Which knot would you use to attach a rope to a pole or rung of a ladder?

• A. Slip knot
• B. Bowline
• C. Clove hitch
• D. Figure eight

Answer: (C)

A clove hitch is the go-to choice when fastening a rope to a pole or ladder rung because it’s designed to grip round objects and hold as tension is applied. It wraps around the pole with two turns and a final tuck, which quickly seats the rope against the surface and tightens under load, keeping the attachment stable while still being relatively easy to release when you’re done. The other options don’t match this practical use as well: a slip knot is adjustable but can slip under load, so it’s unreliable for securing to a pole; a bowline forms a fixed loop at the rope’s end, which isn’t as quick to secure to a round object and can loosen if there’s movement unless additional knots are used; a figure eight serves mainly as a stopper or a fixed loop at the end, not as a practical attach-to-pole hitch.