Prorope
Prorope softshackle - 22 mm diameter - 52 tons breaking strength
Regular price €119,00Unit price
Sold outProrope
Prorope softshackle - 11 mm - 15 tons breaking strength - UHWMPE and Technora
Regular price €39,95Unit price
Prorope
Seilflechter softshackle - 5.5 mm - 1400 kg breaking strength
Regular price €11,95Unit priceVery low stock (1 unit)-
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Soft shackles - UHMWPE
Soft shackles
Soft shackles are closed loops of UHMWPE rope that replace a steel bow shackle in 4x4 recovery, winching and on board. They weigh a fraction of steel, will not damage paintwork or recovery points, and are far less dangerous than a flying piece of metal if they ever fail.
Prorope stocks soft shackles from 8 to 22 mm with a stated breaking strength of 9,300 to 52,000 kg, from our own house brand as well as Seilflechter and Liros.
Our range
Soft shackle types and breaking strengths
Six sizes, three brands. All of them in stock.
ProropeBlue Prorope softshackle of 8 mm diameter Excellent value for money Very strong 8 mm thick UHMWPE rope with a breaking strength...
ProropeBlue Prorope softshackle of 10 mm diameter Excellent value for money Very strong 10 mm thick UHMWPE rope with a breaking strength...
ProropeBlue Prorope softshackle of 12 mm diameter Excellent value for money Very strong 12 mm thick UHMWPE rope with a breaking strength...
ProropeEnormously strong softshackle with a breaking force of 52 tons. Convenient to use, because weighing 1 kg weighs a lot less than...
ProropeBlack Prorope softshackle of 11 mm diameter 11 mm UHMWPE rope with a breaking strength of 15000 kg Around the core of...
ProropeSoftshackle from Seilflechter with a breaking strength of 8400 kg UHMWPE rope, so little stretch Light yet very strong With protection cover
ProropeSmall softshackle with a breaking strength of 1400 kg Made of high-strength Novoleen of 5.5 mm in diameter Silver in color German...
ProropeExtremely strong soft shackle from Liros.With carbon grey coating to protect the fibers.Equipped with a blue protective sleeve for long durability.Easy to...
Benefits
Benefits of soft shackles over steel
A soft shackle does exactly what a steel shackle does: connect two eyes, loops or hooks. The difference is the material, and that difference is considerable.
Stronger per gram than steel
Weight for weight, UHMWPE has a tensile strength roughly 15x higher than steel. Our 12 mm has a stated breaking strength of 17,500 kg and weighs a few tens of grams; a steel shackle with a comparable breaking load weighs many times more.
Safer if it fails
A steel shackle that comes loose or breaks during a recovery turns into a projectile. A soft shackle simply drops to the ground. That is the main reason soft shackles have become standard for kinetic recovery.
No damage to your kit
No metal on metal, so no scratched recovery points, no chipped paintwork and no damaged gelcoat on the boat.
Protection where it matters
Every soft shackle in our range has a polyester sleeve or coating on the section that bears against the loop, so the load-bearing fibres do not chafe directly over sharp edges.
Floats and never rusts
UHMWPE absorbs no water, floats, and is unaffected by salt water. Useful on board and in the mud alike.
Open and close in seconds
No pin to lose in the mud, no spanner required. Knot through the eye and you are done.
Comparison
Soft shackle vs. steel shackle vs. chain
| Feature | Soft shackle (UHMWPE) | Steel bow shackle | Chain / wire rope link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight (at approx. 10 t breaking load) | approx. 50–100 g | approx. 1–2 kg | > 2 kg |
| Behaviour on failure | Drops down, no projectile | Flying metal | Flying metal |
| Damage to paint / gelcoat | None | Yes, metal on metal | Yes |
| Opening / closing | By hand, seconds | Unscrew the pin | Tools required |
| Rust / corrosion | No | Yes (unless stainless) | Yes |
| Floats | Yes | No | No |
| Sharp edges | Vulnerable, sleeve essential | Barely affected | Barely affected |
| Heat | Softens from approx. 125 °C | Unaffected | Unaffected |
| Standardised WLL | No, stated breaking strength only | Yes, WLL stamped | Yes |
| Price | EUR 19.95 - EUR 129.95 | Similar to cheaper | More expensive |
In short: choose a soft shackle for anything that pulls, swings or hangs on board. Choose a steel shackle where a stamped WLL or a sharp metal edge is unavoidable, for example straight onto a winch drum or a lifting eye.
Applications
Where soft shackles are used
4x4 and off-road recovery
The biggest group of users. A soft shackle connects a kinetic recovery rope to the recovery point, or joins two ropes together. For an average 4x4 of 2-3 tonnes, 10 or 12 mm is the norm; for pick-ups and commercial vehicles, 12 mm or heavier.
Most chosen: 10 and 12 mmWinching and snatch blocks
As the link between winch line, snatch block and anchor point. One caution: never directly around a sharp edge or the winch drum; use a steel shackle or a sleeved tree strop there instead.
Never round the winch drum itselfSailing and watersports
On board, soft shackles replace metal fittings on sheets, halyards, tack lines and fender lines. No metal on the deck, no damaged gelcoat, and they float.
Most chosen: 8 mm and Seilflechter 10 mmTractors, trailers and work
Anywhere you need a quick connection under a heavy pull: pulling out trees, winching a boat onto its trailer, temporary links around the yard.
Connect without toolsChoosing a size
Which soft shackle diameter do you need?
Light 4x4, sailing, trailers
Standard 4x4 recovery, yachts
Heavy 4x4, pick-ups, winching
Commercial vehicles, professional use
Trucks, tractors, machinery
Torn between two sizes? Take the heavier one: it costs a few euros more and the weight difference is negligible. Rule of thumb: choose a soft shackle whose stated breaking strength is at least equal to that of your kinetic recovery rope or winch line.
Technical specifications
UHMWPE, HMPE or Dyneema? These all belong to the same fibre family. Dyneema is Avient's brand name; UHMWPE and HMPE are the generic names. Every soft shackle in this collection is therefore Dyneema-type fibre, even without a Dyneema label. Read more on our UHMWPE rope and Dyneema rope pages.
Opening and closing
- 1Push the diamond knot on one side through the spliced eye on the other.
- 2Pull the loop tight; the knot can no longer pass back through.
- 3To open, ease the loop open again and pull the knot back through the eye. No tools needed.
Ordering from Prorope
Soft shackles straight from stock
Every soft shackle in this range is in stock. Trade customer or need larger quantities? Request a quote or email info@prorope.com.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions about soft shackles
Push the diamond knot on one side through the spliced eye on the other and pull the loop tight; the knot can then no longer pass back through. To open it, ease the loop open again and pull the knot back through the eye. No tools needed.
Choose a soft shackle whose stated breaking strength is at least equal to that of your kinetic recovery rope or winch line. For an average 2-3 tonne off-roader, 10 or 12 mm is the usual choice; for pick-ups and heavier vehicles, step up to 12 mm or the 35 t Liros.
Weight for weight, comfortably: a 12 mm soft shackle rated at around 17,500 kg weighs a fraction of a steel shackle with the same breaking load. A steel shackle does carry a stamped working load limit (WLL); a soft shackle only has a stated breaking strength. Always work with a generous safety margin.
No material difference of any substance. Dyneema is Avient's brand name for UHMWPE fibre; HMPE and UHMWPE are the generic names. Our Prorope soft shackles are made from UHMWPE, which is why they carry a keener price than Dyneema-branded products.
You can, but do not assume the strength simply doubles. The breaking strengths only add up under a perfectly even load share, which never happens in practice. Allow a generous margin, or simply choose a heavier size.
There are plenty of tutorials, but we would advise against it. The diamond knot has to be set under considerable machine force to be reliable; by hand you will not get it tight enough. In a recovery, a home-made connection is not what you want under load.
That depends on use and inspection. Before every use, check the load-bearing fibres for cuts, fuzzing and discolouration, and the sleeve for wear-through. Replace the shackle as soon as the fibres show visible damage. Do not expose it to temperatures above roughly 125 degrees.
Yes, and more and more sailors use them as standard: they float, they do not rust, they will not mark the gelcoat and they can be swapped without tools. An 8 mm or 10 mm is ample for most yachts.
No. UHMWPE is vulnerable to cutting on sharp edges. Use a steel shackle or a tree strop where sharp metal is involved, and keep the soft shackle for eye-to-eye or loop-to-loop connections.
The force at which a new soft shackle breaks in a straight pull, as stated by the manufacturer. It is not a working load. For everyday use, apply a safety factor of at least 5 to that figure.