Webbing Sling FAQ's

Webbing slings are a great alternative to many other pieces of lifting equipment that are on the market, but are perhaps less well known than some of their relatives, such as wire rope. So, to help you understand what webbing slings are a little better, we’ve put together a list of webbing sling FAQ's. Webbing slings are a useful alternative to other products such as wire rope

 What are webbing slings?

 The best place to start with the webbing sling FAQ's is probably with what webbing slings are! They are a lightweight and more flexible alternative to many other pieces of lifting equipment on the market, and are woven together from fabric, usually in polyester, polypropylene, or polyamide. Webbing slings can come in a variety of widths and sizes, as well as several different lifting capacities and strengths.

 Is there more than one type of webbing sling?

 Yes! You can see from our webbing sling page that we stock roundslings, web slings, poly prop slings, and disposable / one way slings. Each product has its own unique set of benefits and qualities to help with a number of different applications.

 Why would I use a webbing sling?

 We get this question a lot, as many wonder why they would use a webbing sling over an alternative with a stronger lifting strength, such as wire rope. But, webbing slings have many unique advantages.  They are:  -          Much lighter than their counterparts, making them easier to transport around the worksite, or even between multiple worksites -          Made from a soft fabric that won’t damage the material or load that it is working with in any way -          Don’t weaken with age as they don’t corrode or rust -          Made from stretch material, meaning that they are shock absorbent; great for protecting a load -          Still incredibly strong despite their lighter nature -          Made with a wide bearing surface, meaning that they can easily and flexibly wrap around the load that they are working with, protecting it nicely -          Twist and spin resistant  As you can see, webbing slings have a huge number of advantages. It is not about wire rope or webbing slings being ‘better’, it is simply that each piece of lifting equipment is more designed for certain situations.

 What kind of situations should I use webbing slings for?

 Webbing slings are perfect for a number of situations. For a start, they are great for working with odd shaped loads or objects, as they can wrap around them easily while still offering great protection. You may want to use a webbing sling if you’ll be working outside where there is a chance of rain – the webbing sling won’t corrode or rust should it get wet. Finally, if the load you are lifting is able to be lifted with the webbing sling’s lifting strength, then perhaps you simply want to choose this piece of equipment over a heavier piece due to its ease of transport around the worksite!

 What kind of applications can webbing slings be used for?

 As with the above, there are many different applications that webbing slings can be used for, and so we can’t list them all here. But one example is simply using it as the piece of lifting equipment with a crane for lifting and lowering loads. Another is tying it around a tree to set up a nice relaxing hammock, or performing a webbing sling drag, commonly used by fireman. Webbing slings are often used to create relaxing hammocks!

 What are a webbing slings lifting capacities?

 Webbing slings have many different lifting capacities, and can be seen via their different universal colour codes. You can view more on this from our product page.

 How should I use my webbing sling safely?

 With a different set of properties comes a different set of storage conditions. They mustn’t be used over sharp or abrasive surfaces, and mustn’t be used in temperatures of over 194F. For full information on using your webbing sling safely, we recommend reading the Guidance on Safe Sling Use.

 Have another question on webbing slings?

 If you have another question that you can’t see here on webbing slings, or perhaps wanted to know more about its capabilities and applications, simply get in touch with one of our team.    

Image credits: tsaarni and Chris McClave