Off-Road Recovery
The standard application. Connects your kinetic rope to a rated recovery point on either vehicle. No pins to fumble with when your hands are cold and someone's buried to the frame.
Soft Shackle
Soft Shackle
America's Favorite Soft Shackle
Regular price
$36.99
Regular price
$41.00
Sale price
$36.99
Unit price
per
Shipping calculated at checkout.
Strength
Stronger Than Steel
52,300 lbs
Breaking Strength
USA
Origin
Product Description
A Kinetic Rope’s Best Friend: Yankum Soft Shackles
Metal shackles are heavy, multi-piece, and turn into projectiles when a strap fails. Yankum soft shackles are a single piece of high-modulus polyethylene fiber with no pins to drop in the mud and no steel to send through a windshield. They connect your recovery rope to a rated tow point cleanly and safely, and they're available in six diameters to match rigs from ATVs to heavy equipment.
Key Features:
- HMPE (High-Modulus Polyethylene) fiber construction. As strong as steel at a fraction of the weight.
- Single-piece design. No loose hardware, no dropped pins.
- Zero metal parts. No projectile risk if the connection ever fails.
- Nylon chafe sleeve color options for easy identification in the field
- Rated from 16,100 lbs MBS (1/4") up to 201,500 lbs MBS (1")
- 1 year limited warranty
- Made in the USA
Specifications
Breaking Strength
52,300 lbs
Working Load Limit
17,400 lbs
Strength
Strong As Its Weight In Steel
Material
Double-Braided Nylon
Country of Origin
USA
Warranty
Limited
Sizing Information
Size Recommendations
Match your soft shackle to the recovery vehicle, not the stuck vehicle.
| Diameter | MBS | WLL | Recommended Recovery Vehicle | Pairs With |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/4" | 16,100 lbs | 3,220 lbs | ATVs, 4-Wheelers, Snowmobiles |
1/2" Rope |
| 5/16" | 37,100 lbs | 7,420 lbs | UTVs, SXS, 2-Door Jeeps |
5/8" or 3/4" Rope |
| 7/16" | 45,500 lbs | 9,100 lbs | Full-Size SUVs, 4-Door Jeeps, 1/2-Ton to 1-Ton Trucks |
7/8" or 1" Rope |
| 1/2" | 62,500 lbs | 12,500 lbs | Overland Trucks, Vans, Service Trucks, Small Heavy Equipment |
1-1/4" or 1-1/2" Rope |
| 5/8" | 94,000 lbs | 18,800 lbs | Utility Trucks, Backhoes, Class 7 Trucks |
2" Rope |
| 1" | 201,500 lbs | 40,300 lbs | Heavy Equipment, Combines, Tractors, Dozers, Class 8 Trucks |
2-1/2" Rope |
Best rule of thumb: Stay within the WLL. Under the MBS.
Shipping & Returns
- We pay for shipping on orders over $200!! US Standard rates only
- Expedited & International shipping services are available for an additional cost at checkout
- Orders ship within 3-5 business days
- Local pickup available at YR Headquarters, ready in 1 hour during normal business hours
Frequently Asked Questions
What size soft shackle do I need?
Match the shackle to the recovery vehicle, the one doing the pulling. Use the sizing table above to match diameter to your vehicle's weight class and the kinetic rope you're running.
Can I use a soft shackle with my winch?
Yes. Soft shackles are commonly used as anchor connections in winching setups. Make sure the WLL of your shackle exceeds the line pull rating of your winch.
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 put it through, calculated at a 5:1 safety factor. Stay under the WLL in real use.
Will a soft shackle work with a hard/metal shackle?
Yes. Soft shackles are compatible with standard hard shackles, D-rings, and recovery points. For hard shackle pairing on the 7/16" size, use a 7/8" hard shackle.
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.
How fast should I move during a soft shackle recovery?
Your kinetic rope sets the speed limit. Start with a slow pull, increase gradually, and don't exceed 5 mph on kinetic recoveries.
Breaking Strength
Choose a rope with breaking strength 2-3x your vehicle's GVWR for safe recovery.
1/4"
16,100 lbs
5/16"
37,100 lbs
7/16"
45,500 lbs
1/2"
62,500 lbs
5/8"
94,000 lbs
1"
201,500 lbs
Why Choose Yankum?
-
100% American-MadeUSA materials, USA manufacturing, USA quality control
-
Batch TestedEvery production batch tested to exceed rated specs
-
We Pay ShippingWe cover the shipping on all order over $200
-
Expert SupportQuestions? We're here to help you choose the right gear
The Prize
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.
2022 Model
2022 RAM 1500 TRX
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When to Use a Soft Shackle
Trail Riding
Compact enough to throw in a recovery bag. Strong enough for anything your rig can handle. If you're running a Yankum rope, you need a shackle to match it.
Winching
Soft shackles work well as winch anchor connections. Lighter than steel and safer to work around under tension.
Heavy Equipment Recovery
The 5/8" and 1" sizes handle serious iron. Backhoes, combines, dozers. When you need a connection point that won't be the weak link, size up.
Trail Riding
Essential gear for Jeeps, trucks, and UTVs hitting the trails. Compact enough to stow in your vehicle, strong enough for any situation.
Emergency Preparedness
Keep in your vehicle year-round for unexpected situations — winter storms, roadside emergencies, or helping others in need.
THE SCIENCE
How HMPE Fiber Works
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.
-
1
Connect
Attach to rated recovery points. No threading, no pin to lose. Loop the soft shackle through and pull the button through the eye.
-
2
Load
HMPE fiber behaves nearly like wire under tension. Minimal stretch means predictable, controlled force transfer.
-
3
Release
No tools required. Works the same whether it's been sitting in the mud all day or came straight out of the bag.
Soft Shackle vs. Standard Steel Shackle
| Factor | HMPE Fiber | Steel Shackle |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | Ultra-light (floats on water) | Heavy |
| Strength-to-weight | Up to 15x stronger than steel by weight | Baseline |
| Stretch | Minimal. Behaves like wire under load. | Rigid |
| Projectile risk | None. Drops if it fails. | High |
| Hardware | Zero pieces | Pin + bow |
| UV/Water/Abrasion resistance | Excellent | Rusts, corrodes |
MAINTENANCE
Care & Storage
Soft shackles don't need much, but they last longer when you treat them right.
- Rinse with fresh water after use in mud, sand, or salt
- Inspect the eye and button before each use. Look for fraying, cuts, or stiffness.
- Store in a recovery bag, out of direct sunlight when not in use
- Keep away from sharp edges under load
When To Replace
- Visible cuts, abrasion, or fraying anywhere on the shackle
- Stiff or hardened sections in the fiber
- Faded color indicating UV degradation
- Any use that approached or exceeded the WLL
- After any recovery exceeding 80% of rated capacity
Limited Warranty Coverage
Yankum soft shackles are covered by a 1-year warranty against defects in materials and workmanship for the original purchaser. Contact Yankum customer service for warranty claims and RMA.
