mention in my answer that girth hitching both ends could be an option, or you can use a small carabiner instead of a second girth hitch. And yes, the cord may be bigger than it needs to be in this picture, but that's the size cord I had. Jun 19, 2016 at 18:09
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@ShemSeger thanks! This works great, the double fishermans around the loop on my pack keeps everything secure and the girth hitch is quick to untie and retie– Chris JJun 20, 2016 at 8:20
The bowline knot
form a fixed loop at the end of a rope. It has the virtues of being both easy to tie and untie; most notably, it is easy to untie after being subjected to a load.
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1I don't understand this answer. For the situation shown in the OP's photo, how would the bowline version work? See outdoors.stackexchange.com/questions/3798/…– user2169Jun 17, 2016 at 22:49
This answer assumes that you're trying to attach something to a loop (the black and green band in your photo) that you can't open up. If you can open up the loop, then see ShemSeger's answer.
It depends on how quickly you need it to release, and how important it is to you for it to stay secure.
A secure knot that is pretty easy to untie, even after it has been loaded, is the offset overhand knot. I have had my keys in a loop of cord tied with an offset overhand, and after a year or two, the knot is still there. For good security, make sure to leave long tails, and dress and tighten the knot carefully.
If it's important to you to be able to release the knot very quickly, you could use a slipped square knot, i.e., the one you use to tie your shoes.