The choker hitch workload is ____% of the vertical hitch.

• A. 80%
• B. 60%
• C. 90%
• D. 70%

Answer: (A)

The concept here is how hitch geometry changes the effective load carried by the rope. A vertical hitch is the baseline, with the rope carrying the full load as it runs straight under it. A choker hitch tightens around the load with a short bite, which changes how the load is distributed and introduces extra friction and potential for binding at the bite. This reduces the rope’s effective strength for lifting by about 20%, so the choker hitch workload is taken as 80% of the vertical hitch. In practice, this means if the vertical hitch can handle a given load, plan for the choker hitch to handle roughly 80% of that value to maintain a safe margin. The other percentages would not align with this common rigging adjustment.