Soft Shackles – How Far They’ve Come

Soft Shackles – How Far They’ve Come

These days, nearly everyone’s running a soft shackle. Hard to believe that about six years ago, when I first started making them by hand here in Brisbane, there were barely any suppliers around. Now they’re everywhere you look. 

They’re a great bit of gear — light, easy to handle, and much safer than a steel shackle if something goes wrong. But you’ve got to know how to use them properly. Getting good quality is the first step.

One of the biggest issues is sharp edges. A lot of recovery points and hooks have edges that look smooth but will chew through a soft shackle under load. You might not notice at first, but over time the fibres start to wear, fluff up, or get damaged inside.

That’s actually why I developed our SK+ Series Recovery Hitch and the EZFit Recovery Hitch — to give people safer, cleaner connection points that are purpose-built for soft shackles.

Also, if your recovery point or hitch has a sharp edge, don’t stress — it’s perfectly fine to use a steel shackle as a bridge. There’s nothing wrong with that. The steel shackle can stay fitted, and you can just hook your soft shackle onto it when needed.

If you’re using soft shackles, it’s worth checking your gear:

• Make sure your recovery points don’t have any sharp edges
  

• Keep an eye out for signs of wear

They’re tough, but they’re not bulletproof. Look after them, and they’ll look after you.

Any questions or if you want to check out our Australian-made soft shackles, ropes, or recovery hitches, just get in touch.

tonny@George4x4 07/07/2025