In the vehicle recovery world, one of the most important pieces of kit are shackles. Shackles are used for a variety of rigging duties, such as connecting a tree trunk protector, a recovery strap, or hooking up a winch line. For years, shackles were made of metal and had a screw pin to make them a secure loop. In fact, many are still this way today. However, several years ago, a lighter weight, more flexible version—the soft shackle—came onto the market and have become a popular option. Warn Industries sells both metal shackles and soft shackles. So which is the right one for you?

Metal Shackles

For decades, metal screw-pin shackles have been used for rigging. They're super durable and exceedingly strong. Warn offers three styles of metal shackles: our standard shackle (for truck and powersports), Epic Shackles (also for truck and powersports), and our Epic Hyperlink (a double-screw pin shackle available in black, gunmetal, and polished finishes). All of these products are made from ultra-durable forged metal, have been extensively tested, and have working road limits indicated on the products.

To use them, you unscrew the pin, attach it to your rigging gear or bumper, then screw the pin down hand-tight and turn a quarter-turn back to prevent binding. If you don't do this, you will have a hard time getting the pin out again!

PROS: The good thing about metal shackles is they're exceptionally durable. They stand up to abuse and don't care much about abrasion. They can also be left on the outside of the vehicle when not in use.

CONS: Being metal, they can be heavy in recovery bags. Also they store more potential energy compared to a soft shackle. They also can get bulky if carrying multiples. If you're going to leave them attached to the vehicle, they can make noise or even loosen up and fall off.

Soft Shackles

Soft shackles are relatively new to the off-road recovery world compared to metal versions. But as synthetic winch rope became more popular and showcased its strength, soft shackles also started to gain favor. They are usually made from the same material as winch rope, as is the case with our 3/8" Spydura Soft Shackle and 1/2" Spydura Nightline Soft Shackle, complete with high-visability weave and 3M reflective material woven throughout. These units are much lighter weight than a metal shackle, and have breaking strengths of 29,700 lbs. and 36,000 lbs., respectively. This is plenty strong for most recoveries.

To use a soft shackle, remove the knot from the shackle's loop. Then connect your rigging, and reinsert the knot through the loop creating a secure shackle—no pin to lose, no worries about over/under-tightening!

PROS: Soft shackles are lightweight, easy to handle, and easy to use. Plus, there's no screw pin to worry about. They can be stowed in glove boxes, bags, and don't take up much space. Plus, they don't store as much potential energy as a metal shackle.

CONS: Like their synthetic winch rope counterparts, soft shackles are more prone to damage by abrasion. They also shouldn't be attached to rigging points with sharp edges, as they can compromise the fibers. The minimum breaking strengths often aren't as high as a forged metal shackle. If used on a bumper's recovery point, it should be radiused, or be used in conjunction with a bow shackle to prevent damage.

Which Is Right For You?

Much like the age-old debate about steel rope vs. synthetic rope, the choice is up to you. The decision should also be carefully weighed depending on how you'll be using the products. If you're doing a lot of utility work in high-abrasion situations, metal shackles may be a better option. Conversely, if space is at a premium and you'll only be using them for occasional vehicle recovery, perhaps soft shackles are the way to go. Or, better yet, maybe carry a couple of both and use them accordingly—the best of both worlds.

No matter which you choose, all WARN shackles are tested to destruction at our in-house testing facility to ensure the best quality and most reliable products on the off-road market.