Samson Rope 1/4" Amsteel-Blue (25 Feet) (Yellow)

This rope is so strong and so easy to splice; it makes a great choice for custom slings for around-the-shop lifting operations. I use it with my shop crane for lifting off heavy motors and machine parts, and I use thicker versions for lifting whole metalworking machines up to around 1000 lbs. While you might not want to use it for lifting steel girders high overhead with a big diesel crane (based on difficulties certifying home-made slings), this same material is used for that sort of thing in some cases. Being able to make a sling just the right length is very handy for custom jobs in the shop and is way safer in my opinion than trying to muscle heavy and bulky items by hand somehow. It also allows much more fine control which minimizes the risk of damage. The pre-made "official" slings are bulky and only come in certain lengths, and are way overkill for smaller jobs. Making reliable slings requires care and some sense of what makes them strong and testing is a good idea, so do not attempt if you don't feel comfortable meeting those criteria.