Best stopper knot for the end of a rope
A knot big enough not to pull through a block or fairlead, and one that doesn't jam solid when it gets loaded against it.
Ranks first
Figure-8 Stopper
Good field fit · 77% · 26 ruled out first
Why it wins
- ·Close call against Ashley Stopper (Good vs Good) — read the tradeoff before committing
- ·Stops a line leaving a chock or block
- ·Unties where a jammed overhand might not
- ·Strong connection-job fit (94)
Watch for
- !The set knot is smaller than the opening in the block or fairlead, so it pulls through under load
- !It is set loosely enough to squeeze into the opening
- !The tail is shorter than a hand's length, so the knot capsizes or shakes out on a flogging line
Also in the running
- 02Ashley StopperBulky three-lobe body a figure-8 will not match74%
- 03EStar StopperThe honest HMPE stopper — a figure-8 walks in Dyneema73%
- 04Heaving Line KnotAdds the mass that makes a heaving line carry69%
Pick Ashley Stopper instead Figure-8 Stopper leads on retie speed (95 vs 68) and field tieability (73 vs 61).
What changes the answer
The same question with one condition added. Each row is its own engine run.
- Cold, wet handsHolds
- Low lightHolds
- Must come undone after loadHolds
- First time tying itHolds
How sure this is
Low confidence: this question states only a few conditions, or the top knot's strength figure isn't traceable to a published test. Add your own conditions in Decide to sharpen it.
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.