A system for applying a tensile load, the system having: a length of continuous synthetic rope having first and second bitter ends; the continuous synthetic rope being woven with itself to create a sling; the first and second bitter ends of the rope being capable of moving relative to each other and the sling. The system may be configured such that movement of the bitter ends relative to the sling or each other is observable or measurable. Systems may be slings that provide a plurality of wraps of a continuous synthetic rope having loops at opposing ends; the plurality of wraps of continuous synthetic rope having at least three parts and being woven such that the resulting woven sling has at least three picks.