Figure 9's... Why did I wait so long!

**photomankc** · 02-23-2009, 00:55

Just got through testing things out with a couple of the small biners and the small regular nines. I was able to string the tarp up with record ease. I loved the idea I got here for making a loop to attach to the head of the small 9's and then lark's head that to the tarp. It was great to be able to take the whole thing down without attached guy lines flapping about. Really neat. I'm a little nervous with those pointy things being in my stuff sack with the tarp but people don't seem to be having a lot of trouble with tears or anything.

It's not a total revolution or anything. You could accomplish the same style setup with taught line hitches and mini biners but it gets hard on the fingers when you are constantly working with knots. I think I will probably use a slippery half hitch once I am turning in for the night. I'm not sure I would trust them to hold fast if a storm rolled in and the winds really kicked up.

**Mustardman** · 02-23-2009, 01:06

I'm a big fan of them, now that I've started finishing them off with a slipped half hitch. I found them to come loose too easily in high winds otherwise.

I do the opposite, though, I keep the guylines attached to my tarp, and put the 9's on loops attached to my stakes. I like having the guylines on the tarp, with the tarp tensioners in place - it's easy to wrap the lines around the tarp to keep it from dragging all over the ground while I'm pitching it.

**Rushthezeppelin** · 02-23-2009, 01:15

Yes figure 9s are the holy grail of tarp pitching. I'm not the best with knots so these things are a godsend for me.

**photomankc** · 02-23-2009, 01:24

Originally Posted by Mustardman

I do the opposite, though, I keep the guylines attached to my tarp, and put the 9's on loops attached to my stakes. I like having the guylines on the tarp, with the tarp tensioners in place - it's easy to wrap the lines around the tarp to keep it from dragging all over the ground while I'm pitching it.

I tried it both ways and I ended up liking the adjustment being near the tarp so I can adjust it while under cover. Having needed to step out into the rain before to adjust my lines that seems appealing. Lots of options.

**Shug** · 02-23-2009, 01:41

I use 'em and love 'em on my tarp lines to the trees ..... brilliant in winter!!!!

**Mrprez** · 02-23-2009, 08:31

Is anyone using these with the Speers orange cord?

**Doctari** · 02-23-2009, 16:18

Originally Posted by Mrprez

Is anyone using these with the Speers orange cord?

Yep. They work great!

**Mrprez** · 02-23-2009, 18:54

Originally Posted by Doctari

Yep. They work great!

Which size? There seems to be a lot of sizes.

**Hetairoi** · 02-23-2009, 19:39

sometimes with a thin line I'll have to pull over the 'teeth' a couple or 3 times, but I've been out in some rough thunderstorms with no problems.

**GvilleDave** · 02-24-2009, 09:49

I used the smallest size Figure 9s for the ridgeline on my SWT w/ the Speers orange no tangle line this past weekend. I found two things: when you thread the line through the block or D ring part of the 9 the small diameter line wanted to keep slipping and the entire 9 would slide up the line toward the tree when I pulled on the line. I solved this by adding a small over hand knot at the D ring part to fix this from moving. also found that the wrapped tag end of the line was slipping a little once locked in place on the V notch, so I added the slippery hitch and all was good. Even with this trial and error these worked great. I think I'm going to change the ridgeline to a slightly larger diameter cord for the future.

As a bonus, when I went to purchase them last week at Home Depot I started ringing up at the self check out and the small 9s were ringing up as $.01 instead of the $1.92 they were marked. My total order came up to $.06 including tax and I felt guilty taking advantage of HDs screw up so I called the attendant over and showed him. He called hardware and they sent a guy over and he saw where they rang up so cheap and said something about he thinks HD is getting rid of them and to sell them for $.01. So I ended up getting 6 - 9s for $.01 ea. Cha-ching! I don't know if this was a fluke or is available at your HD but maybe worth checking out. Oh and if you've ever used the small S-biners made by the same company they were also the same $.01!

Originally Posted by Mrprez

Is anyone using these with the Speers orange cord?