Safe Working Load vs Slip Weight: Why Honest Figures Matter

We publish safe working loads, not slip weights.  Most competitors reveal when their hooks fail but we guarantee their reliability. This is the difference between marketing and engineering.

Slip weight is the maximum load a hook can withstand before sliding off a vertical surface.  It’s the point of failure.  Many magnetic hook manufacturers advertise slip weight because it sounds impressive – often five to ten times higher than what you’d actually trust with your gear.  However, safe working load is different. It’s the maximum weight you can safely hang daily without worry.  This takes into account material fatigue, temperature variations, surface imperfections and everyday use.  It’s the figure engineers and safety standards rely on. 

Pull force is easy to measure and sounds dramatic, grabbing attention with a six-kilogram claim. However, it’s almost useless for a hook.  Your bridle headcollar and equipment hang vertically, subject to gravity’s pull.  What truly matters is shear force – the friction the hook’s backing generates against the metal surface to prevent sliding.  Competitors often overlook this crucial factor.

We test each size on clean one-millimetre mild steel in a vertical position – the real-world scenario.  We load the hook until it slips and then calculate our safe working load as a conservative percentage of that figure. This accounts for wear dust and imperfect conditions.  This number is what appears on your product sheet and is what you can trust.

Equestrian environments are demanding.  Ammonia attacks adhesives and UV degrades plastic while surfaces aren’t always pristine.  Temperature swings and horses moving around constantly stress a hook.  You need something reliable – not something that performs perfectly once and fails under real conditions.

We use PETG and silicone rubber backing because they perform well in stables.  Our magnets are sealed and our figures are real.  When we publish a safe working load it’s a fact not a marketing figure. Trust your equipment to engineering not hype.