The Nylon Web Sling Experts
A nylon sling shouldn't force you to guess at your rigging. Ours are built in the USA from abrasion- and moisture-resistant webbing, so you get consistent performance whether you need a single eye & eye sling, a choker-style strap, or something custom-built for an odd-shaped load. You'll hear these called nylon lifting slings, nylon lifting straps, or nylon hoisting straps interchangeably; they're all the same product.
What's In Every Nylon Sling
Every sling starts with 9,800 lbs. per inch industrial-grade nylon webbing, built to handle the day-to-day demands of rigging work. Nylon brings more stretch than polyester and holds up well against strong alkalis and other basic chemicals, though it's vulnerable to acids and bleaching agents. If your application involves either of those, our polyester round slings are the better fit. Most of our nylon slings are built in-house, which keeps quality consistent and turnaround fast.
Every sling ships with a sewn-on tag rated for vertical, basket, and choker hitch capacities where applicable, so you can confirm the right sling before it goes on the job. The tags themselves are made from Corfam imitation leather, chosen because it holds up better than real leather against the elements and the stretching a heavy-duty strap goes through.
Types of Nylon Lifting Slings & Straps
Most styles go by both a name and a type number. Each is available in single or multiple plies, with or without wear pads or sleeves, and across a range of lengths and widths.
| Type |
Web Sling Name |
Vertical Hitch |
Basket Hitch |
Choker Hitch |
| 1 |
Triangle Choker |
Y |
Y |
Y |
| 2 |
Triangle |
Y |
Y |
N |
| 3 |
Flat Eye & Eye |
Y |
Y |
Y |
| 4 |
Twisted Eye & Eye |
Y |
Y |
Y |
| 5 |
Endless |
Y |
Y |
Y |
| 6 |
Reverse Twisted Eye |
Y |
Y |
Y |
| 7 |
Reverse Flat Eye |
Y |
Y |
Y |
| 8 |
Continuous Wide Eye |
N |
Y |
N |
| 9 |
Attached Wide Eye |
N |
Y |
N |
Type 1: Triangle Choker
Triangle choker slings pair a steel triangle end fitting with a choker fitting on the other end, cutting down the abrasion that would otherwise wear on a soft eye. That combination works in vertical, basket, and choker hitches alike, which is exactly why this style is a popular, economical pick: one sling covers ground that would otherwise need two or three.
Type 2: Triangle
Triangle slings use steel triangles, or d-rings, on both ends instead of a mixed fitting, which limits them to vertical or basket hitches only. The upside of that fitting: it does the same job an anchor shackle would on an eye & eye sling, so if you want that functionality built directly into the sling, this is the style that offers it.
Type 3: Flat Eye & Eye
Flat eye & eye slings work in choker, vertical, and basket hitches, which makes them one of the most versatile styles we carry. Widths run 1" to 12", in 1- through 4-ply, and custom builds are available if none of our standard specs fit your job. Need less stretch than nylon offers? Our eye & eye polyester round slings are a comparable option.
Type 4: Twisted Eye & Eye
Twisted eye slings share the same width and ply range as the type 3, with one change: the eye is twisted rather than flat. That twist has no effect on break strength or working load limit, but it does perform better in a choker or basket hitch than a flat eye would.
Type 5: Endless
Endless slings are formed by joining the webbing ends with a load-bearing splice, creating one continuous loop that works in all three common hitches. Because there's no fixed eye, you can rotate the contact area with each use, which spreads out wear and extends the sling's working life considerably. A round polyester version of the endless design is also available in our polyester round sling lineup.
Type 8: Continuous Eye Wide
Continuous eye wide slings are built for extra-heavy loads that need a wide body for stability, running up to 24" wide in 2-ply construction and rated as high as 131,700 lbs. in a basket hitch. Because the eyes are formed as part of the sling body rather than attached separately, they add strength on top of the wide-body design. This style shares a lot with the type 6, but carries a heavier load rating and uses tapered eyes to match its wider webbing. It's built for basket hitch use only.
Type 9: Attached Eye Wide
Attached eye wide slings take the opposite approach: a wide surface for stability, but sized for lighter loads, which makes them a strong fit for delicate or finished cargo. Like the type 8, this style is basket hitch only.
Proof Testing Certificates
If your job calls for documentation, certified proof testing is available for a nominal fee. The process pulls the sling to twice its rated vertical capacity and formally records the result for governing bodies. During standard manufacturing, only random slings from a given run are tested for compliance, which means providing a certificate requires pull testing that specific sling at the time it's made. We run this testing in-house on our own test bed for many strap styles, which keeps the process under our control and gets your order back to you faster. Request certification when you place your order to make sure it's processed correctly.
Choosing the Right Nylon Sling
The right sling comes down to matching four things to your job:
-
Hitch type: vertical, basket, or choker. Check the types table above to see which styles support your hitch.
-
Width and ply: wider, multi-ply slings carry higher working load limits. Your sewn tag lists the exact capacity for your sling.
-
Eye style: flat eye & eye, twisted eye, triangle, or reverse eye. Match this to your rigging hardware.
-
Protection: add a sling protection sleeve anywhere the sling will contact an edge, corner, or abrasive surface.
Still not sure which sling fits your application? Contact our team and we'll help you land on the right setup.
Care and Maintenance
A well-cared-for nylon sling will give you years of service. A few things shorten that lifespan faster than anything else:
-
Improper loading: overloading, unbalanced loading, and shock loading all weaken a sling over time, and so does an improper sling angle. That angle is measured between the leg and a horizontal line; as it decreases, the load on each leg increases. Keep angles above 30 degrees to protect the sling's integrity.
-
Abrasion and foreign matter: punctures and embedded debris like metal shavings or grit can seriously shorten a sling's working life. Inspect and clean your straps regularly.
-
Light and temperature: repeated sun exposure, or even light from an arc welder, can stiffen and bleach a strap over time. Nylon starts to degrade at 194°F and above, so keep slings away from extreme heat and prolonged light exposure.
-
Cuts: movement between a load's edge and the nylon can cause damage over time. Inspect your sling before, during, and after every use.
Sling Protection
ASME B30.9 (2021) 9-5.10.4(d) requires that "slings in contact with edges, corners, protrusions, or abrasive surfaces shall be protected with a material of sufficient strength, thickness, and construction to prevent damage." Browse our sling protection lineup, including cut-resistant sleeve options, to keep your slings covered.
Explore More Lifting Solutions
Nylon isn't always the right call. We also carry wire rope slings, chain slings, plasma® slings, high performance round slings, and specialty drum slings for 55-gallon drums.
