tugboat

PS...one thing to remember with spectra slings is that while the webbing may be pure spectra (usaully not), the stitching is generally Nylon. This then becomes your weak link if exposure is the issue. Spectra thread may be used but is not that common (for several reasons). Spectra webs for climbing are generally a blend of Nylon and Spectra to balance out the good and bad properties of pure spectra fiber....eg; lower heat resistance, lower stretch, decreased ability for weft in spectra to hold its structure under load due to its "teflon" like nature. Nylon fabric and thread hold there grip better due to there higher friction coefficient...and provide more stretch and durability to the sling.

Matrax is right.... Spectra has a higher UV index vs Nylon. This is backed up by suppliers specs, my own use over a 10 year period. My own pulltesting of ten year old samples vs nylon. And its dramatically witnessed within the sailing community...where they are seeing ten year use in harsh Uv conditions and still sustaining extreme loading. As reargds "shelf life" of Spectra....After ten years of use i am finding 90% plus strength both in fabric and webbing samples that i personally pull test with digital data aquisition thru a digital load cell. I test spectra that has been exposed to all differnet conditions over different age periods.