? Choosing Between Wire & Synthetic Rope
Wire Rope is the standard choice with most winches. Comprised of carbon steel wire in several bundles of strands, wire rope is more resistant to abrasion than synthetic rope and considerably less expensive. On the down side, individual strands often break and create sharp burrs - therefore gloves are essential wear.
Synthetic Rope is a relatively new addition to winch manufacture and is far lighter than its wire equivalent, around one tenth of the equivalent weight. It is also exceptionally strong, with some able to bear the weight of 7 times that of a wire equivalent. One of the more ignored benefits however, is that synthetic rope floats in water, making it very useful for off-roading and fording. Safety wise, synthetic rope does not splinter as wire rope does – combine this with more flexibility and the ability to easily repair it by tying it in knots, you get a big upgrade in terms of safety too.
On the downside, synthetic rope is more expensive and is susceptible to chaffing, yet for those willing to pay the additional cost – synthetic rope provides a superior experience.