If you are looking for information on the best winch rope to buy here’s a great place to start.

While we are fans of synthetic winch rope, we feel a comparison between synthetic and metal winch line will help you decide if this is the right cable for your winch.

Read on to see the features of each.

This website will provide unbiased reviews and recommendations of the best synthetic winch cable from only the top brands like AmSteel Blue, WARN and Master Pull — all at the best prices.

After all, when you make a purchase you want to know the cable is going to work for your winch and that it is backed up with a warranty from a brand that is an industry leader in this field.

Synthetic rope for winches is simply lighter, stronger, safer, and does not conduct heat or electricity. No more handling freezing or heated metal cable — no sharp burrs or metal splinters piercing your fingers AND you don’t need to be a gym regular to lift it.

While synthetic cable is VERY versatile, whether used for ATV, off-road or boat winching — steel cable may still be the best selection for terrains that are highly vehicle abrasive, like those with a lot of rocks, mud and sand. It may also be better suited to extreme horizontal vehicle recovery, tree and rock removal than synthetic.

While it is less expensive than synthetic, it does come with conditions — front-loading weight and break strength being the biggest downsides and to a lesser extent, metal burrs, kinking, corrosion and temperature conduction.

Whichever you choose, we hope the information offered here, gives you the details needed to make an informed buying decision.

Comparing Synthetic Rope vs. Metal Winch Line

From an appearance standpoint alone it may seem that a winch cable, made from tightly wound strands of tough aircraft grade metal wire, may be stronger than a man-made fibrous synthetic line but in a side by side comparison, you may be surprised.

The table below will detail both the good and the not-so-good for each type.

	SYNTHETIC WINCH ROPE	METAL WINCH CABLE
Strength	30% to 90% higher break strength than steel	Larger diameter winch line including more weight needed to match strength of small synthetic lines
Weight	Much lighter than steel cable - up to 80% lighter Example: 3/16th inch 50 ft synthetic cable weighs 2 pounds Better for vehicles sensitive to weight Floats for easier recovery	Front end heavy for weight sensitive vehicles Example: 3/16th inch 50 ft steel cable weighs 4 pounds Will sink in mud or water
Fray	Quality cable comes with anti-abrasion sleeves or special coating	Can develop sharp burrs or wire splinters requiring glove handling
Care	Clean with hose Wash with mild soap and water in bucket	Light coating of chain oil or WD40
Corrosion	Does not corrode	Can rust if exposed to moisture Galvanized coating can wear off
Spooling	Needs protection against heat from drum brake	Prone to kinks that can make drum spooling difficult
Breakage	Can be field repaired Line drops when breaks under load Does not store as much energy as metal cable	Cannot be field repaired Dangerous whip backlash when breaks under load
Exposure	Susceptible to UV, chemical, heat and abrasion exposure	Minimal to no impact unless exposed to water
Cost	Moderately more in cost than steel Example: 3/16" Synthetic 50 ft, 3000 lb working load -- $67.00 +/-	Less costly than synthetic based on cable diameter Example: 3/16" Galvanized Steel 50 ft, 840 lb working load -- $45.00 +/-

Synthetic winch line has an added benefit of not needing to be spooled as neatly as metal cable on a winch drum. Because synthetic rope does not kink or crimp, is significantly lighter in weight and is not prone to burrs or splinters, it can be wound with less care. That being said, however, it still needs a even spread on the winch drum — exercising caution not to get it bunched at either end.

Factors in Buying Synthetic Winch Line

Selecting the right synthetic line for your winch can be a little intimidating with so many lengths, diameters and numbers of braided fabric strands to choose from. Here are some guidelines that should help make the selection process easier.

• Rope diameter equates to the strength of the winch line. For safety purposes, it is recommended by leading manufacturers, that a 2:1 ratio be used. What this means is that your winch rope should have a BREAKING STRENGTH at twice (2X) the PULLING CAPACITY of your winch. As an example, if you own a top rated Superwinch 1135230 Terra 35 with a 3,500 pound pulling capacity, then you would want a synthetic cable with a breaking strength of at least 7,000 pounds.
•  A larger diameter line may be used for added strength, however, as the rope diameter gets larger, the length of the line needs to decrease so it fits properly on the winch drum.
• Winch pulling capacity is rated from the FIRST WRAP of cable on the drum. Each subsequent wrap layer decreases the winch’s pulling power because it has to work harder to turn the drum.
• In an off-road situation, the best winch rope will be preferably 10 feet or more SHORTER in length than that provided with the winch. This way the winch works more efficiently and the risk for damage due to improper spooling, under extreme circumstances, is minimized.

 2 Best Ways to Clean Winch Rope

Unlike a metal winch cable which may rust when wet, a synthetic winch line will enjoy a long useful life if it is cleaned regularly or based on use.

Stranded synthetic winch cable is vulnerable to fiber damage, when exposed to grit, dirt and other outdoor organic materials.

As grime builds, so does its abrasive properties between the strands — each time the winch line is put under a load. As the cable is tightened, any dirt in the line is forced into the strands.

Without regular cleaning, this grit will break down the structural integrity of the stranded rope weave.

If your winch line looks dirty, then why run the potential risk of future failure by letting particles buildup after each use?

Cleaning a winch rope is easy and there are two simple methods. One requires nothing more than a hose while the other requires a bucket of water, some mild soap and two willing hands.

It stands to reason that if you’re going to use a hose to clean synthetic braided cable that it be done on a grit free surface.

The cable should be laid out, rather than coiled or looped on a surface free from sand and gravel and thoroughly hosed from end to end to remove any particulates from between the strands.

The second method is to place a length of synthetic line in a bucket of water with mild detergent like kitchen dish soap. Use your hands to push the braid strands toward each other, opening the fibers and then rinsing them in the soapy water. This can be done a section at a time and then rinse with clear water.

Allow the rope to thoroughly dry before storing and know that synthetic winch cable is not dishwasher or washing machine safe!