What percent is the choker hitch load relative to the vertical hitch?

• A. 60%
• B. 70%
• C. 80%
• D. 90%

Answer: (C)

In rope rigging, the force on a hitch depends on how the rope wraps and shares the load. A straight vertical hitch passes the entire load along the rope you’re pulling, so the load on that segment is essentially the full weight. With a choker hitch, the rope forms a loop around the object and the tension is distributed between the two rope segments around the hitch, plus friction. This distribution typically results in the leg that forms the choke carrying about 80% of the vertical hitch’s load. So the choker hitch load is about 0.8 times the vertical hitch load. Remember, this is a practical rule of thumb and actual forces can vary with rope, wrap length, and surface conditions.