Soft Shackles

Soft Shackles

Soft shackles are flexible lifting and recovery components designed to replace traditional steel shackles in a range of lifting, towing, and rigging applications. Made from high-performance synthetic fibers, they offer a lightweight and easy to handle alternative for professionals working in off-road recovery, industrial rigging, and marine settings. These shackles are widely used for connecting slings, winch lines, or other rigging components, providing a practical connection point without the weight and rigidity of metal hardware.

At Holloway Houston, we offer a wide selection of soft shackles designed for demanding lifting and recovery needs. Designed to handle both tension and shock loads, our soft shackles are manufactured with abrasion-resistant jackets and high-strength rope cores. These products are especially useful in situations where portability, simplicity, and fast handling are required without compromising the load connection. With options available in different diameters and lengths, our soft shackles serve a wide range of field and operational conditions.

Types of Soft Shackles

Soft shackles at Holloway Houston are available in multiple configurations to accommodate varying needs. From compact sizes for light-duty recovery tasks to larger diameters for heavier industrial lifting, each product is selected to offer performance, flexibility, and safety.

Our catalog includes standard soft shackles suitable for winching and general rigging tasks. These shackles feature a soft loop and a button-style closure, allowing quick attachment and detachment even in tight or uneven environments. The flexible design reduces the risk of damage to the load or equipment, especially when working with painted or polished surfaces.

One of the featured products in this category is the HHIppo Link soft shackle, which is constructed using a coated synthetic rope core and a protective braided jacket. These shackles are favored in off-road recovery kits and winch setups, offering simple handling and strong holding capability. Several color options are available, helping crews organize their gear or identify shackles quickly in different settings.

Soft shackles are also offered in various lengths and styles, including versions with different loop sizes or body thicknesses. This allows users to choose based on their preferred handling method or the type of anchor point they’re working with. Whether used in four-wheel drive applications or integrated into lifting slings, these shackles provide a dependable alternative to steel components.

Application and Usage

Soft shackles are commonly used in off-road recovery, equipment transport, marine rigging, and industrial lifting. Their design allows easy integration with synthetic slings, tow ropes, and rigging gear. Due to their flexibility, soft shackles adapt well to different anchor points, including rounded edges, clevises, and hitch receivers.

Unlike metal shackles, soft shackles are less likely to cause abrasion or scratching on surfaces, making them useful for vehicle recovery or operations involving sensitive equipment. Their knot-style closure eliminates the need for threaded pins or bolts, speeding up assembly and disassembly without tools. When tension is applied during lifting or towing, the loop tightens securely around the connection point, while the soft construction remains safe to handle.

Soft shackles also float in water, making them especially suitable for use in wet or marine environments. They are used extensively in winch systems, recovery straps, and tree saver kits where reducing overall gear weight is important. Thanks to their adaptable design, they are also suitable for overhead lifting when properly rated and applied within acceptable angles.

Available Sizes and Color Options

Holloway Houston provides soft shackles in multiple size categories to support different lifting capacities. Though most soft shackles are chosen based on job requirements rather than specific numbers, users can expect to find diameters ranging from compact profiles to larger formats for heavier tasks. The working strength varies with size, and options are available to cover both light-duty and high-capacity rigging scenarios.

In addition to performance differences, our soft shackles come in a wide range of colors including HHI Green, Blaze Orange, Army Green, Baby Blue, Fusion Red, Grey, Black, Tan, Yellow, White, Midnight Blue, Saturn Yellow, and others. This extensive palette helps users assign color codes to various tasks, differentiate gear sets, or maintain consistent visual systems across job sites.

Color coded shackles are particularly helpful when organizing kits for multiple vehicles or assigning lifting tools to different teams. The visual contrast can also improve safety by making connection points easier to spot, even in low-light or dusty conditions.

Alternative Soft Shackle Options

In addition to our core selection, Holloway Houston offers soft shackles in multiple colors and configurations to meet specific operational needs. For example, the HHIppo Link in Blaze Orange provides high visibility for use in trail recovery, while the Baby Blue variant is often used in marine or boat-based setups.

For users who need a heavier-duty option, larger sizes in Army Green or Midnight Blue offer more grip and holding strength, making them appropriate for machinery, trailers, and industrial towing. Fusion Red and Hot Pink options provide easy visual identification when gear needs to be separated or located quickly.

These alternatives allow users to build recovery or rigging systems that are organized and tailored to specific equipment or working conditions. Holloway Houston also offers internal alternatives across similar size categories, helping users maintain consistency when updating or expanding their kits.

Installation and Safety Considerations

Soft shackles should be used in accordance with their designated load rating and proper lifting angles. They are best used where their flexibility and low weight bring a clear advantage over traditional hardware. Before use, shackles should be inspected for wear, fraying, or embedded particles that could affect performance. The knot and loop area should remain smooth and free from signs of abrasion or hardening.

During use, it's important to avoid sharp edges or contact with high heat sources that can damage synthetic fibers. When tension is applied, the closure knot tightens and holds the loop firmly in place. After release, the shackle can be easily reset without tools. This cycle of operation makes them suitable for repeated field tasks where downtime needs to be minimized.

Inspection and Maintenance

Proper care and inspection are key to keeping soft shackles in working condition. After each use, users should check for signs of surface wear, fiber damage, or internal fraying. Any shackle showing visible wear should be retired from lifting service and replaced.

When used in sandy, muddy, or wet conditions, the shackle should be rinsed with clean water and air dried before storage. Direct exposure to sunlight over extended periods can weaken the fiber coating, so soft shackles should be stored in a cool, dry place away from direct UV.

Following standard inspection routines helps extend the usable life of soft shackles and supports safer lifting operations. Holloway Houston encourages routine visual checks as part of every job cycle to reduce risk and maintain equipment readiness.

Trusted Selection for Your Lifting Needs

Soft shackles from Holloway Houston are part of a complete rigging solution designed for ease of use, low weight, and strong performance. Their ability to adapt to different working angles, equipment types, and anchor points makes them a valuable tool for a wide range of lifting and recovery tasks.

With products available in various colors, diameters, and strength levels, our selection provides users with a simple way to match their equipment needs without overcomplicating the setup. Whether you're working in off-road conditions, marine environments, or industrial job sites, Holloway Houston offers dependable soft shackles that fit your system.