Textile slings vs. wire slings

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Textile slings and wire slings - each have their own strengths

- get an overview of the differences, advantages and safety so you can choose the right solution for your lift

The choice of lifting equipment has a major impact on safety, efficiency, and load protection. Textile lifting slings and wire rope slings are both strong and versatile solutions – but they are suited to different tasks. Here is an overview of the differences, benefits, and key safety points.

When choosing lifting gear, lifting capacity is not the only factor that matters. The shape, surface, weight, temperature, environment, and method of handling the load also play an important role. Choosing the wrong lifting sling can cause unnecessary wear, damage the item, or, in the worst case, create dangerous situations.

What is the difference between textile slings and wire rope slings?

Textile slings – such as round slings and webbing slings – are typically made from synthetic fibers such as polyester, polyamide, or polypropylene. They are lightweight, flexible, and gentle on the load. Wire rope slings are made from steel wire rope and are known for their high strength, robustness, and good resistance in demanding environments. Both types are widely used in industry, construction, transport, offshore, ports, and production – but they have different strengths.

Textile slings – flexible and gentle lifting

Textile slings – also known as synthetic slings – are often the obvious choice when the load has a sensitive surface, or when the sling needs to be easy to handle. Slings made from synthetic materials weigh significantly less than steel wire rope slings and are therefore more ergonomic in day-to-day work.

Textile lifting slings are available in several variants, including round and webbing slings, and can be made from various synthetic materials. This means that the choice of lifting sling is not only about lifting capacity and length, but also about which material is best suited to the task and working environment.

The choice of material is particularly important if the sling is to be used in environments with chemicals, moisture, UV exposure, heat, or other conditions that may affect the sling's service life and safety. You should therefore always check the manufacturer's instructions and ensure that the material, WLL, temperature limits, and chemical resistance are suitable for the specific lifting task.

Benefits of textile slings:

Low dead weight – easy to transport, attach, and handle.
Gentle on the load – suitable for painted, polished, or machined surfaces.
Flexible – easily adapts to the shape of the load.
Several material options – e.g., polyester, polyamide, and polypropylene, depending on environment and application.
Suitable for many general lifting tasks.
Colour coding makes it easy to identify lifting capacity on many standard types.
Resistant to moisture and certain chemicals, depending on the material and application.

Textile slings are manufactured in accordance with relevant standards, such as EN 1492-1 for flat-woven webbing slings and EN 1492-2 for round slings. These standards describe requirements for marking, safety, materials and areas of use, among other things.

Please note

Textile lifting slings are more vulnerable to:

Sharp edges
Wear and friction
Cuts and tears
Heat above the permitted temperature limits
Chemicals that are not compatible with the material
UV exposure over time

Always use wear protection when lifting items with sharp or rough edges. Webbing slings and round slings must be protected against edges, friction, and wear – regardless of whether the impact comes from the load or the lifting device.

Wire rope slings – robust for demanding lifts

Wire rope slings are a good choice for heavy, rough, or demanding lifting tasks that require high strength and wear resistance. They are often used in environments where the load may be rough, heavy, or difficult to handle, and where greater stiffness can be an advantage.

Benefits of wire rope slings:

High strength and load-bearing capacity.
Good resistance to wear.
Suitable for heavy industrial lifting.
Withstand harsher environments than many textile slings.
More robust for rough items, depending on the task and correct use.

Wire rope slings are particularly relevant in the steel industry, construction, production, ports, contracting work, and other environments where loads are heavy and lifting gear is subject to heavy use.

Please note

Wire rope slings can be heavier and less flexible than textile slings. They can also damage delicate surfaces if the correct protection is not used.

Typical damage to wire rope slings that requires attention includes:

Broken wires
Kinks
Deformations
Birdcaging
Corrosion
Crushing or flattening
Damage to eyes, splices, ferrules or fittings

Comparison: textile slings vs. steel wire rope slings

Property	Textile slings	Steel wire rope slings
Weight	Low	Higher
Flexibility	Very flexible	Less flexible
Load protection	Gentle	Can damage delicate surfaces
Wear resistance	Requires protection against sharp edges	Very robust
Handling	Light and ergonomic	Can be heavier to work with
Material options	Polyester, polyamide or polypropylene	Steel wire rope
Typical tasks	Sensitive items, general lifting, assembly	Heavy, rough and demanding lifting
Inspection	Cuts, wear, damaged stitching, label	Broken wires, corrosion, deformation
Environment;	Good with the correct material choice	Good in harsh industrial environments

How to choose the right sling

When choosing between a textile sling and a wire rope sling, you should always assess:

Weight of the load: The sling's WLL must be suitable for the lift – and for the selected lifting method.
Shape and surface of the load: Is the item sharp, rough, round, painted or machined?
Lifting method: Straight lift, choke lift, basket lift or multi-leg lift affect the permitted load.
Working environment: Temperature, moisture, chemicals, UV, dirt and corrosion can affect service life and safety.
Material: For textile slings, the material must be selected based on the environment. Different materials have different properties in relation to chemicals, temperature and elasticity.
Handling and ergonomics: For frequent manual lifting, low dead weight can be a major advantage.
Requirements for documentation and traceability: Lifting equipment must be correctly marked and suitable for the task.

Remember inspection before use of lifting slings

Regardless of which type of lifting sling you use, lifting equipment must be visually checked before use. If the marking is missing or cannot be read, the sling must not be used until it has been assessed by a competent person.

Remove the sling from service if there are signs of:

Textile slings:

Cuts, holes or tears
Damaged stitching
Heavy wear
Heat or chemical damage
Deformed or damaged fittings
Missing or illegible label

Wire rope slings:

Broken wires
Kinks or birdcaging
Corrosion with pitting
Crushing or deformation
Damage to ferrules, eyes, or fittings
Signs that a splice or end fitting has shifted

If in doubt, the sling must always be removed from service and inspected by a competent person.

Conclusion: One type of sling does not suit every lift

Both types of lifting slings can be safe and effective solutions – when used correctly. The best choice depends on the load, the environment, the lifting method, and the handling requirements. At CERTEX Danmark A/S, we help you choose the right solution – whether you need standard products, custom-made slings, advice, inspection, or documentation.

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