Sling Protection

Lifting Strap Protectors

Sling protection products are an essential component of your lifting setup. They provide a twofold service: they protect your sling from job-related damage, and they also protect your load from your sling.

Both of these benefits save you money. Safeguarding your load is, of course, an important part of the job. And by shielding your sling from damage, you drastically increase its lifespan. 

There are several levels of protection available, the most effective feature protection ratings (note that cut-proof does not exist). Cut-resistant, protection rated sling softeners when used properly will reduce the chances of sling failure due to edge exposure, making your jobsite a safer place!

Most of the slings we offer provide a lower level of protection in the form of abrasion-resistance.

What Slings Need Protection?

All lifting slings should have protection - whether they're made from nylon, polyester, plasma, chain, or wire rope.

"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." - ASME B30.9 (2021) 9-5.10.4(d)

Where Do I Add Strap Protection?

You should add sling softeners at any point the sling may come into contact with either your load or your lifting hardware. This includes lift points and even load edges that could be above the hookup points.

Types of Lifting Sling Protectors

We carry several styles of sling protection, so it's easy to find the one that will work best for your application.

LiftGuard™ Magnetic Edge Protectors

LiftGuard™ lifting sling protectors use magnets to attach to the corners of your load. They are lightweight and provide excellent abrasion-resistance.

The magnets are slightly recessed to prevent damage to your load, and the units can be used in temperatures ranging from -20 to 220 degrees Fahrenheit.

There are three options available:

• Medium-duty - best-suited for use with synthetic slings
• Heavy-duty - best-suited for use with wire rope or chain slings
• Grooved - to attach to steel plates or I-beams.

CornerMax® Cut-Resistant Sleeves

CornerMax® sling protector sleeves are rated for cut-resistance and are made from high-tech Dyneema® fiber.

They also conform to your load, making them the ideal choice for round / curved loads where full 90 degree corner contact is not possible.

These sleeves are not designed to be used with wire rope or chain slings.

Protecting Round Slings with CornerMax

Due to circumference variations, a blanket statement saying which CornerMax sleeves will fit on each round sling size isn't possible. Instead, you will want to measure your round sling and make sure it fits within the inside circumference listed above.

Below is an illustration of how this sleeve will fit on your round sling - the entire sling is inserted into the sleeve, creating an eye at both ends. So when you measure your sling, you will want to measure the circumference of both sides together.

Wear Pads

Sling protection sleeves slide easily along the sling's length, making placement and inspection easy.

They are made from either nylon webbing or Cordura® (for abrasion-resistance), and have several construction styles:

• Sewn - typically for long-term use on one sling
• Quick - attached with Velcro® for fast installation and removal
• Tubular - also attached with Velcro®, with a design that maximizes usable contact space.

Questions?

Learn more about the different sling softeners by calling to speak with one of our product experts.

You can also shop by sling type - narrow down your options to sling protection compatible with web slings, round slings, chain slings, or wire rope slings.

Sewn Sleeves Compatibility Chart

Quick Sleeves Compatibility Chart

Tubular Sleeves Compatibility Chart

We also offer a full selection of lifting slings, lifting nets, rigging hardware, and more.