Building out your recovery gear kit is crucial if you’re spending time on the trails. Even the easiest routes can throw unexpected challenges your way, and having the right equipment can mean the difference between a quick recovery and a ruined trip.
In today’s post, I’ll be covering two essential pieces of recovery gear. Focusing on the 10′ Static Bridle but also their soft shackles. Keep reading to find out why these should be your next investment.
Brenan previously wrote a post on their Hero Bridle, so check that out as well.
Table Of Contents
What’s A Static Bridle?
A static bridle is a specially designed rope that is used by connecting each end to two recovery points on your vehicle. This provides better load distribution during a recovery. By spreading the force across two points, it helps reduce strain on any one recovery point and minimizes the risk of damage to your vehicle or gear.
And unlike kinetic ropes that stretch to absorb and then release energy, a static bridle remains rigid, offering a strong, immediate pull.
How Do They Work?
A primary benefit of using a bridle is its ability to distribute load across two points.
When you attach one, the force required to pull a stuck vehicle is shared between the two points, reducing the strain on each. However, it’s important to note that the load isn’t simply halved; instead, it’s equalized, which prevents overloading one point and reduces the likelihood of failure.
This is incredibly important during a recovery because it can reduce the risk of equipment failure causing damage to vehicles and injuring those around.
However, the real value comes into play when you need to recover at an angle. Pulling at an angle is safer when you use two points on opposite sides of the vehicle because it balances the sideways force. This helps prevent the vehicle from tipping or putting too much stress on one side.
Unlike a direct pull, where all the force is concentrated on one point, a bridle can adjust to accommodate different angles, making it easier to control the recovery process and preventing uneven stress on the recovery points. The Sandy Cats bridle will adjust to any angle you pull it at, allowing you to still recover a vehicle with a centralized pull. This is beneficial because it minimizes the risk of pulling the vehicle off its intended path.
In a pinch, you could also use one as a tree saver/anchor point to connect your winch to.
And there are a few case scenarios that you can use a bridle during a recovery.
Here are a few depending on what kind of gear you have and if you are with someone else…
- As an extension to a tow strap
- Distributing the load between two recovery points to recover a vehicle
- Distributing the load between two recovery points to self recover your vehicle around a tree
Product Features
Kinetic-X 10′ Static BridleÂ
- Length:Â 10′
- Diameter:Â 3/4″ or 1/2″
- Break Strength:Â 3/4″ – 58,000 lbs. or 1/2″ – 34,300 lbs.
- Material: Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene similar to an extra thick winch line
- Functionality: Multi-functional recovery uses
- Design Features: Made with a protective sleeve for smooth angle transitions
- Static System: Keeps the anchor points steady so that only the kinetic rope stretches.
Kinetic-X Standard Soft Shackle
- Minimum Breaking Strength: 7/16″ – 41,000 lbs. or 1/2″ 58,000 lbs.
- Design: Created to fit smaller bumper recovery points.
All ropes and shackles carry a lifetime warranty and are USA tested (CERTEX).
Pairing With Soft Shackle
Using a soft shackle instead of a metal one is a smart and safe choice for any recovery situation.
The biggest advantage of a soft shackle is safety—if it fails under extreme load, it won’t turn into a dangerous projectile like a metal one could. This significantly reduces the risk of injury or vehicle damage.
Additionally, soft shackles are made from synthetic fibers, making them lightweight and easy to handle compared to their metal counterparts. Plus you wont have to worry about them corroding over time.
Their flexibility is another major benefit. Soft shackles can handle angled pulls without losing strength, which is especially helpful when recovering a vehicle in tricky, uneven terrain where a straight pull isn’t always possible. This is where pairing them with a bridle makes more sense as well.
Find It Online
- Kinetic-X Standard Soft Shackle: Check Price
Review
Overall, I think this bridle is a must-have for any kit. It’s a versatile piece of gear that doesn’t break the bank and takes up minimal space, making it easy to pack and store.
Whether you’re dealing with a straight pull or a tricky angled recovery, this bridle adapts to the situation, providing a safe and efficient way to recover vehicles. For anyone looking to start building out their gear, this is a smart investment that offers reliability and peace of mind in a variety of recovery scenarios.
Sandy Cats products are thoroughly tested to ensure high quality. They’re also focused on bringing affordable gear options to the market. With the warranty, certifications and more, you can bet you’re spending your money wisely.
Final Thoughts
Overall, this is a solid investment and it’s priced really well. If your budget allows, I highly recommend pairing it with a set of soft shackles as well, or even their full line of gear, like the ultimate recovery kit. From there, you can continue building out your kit, ensuring you’re ready for any situation.
For those still figuring out what gear they need, I suggest watching videos and reading articles online. There’s a wealth of information available, and when it comes to safely recovering a vehicle, preparation is key.
It’ll be interesting to see how bumpers respond/hold up to the crush forces applied between a 2 point connection. I’m sure most will be fine, especially with hooks integrated into the winch cradles, but I’d be surprised if their engineering has a threshold capacity.
We’ve used bridles with just about every major front bumper manufacturer on the market. Haven’t seen any damage at all. The winch plate and hooks are substantially reinforced and it would take a crazy amount of force to do any kind of damage. Might damage the frame which is a substantially thinner material before we see issues with the bumper. That even applies to using a single point, where a bridle wasn’t available. The 4Runner has a pretty robust mounting location for bumpers. Compared to a Tacoma, where we frequently see the frame end plates bending, and the need for reinforcements.