The core knots are good knots, I'm not knocking them at all. But sometimes there are situations where you need a variation that is more secure, or that works on slippery/stiff rope.
| core knot | more secure | fishing line and other slippery/stiff rope | doesn't slip on load/unload cycles |
|---|---|---|---|
| bowline | *perfection loop | several | |
| round turn and two half hitches | anchor bend |
* denotes knots that aren't structurally very similar, but are still functionally very similar