Customer Reviews

Knots (Pocket Guide Series)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Pg. 116 - Jug or Bottle Sling

Instructions are to "...take the bottom of the front loop and weave it through the crossings of the other two side loops." However the illustration shows the line passing under, not over the second crossing. This coupled with poorly worded directions in general made it very difficult to accurately recreate this knot. After several attempts however I was able to discern exactly what the author was defining as "Loop A" and "Loop B" in spite of the poorly labeled diagram.

In general this is a great book, but errors like this should have been rectified by a proof reading and the diagrams on some of the more complex knots could be better labeled. Placing an "A" at the top of a picture with no arrow to discern which loop is being referenced and labels no where near the intended loop they are meant to describe make for frustrating attempts the first few times you are trying to learn a new knot.

Still, I would recommend this book as a reference. For the most part it is well done. I would have ranked it higher but the mistakes in the diagrams lead me to give this a 3/5. Hopefully they revise the drawings in later editions to save other folks some frustration when learning the jug sling.

I've looked at a lot of knot books from people like Ashley, Budworth, and Pawson. This is easily one of the best! It's very user-friendly, with clear instructions and good drawings. Most of the knots are practical so it isn't cluttered with esoteric fancy knots that do nothing. My only caveat is a bit more could be said about pros and cons of various knots.

This is a great reference for anyone doing beginner to intermediate knot tying in a wide range of fields. I bought it for nautical reference and teaching on a training vessel, but it covers climbing and other fields with equal aplomb. It's not a comprehensive reference, but it's VERY thorough for any practical use, and it covers some background, tools and theory as well. Great book. Small size (meaning small print... but easy to take with you). Very clean and clear images. Well worth adding to your library.

First of all, for the most part this book is pretty good. There are a couple things I do not like though. First off, this book would be much better as a soft-cover rather than hard cover. It is a pain in the neck trying to keep the book open to the right page while you are trying to practice tying a knot b/c the hardcover book wants to close. I ended up having to put weights on each side of the book. Also, some of the complex knots need a lot more detailed pictures and instructions if you are going to have any chance of tying them. It also would be nice to have more pluses/minuses for each knot.

I have spent quite a bit of time with this little book over the last three weeks, and the more time I spend with it, the more I like it.
This is really beautiful technology. Each of the following three knots/methods would alone have been worth the price of the book to me: Bowline 2 on page 62, Alpine butterfly method 2 on page 61, and icicle hitch on page 114. None of the knot books has it all. You benefit a lot from having several (and that solves the problem when any errors have crept into illustrations). This one added a lot to my library. While I am praising knot books I would also particularly recommend the methods for tying the constrictor and double constrictor knots on the bight shown in Brian Toss, The Complete Rigger's Apprentice, pages 10-13, and the method for tying a loop on a bight illustrated in Nigel Calder's Cruising Handbook, page 444-445. The latter is similar to the Alpine butterfly method 2, but creates a different knot (Calder shows this loop being used a part of a trucker's hitch).

I really enjoy this book. Its directions are clear and informative. He explains what the knot is useful for. (even if it is just: It is a fun knot."

I am going to order a few extra copies as presents.

Exceptional clarity and completness. Highly recommended if you are interested in knots or "How to make a rope into a tool"

very good book with great diagrams and pictures, a must for anyone interested in knots