Made in Idaho
Over 284 Miles
Off-Road
America's Favorite Soft Shackle
Most recovery points are not clean, flat, or smooth. They're rusty frame hooks, raw hitch receivers, welded D-rings, and ball mounts with sharp edges. The standard soft shackle handles clean setups well. The HD was built for everything else.
The sleeve on this shackle is not nylon. It's made from kinetic rope scrap, dipped in the same two-part polymer we use to coat the eyes on our kinetic ropes. That coating is harder, thicker, and more abrasion-resistant than a fabric sleeve. It holds its shape under load and protects the HMPE fiber against jagged connection points where a standard sleeve would wear through.
Same HMPE core. Tougher shell. Built for the recoveries that are hard on gear.
Key Features:
Match the HD shackle to the recovery vehicle, not the stuck vehicle.
| Diameter | MBS | WLL | Recommended Recovery Vehicle | Pairs With |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5/16" | 37,000 lbs | 7,420 lbs | 2-Door Jeeps, Half-Ton Trucks | 5/8" or 3/4" Rope |
| 7/16" | 45,500 lbs | 10,250 lbs | 4-Door Jeeps, Full-Size Trucks, 1-Ton Diesels | 7/8" or 1" Rope |
| 1/2" | 62,500 lbs | 14,499 lbs | Heavy Overland Trucks, Service Trucks | 1-1/4" or 1-1/2" Rope |
| 5/8" | 102,500 lbs | 20,500 lbs | Backhoes, Utility Trucks, Class 7 Trucks | 2" Rope |
| 1" | 201,500 lbs | 40,300 lbs | Combines, Tractors, Dozers, Class 8 Trucks | 2-1/2" Rope |
Best rule of thumb: Stay within the WLL. Under the MBS. You'll be fine.
Also see the size equivalent chart below for compatible hard shackle and GreenPin bow shackle pairings.
| Rope Size | HD Soft Shackle Size | GreenPin Bow Shackle Size |
|---|---|---|
| 3/4" | 5/16" | 3/4" Pin |
| 7/8" | 7/16" | 7/8" Pin |
| 1" | 7/16" | 7/8" Pin |
| 1-1/4" | 1/2" | 1-1/4" Pin |
| 1-1/2" | 1/2" | 1-1/4" Pin |
| 2" | 5/8" | 1-1/2" Pin |
| 2-1/2" | 1" | 1-1/2" Pin |
What makes the HD different from the standard Yankum soft shackle? The sleeve. The standard shackle uses a fabric chafe sleeve. The HD uses a sleeve made from kinetic rope scrap that's been dipped in our two-part polymer coating. That coating is significantly more abrasion-resistant and is specifically built for use on rough or non-standard connection points.
What size HD soft shackle do I need? Match the shackle to the recovery vehicle doing the pulling. Use the sizing table above to match diameter to your vehicle's weight class, then cross-reference with the hard shackle compatibility chart if you're pairing it with a GreenPin or standard bow shackle.
Can I use the HD shackle with my winch? Yes. The HD works well as a winch anchor connection, especially on working rigs where the anchor point sees regular use and isn't always purpose-built recovery hardware.
What's the difference between WLL and MBS? MBS (Minimum Breaking Strength) is the rated failure point. WLL (Working Load Limit) is what you should actually load it to, calculated at a 5:1 safety factor. Stay under the WLL in real use.
What is HMPE? High-Modulus Polyethylene is an ultra-strong synthetic fiber up to 15 times stronger than steel at equal weight and light enough to float on water. It's the same class of material used in body armor and offshore mooring applications.
Why doesn't the HD come in 1/4"? The HD lineup starts at 5/16" because the dipped polymer sleeve is purpose-built for heavy-use and rough connection point applications. At 1/4", the use case is lighter-duty (ATVs, snowmobiles) where the standard soft shackle is the right fit.
How fast should I move during a recovery using the HD shackle? Your kinetic rope sets the speed limit. Start slow, increase gradually, and don't exceed 5 mph on kinetic recoveries.
Choose a rope with breaking strength 2-3x your vehicle's GVWR for safe recovery.
A 2022 RAM 1500 TRX in Granite Crystal Grey. Under the hood sits a supercharged 6.2L HEMI V8 pushing 702 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque. The same engine Dodge put in the Hellcat. This is a truck that makes everything else on the road feel slow. It hits 60 in under 4 seconds. Dodge built it this way on purpose and now one of you will be driving it home.
Hitch receivers, raw frame hooks, welded rings, ball mounts. Any connection point that's not a clean tow hook or recovery ring is where the HD sleeve earns its keep. The polymer coating takes the wear so the HMPE core doesn't have to.
Service trucks, utility rigs, and fleet vehicles don't always have the cleanest recovery hardware. The HD is built for repeated use in professional environments where gear takes a beating on a regular schedule.
The 5/8" and 1" sizes cover serious tonnage. Backhoes, combines, dozers, Class 8 trucks. When the equipment is big and the connection points are rough, this is the shackle for it.
If you're using a winch on a truck that sees real work, not just trails, the HD handles anchor connections at rated capacity with a sleeve that holds up to consistent use.
Essential gear for Jeeps, trucks, and UTVs hitting the trails. Compact enough to stow in your vehicle, strong enough for any situation.
Keep in your vehicle year-round for unexpected situations — winter storms, roadside emergencies, or helping others in need.
THE SCIENCE
Most soft shackles on the market use generic synthetic fiber. Yankum soft shackles are made from HMPE (High-Modulus Polyethylene), the same class of fiber used in body armor, offshore mooring lines, and technical rescue equipment.
Loop the HD shackle through your recovery point. No pins, no loose hardware. The polymer sleeve takes the contact at the connection point.
HMPE fiber handles the tension. The dipped sleeve protects the fiber at the point of contact with the hardware, where standard sleeves wear first.
One piece, no tools. The sleeve holds its shape and the button pulls cleanly whether you're using it on a clean tow hook or a rusty hitch receiver.
| Factor | HMPE Fiber | Steel Shackle |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Two-part polymer dipped rope scrap | Woven nylon or polyester |
| Abrasion resistance | High. Holds shape under load. | Moderate. Wears at contact points. |
| Performance on rough hardware | Built for it | Adequate for clean recovery points |
| UV resistance | Excellent | Good |
| Origin | Made from our kinetic rope scrap | Generic chafe material |
MAINTENANCE
The polymer sleeve on the HD is more durable than a fabric sleeve, but the same basic care applies
Our HD soft shackles are covered by a 1-year warranty against defects in materials and workmanship for the original purchaser. Contact our customer service team for warranty claims and RMA.
