Bale Spear vs Bale Grapple for a Skid Steer - Which Should You Choose?

In short: A bale spear is a simple steel spike that's pushed into the bale and used to lift it. A bale grapple grips the bale from the outside without piercing the wrap. A spear suits fast loading of individual bales, while a grapple is the better choice for wrapped bales and precise placement.

What is a bale spear?

A bale spear is a frame that mounts on the skid steer's boom, fitted with one or two steel spikes. The spike is driven into the round bale, and the bale stays on it. It's a simple, light and cheap solution that suits most loaders.

• Fast: there's nothing to lock or adjust to grip the bale - just drive into it.
• Few moving parts: no hydraulics or locking mechanism that could break.
• Downside: the spike pierces the bale's wrap or net, which can let in moisture both indoors and in storage.

See the range on our skid steer bale spears page.

What is a bale grapple?

A bale grapple grips the bale from both sides, like a pair of hands. Closing is usually hydraulic and controlled from the cab.

• Keeps the bale intact: the wrap and net stay undamaged, which matters for silage bales.
• Can turn the bale: some grapples let you rotate the bale onto its side, handy for stacking in a storage pile.
• Downside: more complex and expensive, needs hydraulics, and takes a little more time to grip than a spear.

When should you choose a spear?

• Hay bales that stay dry and carry no wrap: piercing isn't a problem here.
• Simple storage and loading: bales move quickly from one place to another, no rotation needed.
• Smaller budget: a spear is cheaper, with no extra hydraulics cost.

When should you choose a grapple?

• Organic silage and wrapped bales: a hole in the wrap lets in air and the silage spoils.
• The bale needs precise placement in storage: the turning function helps line bales up neatly.
• Bales are handled often and need careful treatment: a grapple gives more controlled and consistent handling.

Mount and compatibility

Both the spear and the grapple must fit the machine's quick-attach, for example SMS, Euro or Big BM. See the mount overview on our loader mounts page. If the farm also has a tractor with a front loader, check the equivalent solutions on tractor bale spear or tractor bale grapple, so you can make a compatible choice for both machines.

We'll help you choose

Tell us how many bales you handle per day and whether they're wrapped silage bales or dry hay bales. We'll recommend whether a spear is enough or a grapple makes more sense. Get in touch via our contact page.