Web Slings vs Round Slings: Differences, Pros & Cons, and More

Slings are heavily regulated tools that can be used for various load-bearing tasks, from transportation and suspension to recovery. Web slings and round slings are just two of the most popular types, but do you know the difference between web slings vs round slings?

We’ll examine these differences in detail as we analyze the most common pros and cons of web slings and their round sling counterparts.

Web Sling Characteristics

Web slings are flat synthetic strips, usually nylon or polyester, intended for load-bearing and other tasks. They’re versatile, affordable, and quite easy to use and operate. The main difference lies in how the materials react. Nylon is relatively stronger and more stretchable than polyester but absorbs moisture more easily. Polyester is a bit more rigid but less absorbent than nylon, making it a preferred choice for outdoor work or work where liquids are involved.

Advantages of Using Web Slings 

• Affordable compared to some other sling types
• Flexible & stretchable
• They’re lightweight & easy to operate
• They’re resistant to certain chemicals (excluding industrial acids)
• Polyester slings tend to be more resistant to oils & other liquids
• Better for securing delicate objects

Disadvantages of Using Web Slings 

• Low heat & cold resistance
• Susceptible to UV damage if left in the sun for too long
• Limited attachment points on certain models
• Poor resistance against cuts, piercing & abrasion
• Requires padding when operating on rugged terrain or corners

Damage Web Slings Experience

Due to their material composition, the web slings are prone to the following types of damage:

• Cuts
• Punctures
• Abrasion
• Tensile Breaks
• Heat Burns
• Alkaline Burns
• Worn/ Damaged Tags
• Knots

Web Slings Load-Bearing Limit

The load-bearing capabilities of a web sling depend on its type, but more importantly, whether it’s a one-ply or two-ply sling. Check the manufacturer’s rating to see the exact limits for your sling. For this example, we’ll look at the limits of vertical slings.

At the low end, one-inch one-ply web slings can bear a weight of about 1600 lbs. At the high end, 12-inch one-ply slings can bear a weight of about 17.650 lbs. For two-ply slings, that’s 3100 lbs for a one-inch sling and about 34.100 lbs for a 12-inch two-ply sling.

Round Sling Characteristics

Round slings, aka endless slings, are polyester slings continuously woven in an encased tubular cover. Their shape, which looks like a ring, makes them ideal for holding items in a choker hold. An interesting thing about round slings is that they are easily identifiable by their cover color, indicating their load limits. Purple slings are usually the weakest, with a rating of 2100 lbs, while olive slings are the strongest, with a rating of 32,000 lbs.

Advantages of Using Round Slings

• Perfect for lifting round objects such as tubes & pipes
• Easy to transport & maintain
• The outer cover protects the internal yarn from damage & stains
• Higher laid bearing capacity than web slings
• The outer padding offers protection for delicate loads

Disadvantages of Using Round Slings

• Not ideal for lifting objects that aren’t round
• Does not handle well under extreme temperatures
• Alkaline environments tend to wear down the yarn and the cover extremely fast
• Must be stored in an environment that’s away from the sun

Damage Round Slings Experience

Round slings are comprised of two parts – the inner yarn and the outer cover. Here’s the sort of damage that can appear on either part:

• Abrasions on the outer cover
• Cuts on the outer cover
• Tears on the cover & the yarn
• Acid burns
• Fire burns
• Knotting
• Weld splatter
• Pulled yarn
• Damaged tags

Round Sling Load-Bearing Limit

As with the web slings, the type of round sling you choose will ultimately determine the maximum weight you can lift. For this example, we’ll also be using a vertical round sling. ML30 vertical slings can hoist about 2600 lbs of weight at the lower end. That number can be as high as 40.000 lbs at the higher end when using an ML400 sling.

Which One is Better?

Neither sling is inherently better, as both are designed with different tasks in mind. Round slings are better for lifting and suspending round objects such as piping, while web slings are better for versatility and hoisting more delicate objects.

Web Slings vs Round Slings: Where to Find Them

If you have an upcoming project and require quality slings, Southeast Rigging is here to help. We’re a rigging shop based in southeastern Florida that specializes in offering a variety of rigging equipment, including high-quality web slings and round slings. 

Reach out to us for an update on our inventory.