Best knot to join two ropes
Two ropes of about the same size, joined so the bend holds under load and can still be untied afterwards.
Ranks first
Sheet Bend
Good field fit · 76% · 26 ruled out first
Why it wins
- ·Essentially level with Double Sheet Bend on weighted field fit (Good vs Good). Treat them as the same answer and choose on the tradeoff
- ·Fast join of two similar ropes
- ·Easy to inspect tail sides
- ·Strong connection-job fit (90)
Watch for
- !Tails finish on opposite sides of the knot
- !Tails left short, so the bend rolls out
- !Slack and snatch loading in slick or springy rope
Also in the running
- 02Double Sheet BendThe mismatch join — two turns of the thin rope75%
- 03Zeppelin BendHolds and still unties after load75%
- 04Carrick BendThe classic heavy-rope / hawser join72%
Pick Double Sheet Bend instead Sheet Bend leads on retie speed (84 vs 68) and field tieability (69 vs 61). Double Sheet Bend still holds an edge on diameter relationship.
What changes the answer
The same question with one condition added. Each row is its own engine run.
- Cold, wet handsHolds
- Low lightHolds
- First time tying itHolds
How sure this is
Moderate confidence: the order is sound, but the top few are close enough that your own conditions can reorder them.
26 of 30 modelled connections were ruled out by hard constraints before anything was ranked. A knot that fails a constraint is never scored, however strong it is elsewhere.