straps

My winch has a synthetic cable.
I also carry a 50m extension synthetic cable.

It MUST be able to go through a snatch block.

Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome.

Straps are cheaper but heavier and more bulky. Rope is lighter but expensive. I have two straps, one under each front seat.

I carry a spare rope which I have spliced loops in the ends.
Lighter than straps and a whole lot longer.
If I destroy the winch rope then I have a spare available...

Also avoids any potential confusion between the extension versus the snatch strap.

If you are in rocks an extension strap is harder wearing than a winch rope. Just as long as you have one of either you’ll be way safer than the day I was forced to use a snatch strap as an extension. Thankfully my winch has a remote control so I could stand well clear. Bought a new snatch and an extension strap the next day. Don’t be like me.

They are two different things, a winch extension does not have stretch built into it a snatch strap does. If you use the snatch strap to winch with eventually you'll take the stretch out of it. Try towing a car for a while with a snatch strap, at the start it will have give, the longer you tow with it the less give it has until it is like towing sing a steel cable. The snatch strap will never recover the give once this has happened.

I have 20m extension strap. It is heavier, and its rated breaking strain is only 4500kg but its more abrasion resistant than rope and the long length means you can double it up.

I also have a spare 8mm x 30m winch rope with an eye spliced into both ends. It only has a stated breaking strain of 6000kg that exceeds the winch capacity, but with the aid of a snatch block you'd be nudging that limit. If I undo the splice, then I have a spare winch rope.

So, in my opinion, a extension strap is better. It can be attached to a solid anchor and have a snatch block attached to it. Try that with a single length of winch rope, add in a few damaged fibers you can exceed the breaking strain of the rope and potentially end up in the poo.

Both is even better as they aren't really heavy and it gives you options. When I was young and stupid I have been stuck (solo) with the only anchor was a 20m extension strap, a 15m snatch strap and 21m of cable away... I only had 20m of cable though.