Like I said in a earlier post. I have both a chain with a hook on both ends and a plastic coated cable too. One thing nice about the chain is that I can always shorten it by attaching the hook on a link further down the chain. A cable can not be shortened as is always the same length.
That is one of the reasons I carry both.
I also have a couple of standard leashes, not sure how long they are. And a retractable leash about 15 feet long. I shorten the retractable leash for walks near people. When out in the open on long hikes I give the dog more slack and let him sniff around.