Where's the best place to get a quality synthetic winch line these days?

[Z.G]

I prefer the excel sling hook because it doesn’t have that flimsy stamped sheet metal retaining hook.
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It's not sheetmetal haha, it's just not cast. Similar thickness and not an area that sees any load

 

[chris snell]

If it's not a big yellow hook, does it even work?
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What a mess. You need the Winch Lobster.

 

[rocky]

Old school... Heavy metal shackle and hook. Dang my recovery gear lost several pounds when I took out those old metal shackles.

 

[chris snell]

I’m curious about what Bill Burke uses these days. Is he on the soft shackle bandwagon?

 

[erover82]

I’m curious about what Bill Burke uses these days. Is he on the soft shackle bandwagon?

He's a proponent of Safe-Xtract products, including their soft shackles, of which ASR Offroad is a dealer.

 

[Roverman2010]

I’m curious about what Bill Burke uses these days. Is he on the soft shackle bandwagon?

I asked Bill about these a few years ago at SCARR, He personally didn't like them then, but teaches there use as Many have them. I do not if he still feels that way?

 

[SaintPanzer]

Splicing single braid, especially dyneema, is actually pretty easy. I do it all the time on my boat. It's worth learning a McDonaly Brummel splice. Here's a good description: https://l-36.com/brummel2.php. The best tool to use is a Brion Toss splicing wand, but if you're only going to do one or two, you can get by without it. I've done so many (and double braid is more fun) that I won't attempt a braided line without it. Oh, and if you want a soft shackle or two, before you start just hack a couple of pieces off the end before you wind it on. Instructions here:

 

[erover82]

I asked Bill about these a few years ago at SCARR, He personally didn't like them then, but teaches there use as Many have them. I do not if he still feels that way?

Last I heard, his position on soft-shackles was only with other quality equipment and only where appropriate.

 

[rlynch356]

He uses them with military training but otherwise uses std hard shackles. in reality the hard shackle is overhead rated for its stamped weight and controlled by a governing body for quality and specs..

soft shackles are not, period.
rope has a governing standard, but not rope in a soft shackle configuration.

On the line to have been using master pull classic lines. Dyneema HMPE
I’ll be doing a Safe-Xtract line (60’) on the new come up winch though, I like the color bands so you can quickly judge speed and distance.
Splicing is pretty easy, razor blade, pen, and some electrical tape is all you need (but a cheap fid off Amazon is nice to have)