Figure 9 failure

[Hawk-eye]

I've used the plastic S-Biners by NightIze for underquilts but defefinitely wouldn't feel comfortable using them or the figure nines in plastic for my tarp. HYOH though ...

[sir_n0thing]

Yep, the SWT is a big "sail" and it was a windy day. Not cold, temps in the 70's-80's. Steady wind over 15 MPH with gusts up to 30 or so. Honestly, it was a bit much to ask of one of those little plastic Figure 9's.
I happened to have a bigger, metal one in my pack so I used that to get the tarp back up.

But, that's the cool thing about playing with gear when you're 20 yards from the house! If something breaks, you're not 10 miles back in the woods.

[wisenber]

I got a few of those with my Kelty Noah's Tarp. I "retasked" them into my line/stake bag and have been using them for nearly three years in all sorts of temps and wind levels. So far, no failure. I'd not worry about taking them more than 20 yards from my house since their function can be easily be reproduced with any number of knots.

I've got shoelaces that will no doubt fail some day, but I don't leave them at home.

I'd rate a failed plastic figure 9 somewhere below a trail meal that I did not find tasty in terms of catastrophes. A failed climbing biner when I'm actually climbing...now THAT would concern me.