Which hitch effectively doubles the rated load of the sling if the legs remain within 5° of vertical?

The basket hitch is designed to effectively double the rated load of a sling under specific conditions, primarily when the sling legs are kept within 5° of vertical. This configuration allows the load to be distributed evenly across both legs of the sling, meaning each leg supports half of the total load weight. As a result, the overall load capacity is increased, allowing the sling to handle more than it would in a single leg or other configurations.

Using a basket hitch is particularly advantageous when lifting loads with an even distribution, as it maximizes the efficiency and safety of the rigging setup. This hitch not only provides additional strength due to the dual leg support, but it also reduces the chance of the load tipping or swinging during the lift.

The other types of hitches, such as the single hitch, belt hitch, and choker hitch, do not provide the same degree of load capacity enhancement under those conditions. In particular, a single hitch only uses one leg of the sling, meaning it does not have the capacity to double the rated load. The belt hitch and choker hitch can also modify load capacities but do not generally achieve the same effectiveness as a basket hitch when configured optimally.