Which knot is most commonly used as a stopper knot at the end of a rope to prevent the rope from slipping or fraying?

Which knot is most commonly used as a stopper knot at the end of a rope to prevent the rope from slipping or fraying?

• A. Clove Hitch (Up/Down)
• B. Water Knot
• C. Half Hitch
• D. Figure Eight

Answer: (D)

A stopper knot at the end of a rope is used to keep the end from slipping back through devices or fraying. The figure-eight is the best choice because it creates a large, rounded end that resists being pulled back through holes or hardware, stays secure under load, and is relatively easy to untie after being loaded. It’s preferable to the other options because those are either hitch knots meant to attach to objects (which can slip or loosen) or a knot designed for webbing rather than rope. The clove hitch and half hitch aren’t intended as end stoppers, and the water knot is for joining webbing, not serving as a reliable rope stopper.

A stopper knot at the end of a rope is used to keep the end from slipping back through devices or fraying. The figure-eight is the best choice because it creates a large, rounded end that resists being pulled back through holes or hardware, stays secure under load, and is relatively easy to untie after being loaded. It’s preferable to the other options because those are either hitch knots meant to attach to objects (which can slip or loosen) or a knot designed for webbing rather than rope. The clove hitch and half hitch aren’t intended as end stoppers, and the water knot is for joining webbing, not serving as a reliable rope stopper.