Rig It Right: What Every Crew Should Know About Slings

You’d think picking a sling would be simple. Grab one off the rack, hook it up, and get moving. But if you're not paying attention, you're one bad lift away from a shutdown—or worse. Here’s the no-BS rundown on slings that keeps your job moving and your crew off the injured list.

Why Slings Matter More Than You Think

Slings aren’t just straps. They’re the quiet workhorses hauling pipe, rebar cages, trench boxes, concrete panels—you name it. And if the wrong sling fails mid-air, that load’s going somewhere fast. Probably not where you want it.

At job sites across the city and tunnels under it, you’ll see more wire rope and flat web slings than anything else. There’s a reason. They can take a beating, have tagged capacities, and get the job done with less bulk than chains (which are banned in a lot of NYC spots anyway).

Flat Web Slings vs Wire Rope: Here’s the Real Talk

Flat Web Slings

• Best for: Stuff that can scratch easy or needs a wider grip. Think ductile pipe, prefab forms, steel plates.
• Why crews use 'em: Lightweight, flexible, and won’t chew up your gear.
• Watch for: Cuts. One little tear and it's done. You don't patch webbing. You toss it.

Find flat and edge wrapped lifting slings here.

Wire Rope Slings

• Best for: Heavy, sharp-edged loads. Steel beams. Bar joists. Utility poles.
• Why they’re trusted: They’re strong, stiff, and hold their shape. And when they’re tagged with load ratings, you’re covered.
• Watch for: Broken wires. Kinks. Birdcaging. If it looks like a squirrel got into it, time for a new one.

Find wire lifting slings here.

Round Slings—Don’t Sleep On These

Round slings are like the unsung backup on the job. They look soft, but they’ve got serious guts. Wrapped core, high strength, and they shape to the load like a glove.

• Best for: Uneven loads or stuff that’s hard to grip. Also solid for basket hitches.
• Bonus: A Cordura sleeve adds serious life. If your guy’s pulling slings out of a muddy bed every day, that extra protection matters.

Find round lifting slings here.

Sling Ratings—This Part’s Non-Negotiable

Slings come tagged for a reason. If yours isn’t tagged, it’s not legal. Period. Always look at the tag before the lift, not after it fails.

Here’s the short version your crew needs to burn into their brain:

• Vertical Lift: That’s your single-point hook-and-lift. Standard rating.
• Choker: Wrap it, cinch it. Cuts your capacity by about 20%.
• Basket: Loop it under and lift from both ends. That rating’s usually double the vertical.

Jobsite Red Flags—Slings That Need to Go

You don’t need a spreadsheet or some OSHA guy breathing down your neck to know when a sling's done. Look for this:

• Tag’s missing? Trash it.
• Cuts, burns, melted spots, or chemical damage? Done.
• Exposed wire or broken strands on rope? Nope.
• Stretched loops or crushed collars? Don’t even try it.

Inspections That Actually Make Sense

Look, nobody’s standing around doing full-on lab reports on sling wear. But a 30-second once-over at the start of every shift? That’s smart. It’s fast, it’s free, and it could save a ton of headaches.

Here’s what to check:

• Tags readable?
• Edges intact?
• Loops clean and even?
• No birdcaging or rust pitting?

Need Slings? Stock Up, Don’t Stall Out

We keep the sizes and styles you’re actually using—none of that specialty junk that takes two weeks to ship. Whether it’s a wire rope or a flat web sling for your spreader bar lifts, it’s on the shelf and ready to move.

And yeah—we ship the same day. We don't just say it... We really do it.

Bottom Line

Slings aren’t just another tool in the pile. They’re safety, they’re speed, and they’re the difference between finishing the lift or shutting down the site.

Get the right sling. Use it the right way. And toss the ones that have seen too many lifts.

Because jobsite delays? No one’s got time for that.