This knot's specialty is cinching down. The Canadian Jam Knot, also known as the Arbor Knot, and sometimes even "The Bushcraft Zip Tie," can be used to tie down bed rolls or tarps for a solid synching loop and even create a humane noose for snaring when in survival situations.
What is the big benefit of the Canadian Jam Knot?
The advantage of Using the Canadian Jam Knot is it doesn't require a lot of cordage. Plus, it can be tied while you're wearing thick gloves.
How to Tie the Canadian Jam Knot
The Canadian Jam Knot is essentially just two overhand knots. Here's a step-by-step guide on doing it.
Step 1:
We'll do our first overhand knot, create a loop, and thread the tag end through that.
Step 2:
Right above on the loose end, do another overhand knot.
Step 3:
Take the other line, thread it through that first knot, and cinch it down.
Step 4:
The jam knot gets its name because the second knot you tied is going to slowly get pulled in and jam up against the first knot, allowing you to cinch it extremely tight without that knot coming loose when you let go.
The Downside of the Canadian Jam Knot
While you can release tension by manually pulling it apart, the biggest downside of this knot is it's nearly impossible to actually untie once it's really been cinched on.
Modified Quick-Release Canadian Jam Knot
This is the modified quick-release version to tie the Canadian Jam Knot.
Step 1:
Swap out the basic overhand knot for a figure eight by looping the free end around the rope and threading it through the loop. Pull on both ends to shape a loosely formed figure eight.
Step 2:
Using the tag end of the rope, carefully fashion a bight, which resembles a U-shaped fold, and proceed to slightly insert this bend into the loop, ensuring not to push it fully through, maintaining a partial insertion.
Step 3:
Now carefully tighten the knot so as not to let the bight slip out.
Step 4:
By pulling on the extended lines, you'll compact everything into a functional jam knot, complete with a protruding tag end which is the quick release.
Step 5:
Crank down on it to cinch it all up. Because we have this tag end we just pull on it and the entire thing releases.
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