Basic Essentials Knots for the Outdoors, 2nd

Rating:
Summary: handy, practical, and (usually) easy to follow
Review: A brief guide to the basic knots every camper should know. Left-handed illustrations are unique. Generally well illustrated with clear, step-by-step tying diagrams. Starts with a good introduction to types of rope and their care.

The author's knot and rope nomenclature is not always consistent with most authorities, and a couple of the illustrations are either incorrect or difficult to follow. One gets the impression that author and illustrator failed to communicate under deadline pressure.

Nevertheless, a handy little book that's easy to throw into your pack or glove compartment.

Rating:
Summary: Generally useful, sometimes difficult to follow
Review: Cliff Jacobson's second edition of this book is, by and large, a very handy field guide. Most of the illustrations are easy-to-follow, but some are infuriating and frustrating. As a plus for left-handed folks, he includes how-to diagrams for them, too.

Jacobson starts out with some basic rope care guidelines, and how to select the right rope for the task. He then goes over the 10 most useful knots, and then moves on to more complex and less-often-used knots. There's a small tear-off card with a few handy knots on it that's easy to slide into a pocket or pack. The book itself is fairly small and thin, too, but probably larger than I'd want to take on a long hiking/camping trip.

By and large, it's useful; but I have a sneaking suspicion that there are better knot-tying books out there, with better diagrams (especially for beginners.) I gotta say it again; I got *really* frustrated with some of Jacobson's.

Rating:
Summary: Good basic book; some technical errors...
Review: Knots for the Outdoors is a great take-along knot manual. If you are looking for useful knots and a book with clear illustrations from which to learn them, then this is a good choice. If you are as "hung up" on technical accuracy as I, then have a care. For example, learning to tie the Fisherman's Knot from this manual may be lead one to believe that they have also mastered the Water Knot. This confusion arises because Water Knot is the subtitle used on the Fisherman's Knot illustration. Of course, these are two different knots.

Generally, the illustration and the "practicality" of the manual are good. The reader should, however, take with a grain of salt some of the pronouncements about the relative merit of the various knots. It seems that many of Mr. Jacobson's opinions are based on his personal experience, which is good -- for Mr. Jacobson. Your mileage may vary. Remember that the intended purpose, the type of rope available, the skill level of the "knot-smith," weather conditions, and even one's "handedness" may affect the utility of the various knots shown. Temper acceptance of Mr. Jacobson's pronouncements with *your* personal experience.

Rating:
Summary: Good basic book; some technical errors...
Review: Knots for the Outdoors is a great take-along knot manual. If you are looking for useful knots and a book with clear illustrations from which to learn them, then this is a good choice. If you are as "hung up" on technical accuracy as I, then have a care. For example, learning to tie the Fisherman's Knot from this manual may be lead one to believe that they have also mastered the Water Knot. This confusion arises because Water Knot is the subtitle used on the Fisherman's Knot illustration. Of course, these are two different knots.

Generally, the illustration and the "practicality" of the manual are good. The reader should, however, take with a grain of salt some of the pronouncements about the relative merit of the various knots. It seems that many of Mr. Jacobson's opinions are based on his personal experience, which is good -- for Mr. Jacobson. Your mileage may vary. Remember that the intended purpose, the type of rope available, the skill level of the "knot-smith," weather conditions, and even one's "handedness" may affect the utility of the various knots shown. Temper acceptance of Mr. Jacobson's pronouncements with *your* personal experience.

Rating:
Summary: Good basic book; some technical errors...
Review: Knots for the Outdoors is a great take-along knot manual. If you are looking for useful knots and a book with clear illustrations from which to learn them, then this is a good choice. If you are as "hung up" on technical accuracy as I, then have a care. For example, learning to tie the Fisherman's Knot from this manual may be lead one to believe that they have also mastered the Water Knot. This confusion arises because Water Knot is the subtitle used on the Fisherman's Knot illustration. Of course, these are two different knots.

Generally, the illustration and the "practicality" of the manual are good. The reader should, however, take with a grain of salt some of the pronouncements about the relative merit of the various knots. It seems that many of Mr. Jacobson's opinions are based on his personal experience, which is good -- for Mr. Jacobson. Your mileage may vary. Remember that the intended purpose, the type of rope available, the skill level of the "knot-smith," weather conditions, and even one's "handedness" may affect the utility of the various knots shown. Temper acceptance of Mr. Jacobson's pronouncements with *your* personal experience.