Which knot is described as a tensionless knot used for strain relief?

Which knot is described as a tensionless knot used for strain relief?

• A. Bowline
• B. Tensionless knot used for strain relief
• C. Rolling Hitch
• D. Clove Hitch

Answer: (B)

In rigging, some knots are best understood by what they do rather than by a traditional name. A tensionless knot used for strain relief is designed to protect the rope and hardware by staying slack under load, so no extra tension is introduced into the line as it passes over a transition or contact point. This makes its purpose clear: it relieves strain on the rope without tightening the run, which is exactly what the description calls for. The other knots referenced have well-known primary uses that don’t match this description. A bowline forms a secure fixed loop and isn’t chosen for strain relief. The rolling hitch is used to grip and move along a rope or to take up load in a controlled way, not specifically to relieve strain. The clove hitch is a quick way to secure a rope to a post but tightens under load and isn’t intended as a dedicated strain-relief knot.

In rigging, some knots are best understood by what they do rather than by a traditional name. A tensionless knot used for strain relief is designed to protect the rope and hardware by staying slack under load, so no extra tension is introduced into the line as it passes over a transition or contact point. This makes its purpose clear: it relieves strain on the rope without tightening the run, which is exactly what the description calls for.

The other knots referenced have well-known primary uses that don’t match this description. A bowline forms a secure fixed loop and isn’t chosen for strain relief. The rolling hitch is used to grip and move along a rope or to take up load in a controlled way, not specifically to relieve strain. The clove hitch is a quick way to secure a rope to a post but tightens under load and isn’t intended as a dedicated strain-relief knot.