Which knot is relatively easy to untie after loading and is used to join two same-diameter ropes?

Which knot is relatively easy to untie after loading and is used to join two same-diameter ropes?

• A. Square Knot
• B. Figure Eight Bend
• C. Handcuff Knot
• D. Prusik Loop

Answer: (B)

The key idea is choosing a bend that stays secure under load but doesn’t jam so tightly that it becomes hard to untie. The figure-eight bend does just that when joining two ropes of equal diameter. Its figure-eight shape distributes tension in a way that resists slipping and collapsing, so it remains stable under load. Yet, because the knot isn’t a compact overhand, it tends to loosen more predictably when you pull the ends to undo it, making it easier to release after it’s been loaded. In contrast, a square knot can behave insecurely when used to join equal-diameter ropes under tension and can capsise or jam, making it hard or unsafe to untie after loading. The handcuff knot is not used for joining rope ends—it’s more of a binding stopper—while the prusik loop is a friction hitch used for ascending or controlled movement, not for permanently joining two ropes.

The key idea is choosing a bend that stays secure under load but doesn’t jam so tightly that it becomes hard to untie. The figure-eight bend does just that when joining two ropes of equal diameter. Its figure-eight shape distributes tension in a way that resists slipping and collapsing, so it remains stable under load. Yet, because the knot isn’t a compact overhand, it tends to loosen more predictably when you pull the ends to undo it, making it easier to release after it’s been loaded.

In contrast, a square knot can behave insecurely when used to join equal-diameter ropes under tension and can capsise or jam, making it hard or unsafe to untie after loading. The handcuff knot is not used for joining rope ends—it’s more of a binding stopper—while the prusik loop is a friction hitch used for ascending or controlled movement, not for permanently joining two ropes.