How To Make a Soft Shackle

Soft shackles are just as convenient as a D-ring or any other quick attachment tool but are lightweight, stronger, and you can make as many as you want! I'll show you how to make one in real time so you know exactly what you're getting in to. It's very simple and repeatable. I hadn't made one for about two months before this video, so this is real speed!

To make a soft shackle, you'll need the following supplies:

• Dyneema (or Amsteel by Samson Rope)
• Fids (You could also make your own with a bent stiff wire - like a coat hanger or the center strand in wire rigging)
• Knife/Scissors (freshly sharpened!)
• Sharpie
• Tape
• Cutting board
• Patience

Dyneema is an ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fiber known for being extremely strong and lightweight, often used in applications requiring high tensile strength, such as sailing, medical equipment, vehicle rescue/towing, and ultralight backpacking gear. It is touted as the world's strongest fiber, being 15 times stronger than steel. So now you see why it can easily hold my gigantic spinnaker and pull my heavy boat through the seas!

To make this knot, I always use the Animated Knots website because their guide with pictures makes it super simple. It's possible that one day I'll remember how to do these crown/button/celtic knots, but most of the time I have to cheat and look at the guide.

One last note, I kept calling one of the steps a Brummel splice and it's not really. Here's a Brummel splice, which I'll teach you how to do once it's time to replace my lifelines on the boat with dyneema.