Last year, Nick threw me a Slogan Outdoors rubber sling and said, “Hey. This guy says this is the best sling ever. Try it out.” As you’ve come to expect, we take every bold claim with a healthy dose of skepticism around here. And we take a double shot when someone uses the superlative. A year later, after miles of walking, jogging, bending over, climbing and general abuse, I’m on board. This is the best rifle sling ever made . . .

The Slogan Outdoors UltraFlex Rifle Sling is one of those, “Hey why didn’t I think of that?” affairs. No fancy sliding buckles with thirteen straps going in every direction. Just a single piece of thermoplastic (feels like rubber to me) made into a loop with two mounts on either end. Simply attach it to your rifle, adjust it so it sits fairly tight and you’re off. Installation takes all of thirty seconds and adjustment might take three minutes more.

Once installed, you have a sling that can be worn three ways. First, as a traditional shoulder carry like you’ve done since you started carrying rifles. Second, you can split the strap and put one end over the other side of your head. Now your rifle is place diagonally across your back and your hands are free to use for other duties. Third, you can also split the sling and wear your gun like a backpack. This is most helpful if you’ll be covering some ground and need both hands, but also want your rifle centered on your back with the weight evenly distributed.

The secret to the UltraFlex’s success lies in the thermoplastic (or rubber) material that they use. It has enough give that it creates some tension against your body to keep your long gun in place. It’s also slightly tacky so that it gets a good grip on your clothing. This is especially apparent when slinging the rifle over one shoulder as it still manages to stay in place no matter how aggressive your movements.

I’m not prone to making outlandish claims, but I’ve tried a fair number of rifle slings over the past few years and not one has come close to matching the UltraFlex for usability and durability. It is one hell of a sling and I feel confident giving it a five star rating. Lest you think I’m joking, I’ll be buying one for all my regularly used long guns.

Specifications: Slogan Outdoors UltraFlex Rifle Sling

Rating are subjective and based on a five star system

Durability * * * * *

Mud, sand, water, and a Smörgåsbord of harsh chemicals haven’t been able to make it look any less “new.” Additionally, I’ve been pretty hard on it over the last  year and the buckles are still staying put. I anticipate it will last for years to come.

Comfort * * * * *

My Ruger M77 tips the scales at about eight pounds fully loaded. Slung off one shoulder, I can carry the rifle for miles, but in the modified backpack position, I can carry it all day long. The UltraFlex has a enough give that it bounces slightly with your walk, but still stays flat to your body.

Fitment * * *

If you have standard swivel mounts on your long gun, ignore this paragraph because the UltraFlex fits fine. However, if you wanted to use QD mounts, you have to call Specialty Outdoors and get a custom sling made. I’d really love to see future revisions come with more fitment options.

Overall Rating * * * * 1/2

No joke, this is the best rifle sling I’ve ever used. I’m going to talk to Specialty about the QD mounts so I can use it on my AR, but otherwise it is perfect. Light, functional, and easy to use. And at <$40, it is a deal.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

33 COMMENTS

    • I just wanted to say I bought another ultimate sling from this guy, I have purchased a lot of slings and by far this is the best one I have ever used , It is the most versatile comfortable and long-lasting sling you will ever buy

    • Slogan is the original sling…ctd was a distributor of slogan slings and attempted to duplicate them. Unfortunately he cheaper out and used inferior materials which resulted in an inferior product. Their sling splits and rots unlike Slogan’s. Pay attention when purchasing!!

    • I have heard there is a technique for shooting with a sling but I have never seen it myself or had the opportunity to learn. I would greatly like to see a good detailed introduction to it posted here sometime

    • 0:50 seconds into the second video with Bill O’Neil, there’s an explanation on using the UltraFlex as a sling.

      • ***BEWARE OF COPYCAT***

        We love and appreciate all of our customers, and want to inform you all that we are in no way, shape, or form affiliated with Bill O’Neil and Specialty Outdoors Products COPYCAT sling.

        Slogan Outdoors is the REAL DEAL, we have been around for over 20 years and going strong. Please feel free to pass the word around. We want to make sure everyone experiences the Real Deal with our Slogan Outdoors Slings!!

        As seen on the Pursuit Channel
        http://www.sloganoutdoors.com

  4. The first job of a sling isn’t carrying a rifle. The second job of a sling is to aid in carrying a rifle.

    This is not a sling for a shootist.

    For people who want to see what a proper sling looks like, find a 1907 sling, then go find the USMC or USA training manuals on how to use it. Turner Saddlery makes one of the better leather slings, but you can find slings made in a polymer called “Biothane” that work almost as well.

    Or, you know, you could oil up your leather sling for foul weather.

    Once you learn how to shoot with a sling, you will be amazed at how your hit percentage goes up when you’re not shooting off the bench.

    What is it with you guys? Do you need an attractive young lady to show you how to use a sling? Well then, maybe it’s time for Ms. Weiss to show you guys how to use a sling – because I am absolutely certain that Ms. Weiss shoots in competitions with a sling. No one who is a serious rifle shootist will say “Oh, that’s OK, I don’t need a sling, I’m not carrying my rifle that far…” when shooting standing off-hand.

    • I’m confused by your last paragraph. My understanding is that slings are mainly useful for shooting from stabilized positions, not offhand. That’s what Col. Cooper taught anyway.

      • Depends on how you define “stabilized shooting position”. With a properly used sling every position is pretty stable.

        Back on topic: If you cant use it as support for shooting, you can’t really call it a sling. A carrying strap, sure but not a sling.

      • No, you’re correct. Slings aren’t useful for shooting offhand, but are great for prone, kneeling, and sitting. AFAIK, bench shooting is done using sandbags or other types of support, so a sling wouldn’t be useful there either.

    • In the video, as referenced by another comment, he demonstrates using this sling to stabilize offhand shooting. I am by no means an expert, but it looks like how I use my slongs to stablize offhand shooting. What don’t you like about it?

      • That’s what is known as a “hasty sling” mounting of the rifle. You can use that for offhand shooting, but when you get into kneeling, sitting or prone positions, you find out that you have many fewer options because you have a carrying sling and not a shooting sling.

        • Thanks. I hadn’t known there was a difference.

          I’m just enough near sighted that the best I can manage with iron sights is a six inch group at 100 feet, and when I use a scope, I can’t read well for 15-30 minutes after, so I just shoot for fun and practice my six inch groups, and ignore the fine details of expert shooting.

        • Thanks Dys, for the hasty sling reference. You could tie a piece of rope to each end of your gun, and use it same way, if it were the right length.

          I’ve tried a couple inexpensive slings that worked as carry straps, but not so good as shooting slings. Gonna give the Turner a try, and thanks John for that manual.

          One tip from a noob to hunting – using a shootist sling that you adjust for carrying a traditional rifle or shotgun, is that you have to practice getting it off your shoulder quickly, quietly, without catching on gear,

          AND its not as easy as just dropping in place, with a tactical 3 point sling for an AR. But it can be done, and in such a way that you can get at your pistol, depending on how you carry that.

          Look up American Carry and African Carry to see what I mean.

    • The first job of a sling depends on what you’re using the rifle for. If you’re not expecting to do a lot of long range shooting from a stationary position, it might be more importance to have a sling that lets you release the rifle to free your hands/draw a sidearm and still maintain control of the weapon.

      I carried an M4A1 fitted with a BlackHawk Mamba 3-point sling and it was great for the purpose. I currently have a 2-point sling on my carbine.

      I can’t resist – and if you’re a Fobbit the first use of a sling is to keep you from leaving your weapon in the chow hall, MWR tent, gym, etc.

  6. PS- thanks for the review Tyler.

    This does look like a real handy carrying strap, especially if you were hunting western areas with a rifle with bipod, planning on prone shooting mostly, after glassing in open country like the background of this vid. I have to say it helps me to have a couple different ways to carry on a long hike especially thru brush or over rough ground.

    With a bipod, the stabilizing effect of a traditional shooting sling wouldn’t be so necessary, I’d guess, and I’d appreciate the “backpack-like” capability hiking in, if I were scrambling up and down hill and need my hands, or using a couple of walking sticks on uneven ground, talus, etc. Took a tumble over a rock cliff once with rifle held crosswise on my back, and I might have been more flexible/balanced for the bouldering if it were better centered.

    BTW, you can also use those fancy hiking sticks crossed like ‘buffalo sticks’ for a quick rifle rest – per a tip by an old Marine and Native American who runs a long rifle range, whom I asked for tips once.

    • Little easier and faster than slinging up seated, if you need a fast but better than off-hand shot. Or the bushes are just a bit too high to shootover downhill and theres no trees handy.

  7. I have and love this sling, but this is one of TTAG’s worst reviews yet.

    First, the review doesn’t discuss what a sling is for. There are three possibilities: 1) carrying strap 2) shooting aid 3) CQB weak shoulder/pistol transition aid. An example of a sling for #3 would be a VTAC or Vickers sling, which is more descended from a top mounted SMG or LMG carrying strap than a traditional bottom mounted rifle sling. This is probably the most important contemporary issue in slings, and they missed it completely! You need totally different sling mounts to properly use 1 & 2 vs. 3.

    Second, Tyler Kee’s video and text doesn’t mention (as earlier commenters have pointed out) that this sling works as a shooting aid in hasty sling form. Many slings do not. This is a poor second to proper, band-around-the-arm 1907 sling. Nevertheless, a hasty sling, especially a strechy hasty sling, is a big advantage over no sling or a carrying strap only type (#1). This isn’t even touched on. You have to watch the second video to see that it can be used as a hasty sling.

    Third, I don’t know if that second video is even of the same sling! It’s the Ultimate Sling from Specialty Outdoor Product, not the UltraFlex from Slogan Outdoors. The slings are identical as far as I can tell, and both made in Michigan. Maybe they had a falling out at some point. Anyway, it’s not made clear from the review that these are two different products. That’s like reviewing a Colt AR with a Bushmaster AR video. Sloppy!

    Fourth, no mention of the 1, 2, or 3-point controversy. This is a 2-point sling. This is a huge debate. You can’t say one is “the best” and not even mention this issue. Best for what?

    Fifth, quick detach socket-type swivels to fit your AR can be had from just about any gun store for a few bucks. You don’t need to have a custom sling made. Just replace the swivels!

    An “best” sling IMO is would be either a 2-point Galco Safari Ching or Brownell’s latigo style sling, that you can lock up properly, but made of this type of synthetic rubber material. Still it would be no good for #3. There may be a way to incorporate that function too.

  8. Made the mistake of buying from Slogans.
    Paid over $50 with cost of sling $40, shipping $10 and Mi tax $2.50. Could have bought from CTD for $29 and $7.00 shipping. Called Slogan outdoors and he blew me off about diff in price. Gave me every excuse in the book about why he charges $10 more than CTD. Including CDT deceptive, his cost was $3.00 more than CTD’s shipping costs??????
    Great sling, poor customer service on pricing.

  10. ***BEWARE OF COPYCAT***

    We love and appreciate all of our customers, and want to inform you all that we are in no way, shape, or form affiliated with Bill O’Neil and Specialty Outdoors Products COPYCAT sling.

    Slogan Outdoors is the REAL DEAL, we have been around for over 20 years and going strong. Please feel free to pass the word around. We want to make sure everyone experiences the Real Deal with our Slogan Outdoors Slings!!

    As seen on the Pursuit Channel
    http://www.sloganoutdoors.com

Comments are closed.