Do Nite-Ize Doohickeys work?

[sherco]

I am about to buy some of the Nite ize figure 9 line tensioners----size small for 1/8 in ridge line. They look pretty cool-----if they hold. Anyone have experience with them?

[angrysparrow]

Yes, the Fig 9's work very well with the appropriate size of cording. 1/8" should be fine.

I have used Fig9's on my tarp ridgelines for about 2 years now. The only time I've had any issue was when I didn't take care to snug the cording into the v-notch. That was clearly user error, though.

Welcome to the forum.

[Nest]

I had issues with mine. I had them attached to my stakes, and would run the line from my tarp tie-outs to them. When it was raining with wind gusts they would let go. I guess the rain reduced the friction enough, and the wind gusts would jar the line loose. I was using Kelty triptease which may be the problem though. I eventualy went back to tautline hitches on the tie outs, and used the figure nines on the ridgeline.

[angrysparrow]

I eventualy went back to tautline hitches on the tie outs, and used the figure nines on the ridgeline.

Have any issue using them on the ridgeline? That's the only application I ever used them for.

I've seen where they were used for the guy-out lines, but that always seemed superfluous to me. For the guy-outs, I keep a series of loops tied in the cording (maybe one loop every foot) and I find that to be all the adjustment I need, along with HC4U's tarp tensioner method.

[gunn parker]

I use them on the ridge line and now on the side tie outs on the tarp.
Sometimes I back up the figure nine with a slippery half hitch.
They work very well, you wont be disappointed.

[Mule]

Do you just attach your figure 9s to your tarp then run a cord from the tree? That's what I'm doing now but wonder if there's another, better setup. Mule

[amac]

Do you just attach your figure 9s to your tarp then run a cord from the tree? That's what I'm doing now but wonder if there's another, better setup. Mule

I use one for the tarp ridgeline. The line goes through the hole of the "9", then around the tree, and back to the figure 9 to lock in to the v notch.

[slowhike]

I use them on the ridge line and now on the side tie outs on the tarp.
Sometimes I back up the figure nine with a slippery half hitch.
They work very well, you wont be disappointed.

That's what I do too. Otherwise, the stiff cord (from Speer Hammocks) can sometimes come loose if wind lifts the tarp & reduces pressure on the ridgeline.

[2Questions]

Amen to the slippery half hitch....never a problem since.

[T-BACK]

Maybe it's just me, but I hate tying knots behind a device that's suposed to hold in place without a knot in order to make it work properly. I use the cord Ed sells (solid core) because it GREATLY reduces tangles that have to be delt with when deploying the tarp. Like Slowhike, I've found that some times my ridge would slip. This may be because the core will not allow the cord to fit into the very base of the notch. On a cold, wind driven rainy night I tried something out of desperation that became my standard method for using the Figure 9's. However you have them attached to your tarp or tree, or whatever...when you pull the cord into the notch to lock it in place, continue around the base of the notch and wrap it through again and pull snug. Now just toss the tail of you line over the ridgeline so that it is not hanging down directly from the notch. This keeps the wind from moving it around and eventually loosening it to the point of slipping. This can all be done in one quick, smooth motion and has never slipped while in use.