The Electrician’s Hall of Fame: Top 10 Knots Compared

This is the quick and dirty list of the most valuable knots you can learn to accelerate your electrical career.

Whether you’re pulling wire through a 300-foot run of EMT, securing a ladder to your rack, or tensioning a temporary service line, your choice of knot is just as important as your choice of pliers.

Not all knots are created equal. Some are built for security, others for speed, and some for the ability to untie easily after being under a massive load. Here is our "Hall of Fame" breakdown of the top 10 knots every sparky should know.

The Heavy Hitters: A Side-by-Side Comparison.

Which Knots Should You Learn First?

The "Big Three" for Daily Grunt Work

If you only want to keep it simple, try these three. Master the Bowline Knot, the Trucker’s Hitch, and Schwäbisch Hitch.

* The Bowline is your go-to for tying onto a pulling eye, anchoring a rope, or hoisting tools. It's variants, including Running Bowline and Portuguese Bowline, are also clutch knots in the right application.

* The Schwäbisch Hitch is essential for any journeyman who is pulling big wires or cables. This knot will grip even the most slippery surface without causing any damage.

* The Trucker’s Hitch is essential for any journeyman who doesn't want their ladders sliding off the van at 60mph Tie it with the Span Loop so it's strong and easy to untie.

The Specialty Rigging Tier

Knots like the Schwäbisch Hitch and Munter Hitch come from the world of arborists and climbers. In the electrical world, these are invaluable for pulling wire or if need to lower a heavy motor or transformer with precision.

The New School: The Woodlands Ziptie

For the modern electrician, the Woodlands Ziptie (a variation of the Siberian or Blake's hitch styles) is gaining massive popularity for its ability to bind materials tightly without the waste of plastic zip ties.

The really Old School: Fisherman’s Knot.

If you need to tie two ropes together or make a loop out of one piece, this ancient bend is a tried and tested champion!

And if you need to tie off to something right now and not let any slack back on the rope, a Round Turn and Half Hitches is an excellent option.

The Verdict

The "best" knot depends on the purpose. If you need to join a lead string to a heavy rope, use the Sheet Bend. If you need to crank down a load of PVC on your roof rack, it’s the Trucker’s Hitch all day long. If you need a good, non-binding midline loop, whip up a Span Loop. And if you want to reef on a rope and not hurt your hands, twist in a Marlinspike Hitch. There's something here for every situation!

Ready to see these winners in action or learn more about their uses? Click on the links in the table, the photos in the gallery, or find them in the "Knots" drop-down menu to see step-by-step 3D instructions for each "Hall of Fame" entry!