Choosing Between Steel Cable and Synthetic Rope for Winching

This is one of the most frequently asked questions in winching, and to be perfectly frank, there's no clear answer to it. Both steel cable and synthetic rope have dedicated users, and it's because each material is amazing in some situations and terrible in others. The secret is knowing which is which and picking the right material accordingly.

Given the fact that we've supplied winching products across multiple sectors over the years, we know all about the pros and cons of each material. Here is our honest review of each material to help you decide on the better option for your particular application.

Steel Winch Cable: Tried and True

Steel cable has been the material of choice for winching operations from the time steel wire rope was invented, and there are plenty of practical reasons behind this choice. In fact, that's what made steel cable so popular for such a long time.

High abrasion resistance is one of the key benefits of steel cable. Winching often means moving along rough terrains with a lot of stones and mud. Steel cable survives these conditions for much longer, while synthetic rope is much more vulnerable to abrasion: stones, rough surfaces and UV exposure damage to the fibres inside.

Another key feature is high heat resistance. Whilst steel cable deals with higher temperature conditions without a problem, synthetic rope can get damaged in the process.

Cost is also important factor when choosing the material. Good quality steel winch cable is usually cheaper than synthetic rope of similar rating. If cost efficiency is what you look for, steel cable is the better option.

The other thing is storing. Steel cable does not require any special storage conditions except for keeping it dry and properly wound. Synthetic rope, however, needs more care. It shouldn't be stored wet or dirty, and dirt in fibres causes the material to degrade much faster.

The only drawback of steel is that it stores more energy under tension. In case the steel cable snaps, that energy gets released instantly, thus turning into a danger to anyone around. This is why people started looking for safer alternatives like synthetic rope.

Synthetic Winch Rope: Light, Safe and More Popular

Over the recent years, synthetic rope became increasingly popular especially in off-road and 4x4 recovery community. The reasons are pretty obvious.

Safety on breakage is the greatest advantage of synthetic rope. When the rope breaks under load, it falls on the ground immediately and doesn't cause a drastic whip effect. This makes synthetic rope safer compared to steel cable when you need to perform the operation close to people.

Other benefits are lightness of synthetic rope, which makes a huge difference in case you need to carry your equipment by yourself, and ease of handling. Unlike steel cable, synthetic rope will never develop sharp ends that can hurt your hands, and it will be much more flexible even in cold weather.

However, the disadvantages of this material should be taken into account. The thing is that synthetic rope needs more care, and it should be inspected regularly because the strength of the rope is affected by UV exposure, abrasion and contamination with mud or other chemicals. Also, synthetic rope is usually more expensive than steel cable of similar rating.

Which One Should You Pick Then?

For industrial and commercial winching, where equipment works regularly and there's high possibility of abrasion, steel cable is usually the better choice because of its durability and higher heat resistance. Also, cost-efficiency plays a role here.

For recreational off-road recovery where safety of attended operations is important and conditions are more or less controlled, synthetic rope is the better choice because of its safety and ease of handling.

There are cases where any of two materials may work well, but there are also cases where one material is the better choice. The honest truth is that neither steel cable nor synthetic rope can be considered the universally better choice because the best material depends on the conditions of using and how often you perform the operations.

If you're not sure which material to pick for your needs, you can ask us for advice. We've been supplying winching products for commercial, industrial and recreational applications for quite a long time now and can help you to choose the right material for your needs. Find out more information about winch cable selection in our product range.