Navigation

Joe Appleton

Articles by Joe Appleton

Is the Olight Warrior The Best Tactical Flashlight

Best Tactical Flashlight of 2024 (Review and Buying Guide)

Military, law enforcement, and first responders will use nothing less than the best tactical flashlight available. A substandard light source can put lives at risk or compromise an operation, and that’s why you should always buy the best tool for the job. Unlike regular flashlights, tactical models are designed for use in serious situations, and…

Read More

Does Leatherman Make The Best Multitool On The Market

Best Multitool of 2024 (Review and Buying Guide)

The best multitool for one person isn’t going to be the right fit for another. It’s as simple as that. Multitools, though practical and versatile, are divisive gadgets. For many, they’re the wrong tool for a million jobs, while for others, they’re an indispensable part of their every day carry. Of course, no multitool will…

Read More

PRG Defense Apache NVG

Best Night Vision Goggles of 2024 (Review and Buying Guide)

Selecting the best night vision goggles on the market is no easy task. Prices range from $150 right the up to over $10,000! These devices have very different capabilities and depending on your expectations, they all have the ability to impress you or disappoint you. That’s why we’ve decided to put together this list of…

Read More

Midshipman's Hitch Knot Step 7

How To Tie A Midshipman’s Hitch Knot

It’s important to know how to tie a Midshipman’s Hitch Knot if you’re heading out on the water. It’s a strong and practical knot that can be used for a variety of purposes. It’s easy to tie, unloaded or under load, and relatively easy to untie too. It’s a great knot that makes an adjustable…

Read More

Zeppelin Bend Step 6

How To Tie A Zeppelin Bend Knot

If you want to learn how to tie a Zeppelin Bend Knot, then here’s everything you need to know. The Zeppelin Bend, also known as the Rosendahl Knot, is a practical knot that uses a combination of overhand knots that interlock together. It’s extremely reliable, rarely slips or binds, and can be untied even after…

Read More

Running Bowline Knot Step 8

How To Tie A Running Bowline Knot

The Running Bowline Knot is a versatile noose-type knot known to most boaters It’s an incredibly useful knot based on the common bowline with many practical applications. The Running Bowline is found in the Ashley Book Of Knots (#1117) and is described as an essential knot that can create a noose that won’t bind or…

Read More

Soft Shackle Knot Step 17

How To Tie A Soft Shackle Knot

Learning how to tie a Soft Shackle Knot is an incredibly rewarding experience. It’s a difficult knot to tie and the process is far trickier than for tying other knots but soft shackles are very useful things, and knowing how to make your own is a handy skill. If you’re not familiar with soft shackles,…

Read More

Trucker’s Hitch Knot Step 12

How To Tie A Trucker’s Hitch Knot

Learning how to tie the Trucker’s Hitch Knot will pay massive dividends in the future. This is a seriously practical knot that can be used for so many tasks. Even if you’re not a regular boater or a trucker for that matter, there are plenty of reasons to master this incredible hitch. Listed in the…

Read More

How To Tie A Heaving Line Knot

How To Tie A Heaving Line Knot

Learning how to tie a heaving line knot is a handy skill when you’re out on the water. The heaving line knot family covers a range of knots that are designed to add extra weight to the end of a rope. Adding weight to the end of a rope is a particularly useful thing to…

Read More

How To Tie A Halyard Hitch Knot

How To Tie A Halyard Hitch Knot

Knowing how to tie a Halyard Hitch Knot should be a fundamental sailing skill. The Halyard, also known as the halliard, is a special rope that sailors would use to hoist an object. These objects could be a mainsail, a flag up a flag pole, a ladder, or a yard. In fact, it’s the latter…

Read More

Icicle Hitch Knot Step 10

How To Tie An Icicle Hitch Knot

The Icicle Hitch Knot is a strong and practical slide and grip knot that can be tied around a rope or spar, and hold significant weight. It can be used on smooth or tapered surfaces which is where Icicle Hitch Knot gets its name. First demonstrated in 1990 at the eighth Annual Meeting of the…

Read More

Alpine Butterfly Knot Step 8

How To Tie An Alpine Butterfly Loop Knot

Knowing how to tie an Alpine Butterfly Loop Knot is an essential skill, especially if you’re looking for a strong knot that’s more stable than a Bowline On A Bight or a Figure 8 Loop. The Alpine Butterfly Loop is a strong and secure knot that gives users a trustworthy loop in the middle of…

Read More

Eye Splice Knot Step 15

How To Tie An Eye Splice Knot

Learning how to tie an Eye Splice Knot it a very practical skill. If you’re not familiar with an Eye Splice, it’s a way of creating a permanent loop on the end of a rope. It can only be done on ropes with multiple-strands as part of its construction. When properly tied, it creates a…

Read More

Buntline Hitch Knot Step 9

How To Tie A Buntline Hitch Knot

The Buntline Hitch Knot dates back all the way to the Age of Sail, so even if you don’t plan on learning it for its uses, you can learn it for its historical value Listed in the Ashley Book Of Knots (#1847), the Buntline Hitch is noted as being an essential part of maritime history….

Read More

Double Sheet Bend Knot Step 8

How To Tie A Double Sheet Bend Knot

The Double Sheet Bend Knot is a more advanced version of the standard Sheet Bend. It’s important to learn how to tie the Double Sheet Bend since it’s a more secure version than the single bend arrangement. It’s a capable knot that can be used to join two ropes of differing sizes. The traditional Sheet…

Read More

Rolling Hitch Knot Step 10

How To Tie A Rolling Hitch Knot

It’s a wise idea to learn how to tie the Rolling Hitch Knot. It’s practical, simple, and has many uses. The knot is often used for attaching a rope to a pole, or to attach a rope to a larger line. It’s a basic friction knot that’s designed for a lengthways pull, rather than to…

Read More

Barrel Hitch Knot Step 6

How To Tie A Barrel Hitch Knot

The Barrel Hitch Knot is not as popular today as it once was. Most boaters don’t need to hoist barrels anymore. But the Barrel Hitch Knot is a simple and effective way to safely suspend any object. In the Ashley Book Of Knots, Ashley describes this knot in two different ways (Ashley #2176 and #2177)…

Read More

Stopper Knot Step 10

How To Tie A Stopper Knot

Knowing how to tie a stopper knot is an essential skill. The term “stopper knot” refers to many different knots. If you hear the term “stopper knot” without any other name attached to it, then you’re most likely hearing about the Ashley Stopper Knot. It’s named in the Ashley Book Of Knots as the Oysterman’s…

Read More

Carrick Bend Step 7

How To Tie A Carrick Bend Knot

If you’re looking for a safe and reliable way to secure two ropes together, then you should learn how to tie the Carrick Bend knot. Sometimes known as the Sailor’s Breastplate About the Carrick Bend The Carrick Bend is listed in the Ashley Book Of Knots as #1439. It’s described as a bend commonly tied…

Read More

Blackwall Hitch Step 6

How To Tie A Blackwall Hitch Knot

. The Blackwall Hitch is a very simple knot that is ideal for securing cargo to a hook. In short, it’s just a Half Hitch knot over a hook! It’s easy to construct, quick to deploy and is quite reliable when tied properly. That said, there are conditions in which it can fail and, as…

Read More

Timber Hitch Knot Step 12

How To Tie A Timber Hitch Knot

If you’re used to handling cargo, then you should already know how to tie a Timber Hitch Knot. This knot is an efficient and practical knot that can be used to tow objects. Whether you’re floating timber down a river or hauling heavy loads overland, the Timber Hitch Knot won’t let you down. The Timber…

Read More

French Bowline Knot

How To Tie A French Bowline Knot

The French Bowline Knot is a practical and reliable knot that forms two secure loops. It’s also known as the Portuguese Bowline, and is very similar to the Bowline On A Bight. It has a number of practical uses including the Bosun’s Chair harness, which can be used to help transport heavy goods, to allow…

Read More

Bowline On A Bight Knot Step 8

How To Tie A Bowline On A Bight Knot

The Bowline On A Bight Knot can seem complicated at first but is fairly straightforward. It’s versatile and effective for boaters and everyday use, as well. Once tied, it creates loops on a length of rope which can handle a heavy load but is still easy to untie. Like the regular Bowline Knot, this practical…

Read More

How To Tie A Figure 8 Knot

Learning how to tie a Figure 8 Knot is an essential part of sailing. This practical knot is a strong, versatile, and reliable knot that can be used for a wide variety of applications. It’s quick to deploy, easy to master, with plenty of uses on deck and on land. The Figure 8 Knot is…

Read More

Half Hitch Knot Step 6

How To Tie A Half Hitch Knot

Learning how to tie the Half Hitch Knot should be the first thing you do as a novice boater. It’s a simple knot, and although it really shouldn’t be used as a complete knot in its own right, it’s a fundamental part of many other, more secure knots. The Half Hitch Knot is a very…

Read More

The Best Pirate Movies Of All Time

The 24 Best Pirate Movies You Can Watch Right Now

Pirate movies have been a staple of film since the silent era. Alongside Westerns, pirate movies were one of the most popular genres through the Golden Age of Hollywood, and then they fell by the wayside. Though the genre never truly died, it wasn’t until Pirates of the Caribbean that it was invigorated again, and…

Read More

Best Dry Sacks

Best Dry Bag of 2024 (Review and Buying Guide)

A dry bag is an essential piece of equipment for boaters, kayakers, fishermen, and other water sports enthusiasts. These handy packs can keep your gear dry, even if your bag goes overboard. Since they’re completely waterproof, many outdoors enthusiasts use dry bags to keep their important belongings safe and secure. If you’re traveling with sensitive…

Read More

Lowrance Elite-7X Chirp Fishfinder

Best Fish Finder of 2024 (Review and Buying Guide)

If you’re having trouble getting fish to bite then you might benefit from using a fish finder. While the idea of using technology to help land a catch might not be as romantic as the traditional image of a lone angler testing their patience in a battle of wits against an underwater foe, it certainly…

Read More

Hobie Mirage Pro Angler 12

Best Fishing Kayaks of 2024 (Review and Buying Guide)

Fishing from a kayak is a great way to spend the day on the water. Fishing kayaks can take you to fishing spots that are inaccessible from the shore and too difficult to get to on a larger vessel. Sure, you could get yourself a small pontoon boat but a kayak is a more practical…

Read More

How To Name A Boat

How To Name A Boat: Inspiration, Dos, Don’ts, And More

A good boat requires a good name. A nameless boat is a sorry sight to behold—and there are more nameless boats out there than you’d think. It’s not hard to see why. Coming up with potential boat names is no easy task. There are certain conventions you might feel obliged to follow. Cool boat names…

Read More