What Winch Should I Buy in 2025?
Choosing the right winch can feel like a minefield — especially when every brand claims to be the best and every spec sheet looks the same. So let’s simplify things.
Whether you’re recovering a 4x4, shifting heavy gear on the farm, or just need a solid winch for the occasional job, this guide will help you narrow it down.
We think these are the BEST Winches in 2025
Spoiler: If you’re short on time, here are two we rate very highly:
🧲 Best All-Round Option: Stealth 13500lb 12V Winch (Steel Cable)
Why its our Pick: Tough, powerful, and incredible value for money. Great for recovery trucks and entry level off-roaders.🧳 Best Portable Option: Warrior Winches Trojan Portable Winch
Why its our Pick: Lightweight, versatile, and ideal if you don’t want a fixed setup.
What to Look For in a Winch
🔌 Voltage: 12V vs 24V
Voltage Confusion? Don’t Overthink It!
Choosing a winch voltage gets made out to be more complicated than it is. In reality, it’s usually as simple as matching your winch to your vehicle’s electrical system — job done.
🧰 Capacity: How Much Pull Do You Need?
Winches are rated in pounds (lbs), which tells you the maximum load they can pull in ideal conditions. A good rule of thumb?
Your winch capacity should be at least 1.5x your vehicle’s weight.
For example:
Light SUV / ATV: 3000–4500lb
4x4: 8000–13500lb
3.5t Recovery Truck: 12000lb+
Overkill is better than underpowered. A winch working at its limit won’t last long.
🧵 Rope Type: Steel vs Synthetic
Both have pros and cons — here’s a quick breakdown:
Type |
Pros |
Cons |
Steel |
Very durable, abrasion resistant |
Heavier, can be dangerous if it snaps |
Synthetic |
Lightweight, safer to handle |
Needs more care (can degrade from UV/chemicals) |
We tend to prefer steel for heavy use and synthetic for easier handling , especially in solo or quick-deploy setups.
🔩 Mounting: Fixed vs Portable
Fixed winches are permanently mounted to your bumper or chassis — strong, reliable, but… well, fixed.
Portable winches can quickly move between use and stored away easily when not in use. With mounting options like straps, towball brackets, and more — you’re not tied to one setup.
What Brands Are Worth a Look?
We only suggest gear we believe in. These are our key recommendations:
✅ Warrior Winches – UK favourite, proven reliability with a great range
✅ Stealth Winches – Outstanding value without skimping on build quality.
✅ Warn Winches - One of the most trusted names in winching!
Other names you’ll see include Superwinch, Vevor & Goodwinch.
Some other brands can be solid choices and will be be reviewed in the future — but as of 2025, we’re seeing better support and availability from Warrior, Stealth & Warn here in the UK.
Still Not Sure?
No stress — we’re here to help.
We don’t do phone support, but we’re quick to reply by message. Just drop us a note — we’re here for the winching community!