The Best Lifting Shackles: Screw-Pin & Bolt-Type Compared
The best lifting shackle depends on the connection, temporary or permanent, in-line or multi-direction, and the two brands worth buying are Crosby and CM (Columbus McKinnon). Below are top anchor (bow) shackles compared across screw-pin and bolt-type pins from both brands. All are forged, rated, and stamped with their working load limit; match the pin type to your application and the WLL to your load.
| Rank | Model | Price | Grade | Design Factor | Material | Finish | Standard | Capacity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Crosby G-209 Galvanized Screw Pin Anchor Shackle | $13 | 6 | 6:1 | Forged, quenched & tempered, alloy pin | Hot-dip galvanized (G) | Meets ASME B30.26; RR-C-271H Type IVA, Grade A, Class 2 | 727-121,254 lb | View → |
| #2 | Crosby G-2130 Galvanized Bolt-Type Anchor Shackle | $16 | 6 | 6:1 | Forged, quenched & tempered, alloy bolt | Hot-dip galvanized (G) | Meets ASME B30.26; RR-C-271H Type IVA, Grade A, Class 3 | 1,102-26,455 lb | View → |
| #3 | CM Super Strong Screw Pin Anchor Shackles Galvanized | $9 | Super Strong (17-50% stronger than comparable-sized carbon shackles) | 6:1 (2-1/2" and round-pin styles are 5:1 - not applicable to this size range) | Domestic (U.S.A.) micro alloy steel body, alloy quenched & tempered pin | Galvanized | Meets dimensional and exceeds performance requirements of RR-C-271 (cannot be marked as meeting RR-C-271 because it exceeds it) | 3,000-40,000 lb | View → |
| #4 | CM Super Strong Bolt-Type Anchor Shackles | $13 | Super Strong (17-50% stronger than comparable-sized carbon shackles) | 6:1 | Domestic (U.S.A.) micro alloy steel body, alloy quenched & tempered bolt/nut/cotter pin | Galvanized | Meets dimensional and exceeds performance requirements of RR-C-271 | 3,000-40,000 lb | View → |
Best for frequent connections: Crosby G-209 screw-pin
The Crosby G-209 screw-pin anchor shackle is the industry-standard choice for general rigging where shackles come on and off often. Its threaded pin installs and removes fast, its bow shape takes multi-leg and multi-direction loads, and the G-209 name is the rigging world's shorthand for a reliable screw-pin shackle. Forged and rated to a 6-to-1 design factor with the WLL stamped on the body, it's the default screw-pin for a huge share of lifts. If your connections are temporary and frequently changed, this is the benchmark.
Best for permanent installs: Crosby G-2130 bolt-type
The Crosby G-2130 bolt-type anchor shackle is the go-to for permanent and long-term connections, and anything subject to rotation, torque, or vibration. Its bolt, nut, and cotter-pin closure stays locked where a screw pin could work loose, making it the safe choice for fixed rigging points and below-the-hook assemblies. Galvanized for corrosion resistance and carrying the same trusted Crosby engineering as the G-209, it's the bolt-type benchmark. When security over time matters more than quick removal, this is the shackle.
Best value screw-pin: CM Super Strong
The CM Super Strong screw-pin anchor shackle is Columbus McKinnon's answer to the G-209, and it's among the most popular shackles on the market. USA-made, forged, ISO-9001 certified, and rated with the WLL stamped on the body, it delivers Crosby-comparable quality, often at a competitive price. For operations that prefer CM, already run Columbus McKinnon hardware, or simply find better pricing or availability, it's a top-tier screw-pin with no safety compromise. A genuinely excellent alternative to the Crosby benchmark.
Best value bolt-type: CM Super Strong bolt-type
The CM Super Strong bolt-type anchor shackle pairs the secure bolt-nut-cotter closure with CM's trusted forging and certification, making it the value pick for permanent and vibration-prone connections. Like its screw-pin sibling, it matches Crosby's bolt-type on the specs that matter, rating, design factor, and marking, and suits operations standardized on CM. If you want a locked, long-term shackle from a top brand and value competitive pricing, this is a strong choice alongside the Crosby G-2130.
How to choose your shackle
Work two decisions. First, the pin: screw-pin for temporary, frequently-changed, in-line connections; bolt-type for permanent installs and anything with rotation or vibration. Second, the brand: Crosby and CM are both top-tier and spec-comparable, so choose on price, availability, and what your shop already runs, never trade down to an unrated look-alike. Then confirm the stamped WLL exceeds your load or per-leg tension with margin, and that the jaw fits your sling. Whichever you pick from these four, you're getting genuine, rated hardware from a benchmark brand.
Whatever you choose, buy genuine and rated
The one shackle mistake that actually endangers a lift isn't choosing the wrong benchmark brand, it's buying an unrated or counterfeit shackle to save a few dollars. Cheap look-alikes with no real rating, or fakes stamped with capacities they can't hold, are a genuine hazard. All four shackles here are genuine, rated, forge-stamped hardware from Crosby or CM, which is exactly the assurance you're paying for. Buy from a reputable supplier, confirm the stamped WLL and, for critical work, a material certificate, and you have a connector you can trust in the load path.
The verdict
For frequent, temporary connections, the Crosby G-209 (or the value-priced CM Super Strong) screw-pin is the pick; for permanent or vibration-prone installs, the Crosby G-2130 (or CM Super Strong) bolt-type. Crosby and CM are both benchmark brands, spec-comparable, so choose on pin type, price, and standardization, and always confirm the stamped WLL exceeds your load. Compare the four in the table above, and never substitute an unrated shackle to save money.
FAQ
For general rigging, the Crosby G-209 screw-pin anchor shackle is the industry benchmark; for permanent or vibration-prone connections, the Crosby G-2130 bolt-type. The CM (Columbus McKinnon) Super Strong equivalents are spec-comparable, often at better value. All are top-tier; match the pin type to your application.
Yes. CM (Columbus McKinnon) and Crosby are the two dominant, trusted US shackle brands, both forged, rated, certified, and spec-comparable for nearly all uses. Crosby's part numbers are the industry shorthand, but CM's Super Strong line is an equally solid, often competitively-priced choice.
Neither is universally better, they suit different jobs. Screw-pin shackles are best for temporary, frequently-changed connections; bolt-type for permanent installs and anything subject to rotation or vibration. Bolt-type can be used anywhere a screw-pin can, making it the safer default when unsure.
Related Guides
Sources: ASME B30.26, manufacturer references (Crosby, Columbus McKinnon/CM, Mazzella), verified 2026-07-22. Always read the working load limit stamped on the shackle body and follow the manufacturer's chart; never exceed rated capacity or side-load a screw-pin shackle beyond its rating. · Updated 2026-07-22