Figure 9 gizmo

[blackbishop351]

Someone posted about these things a LONG while back on Hiking HQ - I think it might've been Turk, actually...

Anyway, I checked out the website

http://www.niteize.com/category.php?category_id=29

and for the price, I couldn't resist. They looked like a good idea, and I'm a sucker for gadgets.

I put two on the ridge tie-outs (the ones that go to the trees) on my tarp, and I got to try them out this weekend in Uwharrie with Slowhike. They work incredibly well! They make adjustment, centering, and tightening SUPER easy and quick. The best part is, they're tiny - about the size of the end of my thumb - and very VERY light. I haven't weighed them, but they couldn't be more than a couple of grams apiece. IMO, definitely worth it!

Here's a pic, courtesy of Slowhike:

[slowhike]

good trip keith. you never know how well things will click when you do a trip w/ somebody you don't really know, but i enjoyed it.
one thing for sure, we both like to talk gear<g>.
the figure 8 gizmo was pretty cool. i'll be keeping that in mind.

[Bug-Bait]

Someone posted about these things a LONG while back on Hiking HQ - I think it might've been Turk, actually...

Anyway, I checked out the website

http://www.niteize.com/category.php?category_id=29

and for the price, I couldn't resist. They looked like a good idea, and I'm a sucker for gadgets.

I put two on the ridge tie-outs (the ones that go to the trees) on my tarp, and I got to try them out this weekend in Uwharrie with Slowhike. They work incredibly well! They make adjustment, centering, and tightening SUPER easy and quick. The best part is, they're tiny - about the size of the end of my thumb - and very VERY light. I haven't weighed them, but they couldn't be more than a couple of grams apiece. IMO, definitely worth it!

Here's a pic, courtesy of Slowhike:

Hi,
Can I assume that one should use these only for tarps and not for tying up an actual hammock because of weight?
Thanks,
Michael

[blackbishop351]

Definitely. These are the "small" size, which is probably too small for a support line anyway, but they're only rated to ~50 lbs. The larger ones might be rated higher, but still not near enough for the ~700 lbs. you need on a support line.

[Just Jeff]

I looked for some gizmos like these to work on hammock supports. I found that ones rated for more than ~500lbs were much heavier than I wanted, and would only work on climbing rope, which is much thicker and heavier than the Spectra I use. So my support system would have weighed a pound more than my hammock...not worth it.

Might be good for a tarp, though. Thanks for posting, bb.

[Hangman]

Definitely. These are the "small" size, which is probably too small for a support line anyway, but they're only rated to ~50 lbs. The larger ones might be rated higher, but still not near enough for the ~700 lbs. you need on a support line.

do you think the small ones would work with the line on the jacks or better self tension lines?

[The Breeze]

what are they? looks like rubber sling shot hose from walmart and para cord right ?????

[blackbishop351]

do you think the small ones would work with the line on the jacks or better self tension lines?

I'll let Pan verify this, but I think their lines are quite a bit smaller than 550 cord...which is fine, because 550 is about the largest cord that would work with the "small" size Figure 9 like I have.

On the other hand, with STLs, I think I'd just stick with a knot. They're really easy to adjust anyway, because you're generally about the same distance to the ground every time. I use the Figure 9's on my ridge lines because tree distances vary a lot, and getting centered and tightened can be a PAIN.

For another quick ground tie-off, Slowhike showed me how he uses a clove hitch (it's an Ed Speer idea, if I remember right) around the body of the stake. Pretty quick to tie and pretty easy to adjust. I personally use a tautline hitch, but I may try Slowhike's method soon.

[attroll]

I bought a similar product like this because I wanted to check it out. When I got it in the mail and saw it close up I decided against using it. It has the same idea as this product. I would not recommend it with the HH spectra line. The reason being is that I would be afraid that if you slide the line into the V portion of the gizmo and than put weight on it it would put a pinching on the line in that once point and stress the line in that one point and weaken or possible breaks some threads not seen to the naked eye. Over time this could add up and weaken the overall strength of the total line.

This is just my opinion and I could be wrong in my thinking if it even makes sense to anyone.

[blackbishop351]

I bought a similar product like this because I wanted to check it out. When I got it in the mail and saw it close up I decided against using it. It has the same idea as this product. I would not recommend it with the HH spectra line. The reason being is that I would be afraid that if you slide the line into the V portion of the gizmo and than put weight on it it would put a pinching on the line in that once point and stress the line in that one point and weaken or possible breaks some threads not seen to the naked eye. Over time this could add up and weaken the overall strength of the total line.

This is just my opinion and I could be wrong in my thinking if it even makes sense to anyone.

I thought the same thing, but after using it a few times, it looks like the load is actually spread out over the whole bottom portion of the device. There are three points of contact, and I think at least some of the force is dissipated at each point. For that matter, if all the force was present at the toothed groove, I doubt the thing would hold.

Either way, though, I don't think there's enough force on a tarp line to cause many problems. The teeth might cause excess wear over time (I'll keep using these and let everyone know), but I think it would take quite a while if the line is good quality. JMHO.