Current offroad community thinking tells us soft recovery lines lack the deadly attributes steel cables and components possess. Last summer some young, mildly smug military wheelers proclaimed soft lines "are fully superior" to steel lines.
No, they aren't. Drag soft lines across sharp rocks like those in Uwharrie a few times and let's talk. The point being very few, if any trades, are fully superior in every way. Higher costs for a product mostly superior is itself a demerit. Even if we all agree it's completely worth the increased cost, it is still a downside.
Let's also address the fact stupidity is always a factor. It is a factor capable of mitigating nearly any failsafe. And yes, the following scenario contains it's fair share.
Nonetheless, the scenario proves it is possible to cause damage, injury, or death in fashions similar to steel cable failure. We've been told repeatedly soft rope can't or won't whip forcibly like steel cable. In this case a soft rope whipped right through a windshield. Somewhat safer? Sure. But it is not the magic bullet we've been told.
No, they aren't. Drag soft lines across sharp rocks like those in Uwharrie a few times and let's talk. The point being very few, if any trades, are fully superior in every way. Higher costs for a product mostly superior is itself a demerit. Even if we all agree it's completely worth the increased cost, it is still a downside.
Let's also address the fact stupidity is always a factor. It is a factor capable of mitigating nearly any failsafe. And yes, the following scenario contains it's fair share.
Nonetheless, the scenario proves it is possible to cause damage, injury, or death in fashions similar to steel cable failure. We've been told repeatedly soft rope can't or won't whip forcibly like steel cable. In this case a soft rope whipped right through a windshield. Somewhat safer? Sure. But it is not the magic bullet we've been told.
