Introduction
It’s about time one of the visionary nylon brands leveraged its design expertise and brought us a re-imagined single point sling.
Ferro Concepts has done just that with its Single Point Slingster; based on the company’s highly popular and much loved two point: The Slingster – only this time optimised solely for single point use.
Talk to professional users and it’s clear that some utilise an array of slings (as opposed to one sling to rule them all), matching sling type to weapon form factor – or a specific scenario.
One of the slings in their toolkit is likely to be a single point variant. So while most people are happy with just an adjustable two point, we shouldn’t write off the single point’s benefits entirely.
Why Single Point?
While the weapon is in the user’s hands, a single point sling is pretty much perfect. That’s because it allows shoulder transitions quickly and with ease, while keeping the weapon tethered to the user.
On the other hand, a two point sling takes some practice to segue smoothly between shoulders. Even then, the transition will never be as rapid or as unencumbered as a single point – for most of us.
The disadvantage of a single point sling is that when going hands free or transitioning to a side arm, the user’s primary weapon tends to drop towards their centre line – possibly knocking knees or groin, but nearly always in a cumbersome manner.
Similarly, when going hands free for climbing, the single point leaves the weapon flapping around and again encumbers the user.
As a consequence of the latter, all sorts of weapon catches have been invented and in fairness some are pretty good. There are also DIY solutions like belt worn bungee hooks – so a single point in this scenario is not a complete fail by any means.
Why Ferro’s Single Point Slingster?
So why add Ferro’s Single Point Slingster – provided for review by Tactical Kit – to your quiver?
Well, for me the following is key: Ferro’s new sling does something no other dedicated single point sling can do – none that I’ve used, anyway.
Conceptually, it mimics a two-to-one point sling – in one point configuration only. That said, it does single point better than a two-to-one product (which of course is designed to straddle both camps); even better, that is, than the original Slingster with specialised triglide (discussed later).
Just talking in concepts makes it sound complicated – it isn’t.
What it means in practice is that you can extend the Single Point Slingster’s length to doff and don it with some ease; then run it nice and tight when worn, by pushing the slider buckle towards the weapon.
This solves a problem with the ubiquitous, dedicated single point design, which forces the user to run the sling slack enough to get their arm and head through the loop. Often this results in a sling that’s too slack for the user when worn.
So if all this speaks to you, you’ll find the Ferro as compelling as it is niche.
Design
This is the general layout:
Inevitably, the Single Point Slingster will be compared with the original Slingster, and it’s a good place to start.
The new sling’s pad is 2.5″ shorter and its width is 0.25″ narrower. This means the Single Point Slingster is even more minimalist than its predecessor. Pad construction is exactly the same however, and is lightly padded. The pad is movable and removable.
Interesting to note that these dimensions are roundly imperial as opposed to metric, which is perhaps explained by the US manufacture of this Canadian designed product.
Being a single point sling, Ferro’s new product is shorter in absolute length than the original Slingster, another of its single point adaptations.
Absolute length is controlled via a single triglide.
Both original and new products share the jewel in Ferro’s Slingster crown: its captive webbing adjustment system with adjustment pull tab.
Ferro’s system means the sling’s adjustment is self contained and does not leave trailing webbing when tightened.
The pull tab is a newer feature, which I really like – as regular readers will know. It’s easy to acquire – even with gloved hands – and provides an excellent fulcrum for fast, positive adjustment.
Somewhere the Single Point Slingster diverges from the original is in its welded steel ring. It’s simple and I’ve no doubt extremely durable.
It ties everything together.
In original Slingster world, the alternative to this is the ITW 2 To 1 Point Triglide – which Ferro sells for this specific use (clue in the name) – combined with a QD sling swivel.
Extending from the welded steel ring is a 1″ wide webbing ‘tail’, to the end of which weapon attachment hardware can be added.
My Configuration
While the Single Point Slingster arrives without specialised attachment hardware, for review purposes I utilised an ITW CLASH Hook.
It’s possible to attach the sling direct (using only the webbing tail and triglide provided). However, this leaves the user with only one option for attaching/detaching their weapon – by donning/doffing the entire sling; which isn’t as quick, even with the slider buckle.
With a CLASH Hook or similar, the user gains the additional option of simply, rapidly and cleanly attaching or detaching the rifle. I’ve found this really useful with single points in the past, as well as during the testing of Ferro’s new sling.
A CLASH Hook isn’t the quickest release method of course. For that, take a look at Blue Force Gear’s RED Sling Swivel. Mated with an appropriate receiver end plate, it’s a hyper fast release method.
Conclusion
I didn’t know what to expect from Ferro’s Single Point Slingster, but being something of a sling whore it made perfect sense to me as soon as I started using it; according to my interpretation, anyway.
Something occurred to me with use, which I want to highlight: the sling’s on the spot size variability.
When I initially tested the sling, I adjusted its absolute length to fit over just a t-shirt. I then switched to my AVS, which is of course muck bulkier. No problem: I simply and easily expanded the sling using its slider. I then changed back down to a chest rig. Again, no problem: I cinched it tighter with the same simplicity and ease.
That’s just not possible without a lot of faffing about with standard single points, and that alone will recommend this sling to many. Taken with my findings in the rest of the review, I think Ferro’s new sling makes a persuasive case.
Lastly, if you’re not used to two-to-one point slings, the Single Point Slingster’s worn orientation may take a little getting used to.
It’s worn over the strong shoulder.
This doesn’t affect shouldering and indeed I was able to dial in the fitment so the butt stock rolled up perfectly to be shouldered from the low ready position.
In addition, this orientation allows the user to rotate the sling to their support side when the weapon needs to be out of the way. This means it doesn’t obscure their strong side mounted side arm, so it’s useful if not wholly intuitive from the outset.
Further Reading: Ferro Concepts
Chesty Ecosystem
Chest Rig Mini and Wide Ecosystem
Plate Carriers and Accessories
Pouches
Slings
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