The bowline is one of the most recommended knots in survival, boating, and everyday rope work, and YouTube has no shortage of people willing to show it to you. The problem is picking which video is worth your time. This list takes the guesswork out by ranking the ten most-watched videos on the subject, ordered by actual YouTube view count.
Across these ten videos you’ll find a mix of formats: ultra-short demonstrations under ninety seconds, broader knot round-ups that include the bowline among other essentials, and longer sessions from boaters and shipwrights who put the knot in real-world context. Whether you want a fast visual reference or a deeper session with an experienced instructor, there’s something here that fits.
1. 7 Essential Knots You Need To Know
InnerBark Outdoors · 19.1M views · 7:46 · 2016
InnerBark Outdoors packs the bowline into a seven-knot round-up that's racked up over 19 million views, making it the most-watched video on this list. At just under eight minutes, it covers the bowline two different ways alongside other core knots, so it suits someone who wants to build a small, practical knot vocabulary in one sitting rather than focus on a single knot.
2. How to Tie the Most Useful Knot in the World (Bowline)
NightHawkInLight · 15.2M views · 1:18 · 2011
At 78 seconds and over 15 million views, this NightHawkInLight clip is the definitive quick answer. It's a short, focused demonstration the creator made for viewers of his other videos who kept seeing him use this knot, so it suits someone who wants to see the bowline tied cleanly and get on with their day.
3. 8 KNOTS You Need to Know – How to tie knots that you will actually use.
Outdoor Boys · 5.2M views · 15:14 · 2017
Outdoor Boys runs through eight knots for camping, survival, climbing, and everyday use in this 15-minute video, which has drawn over 5 million views. Notably, the bowline isn't in his list, so this one suits a reader looking to round out their broader knot skills rather than someone hunting a bowline tutorial specifically.
4. strong, safe and essential knot that is very useful in life
Knot Training · 4.6M views · 2:08 · 2024
This short video from Knot Training has pulled in over 4.6 million views since early 2024, a fast rise for the channel. At just over two minutes it's a quick, close-up style demonstration from a channel dedicated entirely to knot tutorials, suited to someone who wants a fast visual without extra commentary.
5. The 10 BEST Knots in Life [For VISUAL Learners]
The Bear Essentials · 3.6M views · 16:24 · 2022
The Bear Essentials offers a 16-minute walkthrough of ten outdoor knots aimed squarely at visual learners, with practical use examples given after each one. It suits a beginner who wants context on when to use each knot for camping, prepping, or bushcraft, not just the mechanics.
6. How to Tie a Bowline Knot
Howcast · 1.8M views · 1:19 · 2008
Howcast's classic tutorial dates back to 2008 and still holds its own with over 1.7 million views. At 79 seconds it's a straightforward, step-labeled demonstration from a channel built on this exact format, making it a solid pick for someone who wants the simplest possible walkthrough.
7. How to tie a proper Bowline knot
Tips from a Shipwright · 1.7M views · 5:28 · 2014
Shipwright Louis Sauzedde spends over five minutes on the bowline, showing a few different ways to tie it and discussing its many uses around boats. This one suits a viewer who wants depth and perspective from a working craftsman, especially anyone with a marine or boating angle.
8. The quickest way to tie Bowline (the KING of knots)
Knot Master · 1.6M views · 1:04 · 2023
Knot Master's sub-70-second video focuses on the fastest way to get this knot tied, and it's earned over 1.6 million views since late 2023. It's for the viewer who already knows what the bowline is and wants a speed-focused variation rather than a from-scratch lesson.
9. The ONE KNOT Every Boater MUST KNOW | Learn To Tie It Easy Then Fast
JetBoatPilot · 1.6M views · 5:57 · 2023
JetBoatPilot frames the bowline as the one knot every boater must know, spending about six minutes teaching it slowly first and then fast. With a boating channel behind it and a follow-up one-handed video linked, it suits boaters and anyone who learns better with a deliberate slow-to-fast progression.
10. Knots – How to tie a Bowline Knot around an object.
The How To Channel · 873.5K views · 1:05 · 2022
The How To Channel addresses a specific gap: tying a bowline around an object rather than in free rope. At just over a minute, this is a niche quick-reference clip suited to someone whose situation involves a post, ring, or cleat rather than an open-ended line.
Ranked by YouTube view count as of October 17, 2026. View counts move around, so the order here reflects the day this list was compiled. All videos belong to their respective creators – watching them here plays them directly from YouTube, so views and any ad revenue still go to the channel.
