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Reviews > Shelters > Shelter Accessories > Nite Ize S Biners and Figure 9s > Test Report by Andrew Preece

NITE IZE - S-BINERS AND FIGURE 9s

TEST SERIES BY ANDREW PREECE
INITIAL REPORT NOVEMBER 14TH, 2008
LONG TERM REPORT 24TH JANUARY 2009

 

The three s-biners and the two figure 9's I am testing.

 



 

Contents
Initial Report

Long Term Report
 
Personal Details
Name: Andrew Preece
Age: 46
Gender: Male
Height: 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Weight: 188 lb (85 kg)
Waist: 39 in (100 cm)
Sleeve Length:  20 in(53 cm)
Chest: 42.5 in (108 cm)
Neck:  16 in (40 cm)
Email: andrew_at_teamgunnparker_dot_com
Website: www.teamgunnparker.com
City: Perth.
Western Australia.
Australia.
Backpacking Background
I have done a lot of hiking over the years but now carry a hammock and gear for over night stays of one to two nights. I normally carry approximately 35 lb (16 kg) which includes food and water. My trips are usually between one to two days duration mainly over weekends. I hike all seasons with winter temperatures ranging from 39 F (4 C) to 64 F (18 C) including periods of heavy rain at times to summer conditions with the temperature ranging from 68 F (20 C) to 95 F (35 C) and very dry.

 

Initial Report
November 14th 2008
 
PRODUCT INFORMATION & SPECIFICATIONS

Manufacturer: Nite Ize
Year of Manufacture: 2008
Manufacturer's Website: www.niteize.com


The S-Biners and Figure 9's are NOT to be used for climbing or where bodily injury could happen.
 
The items I am testing below are two Figure 9's which will allow me to do away with knots and be able to tie off cords a lot quicker and with a lot more ease. And three S-Biners, which are an S shaped piece of stainless steel with a spring clip attached to each end. This means I can clip one end to my pack for example and then be able to clip something else onto the other end. The S-Biners are attached to a card which has the size marked on it, along with the load limit. Inside the card a little fold out piece of paper shows other products from Nite Ize.
The Figure 9's came attached to a swing tag that has the instructions for using the Figure 9 (from here on known as a 9), It also came with a length of cord. The instructions look straight forward and easy to follow.

First use
I gave the small 9 a quick test at the front of my house, I tied my hammock tarp to two trees I have in the front yard and it could not have been easier. First I attached the ridgeline to the trees by simply forming a loop in the cord and passing the loop through the hole on the 9. Then I took the loose end of the cord and passed it around the tree and back to the 9. I wrapped the cord over the small hook, pulled tight and then around the back and through the serrated v section of the 9.
That is how easy this system is but is only one way to use these 9's.
I clipped the small S-Biner onto the zipper pull of my bum bag that I use for work every day, so it should get a lot of use during the test period.
  My measurements below are almost identical, within 0.08 in (2 mm) of the manufacturer's measurements. Numbers in red are mine, these are not supplied by the manufacturer.
Large Figure 9
The large figure 9 next to a matchbox to show the size.

Length

3.15 in (80 mm)
Width 3.15 in (55 mm)
Thickness 0.31 in (8 mm)
Load limit 150 lbs (67.5 kg)
Weight 0.99 oz (8 gm)
Material Aluminium
Fits rope size 0.12 in (3 mm) to 0.35 in (9 mm)
Supplied with 10 ft (3.05 m) of cord
MSRP US $7.00 each
   
Small Figure 9
The small figure 9 next to a matchbox to show the size.
 

Length

1.65 in (42 mm)
Width 1.10 in (28 mm)
Thickness 0.12 in (3 mm)
Load limit 50 lbs (22.5 kg)
Weight 0.14 oz (4 gm)
Material Aluminium
Fits rope size 0.08 in (2 mm) to 0.20 in (5 mm)
Supplied with 6 ft (3.05 m) of cord
MSRP US $9.00, pack of four
   
S-Biner #4
large s biner

Length

3.50 in (89 mm)
Width 1.54 in (39 mm)
Thickness 0.12 in (3 mm)
Load limit 75 lbs (33 kg)
Weight 0.12 in (29 gm)
Material Stainless steel, grade unknown
Max opening 0.79 in (20 mm)
MSRP US $3.00 each
   
S-Biner #2
mid s biner

Length

3.15 in (80 mm)
Width 3.15 in (55 mm)
Thickness 0.31 in (8 mm)
Load limit 150 lbs (67.5 kg)
Weight 0.12 in (29 gm)
Material Stainless steel, grade unknown
Max opening 0.39 in (10 mm)
MSRP US $2.00 each
   
S-Biner #1
small s biner

Length

3.15 in (80 mm)
Width 3.15 in (55 mm)
Thickness 0.31 in (8 mm)
Load limit 150 lbs (67.5 kg)
Weight 0.12 in (29 gm)
Material Stainless steel, grade unknown
Max opening 0.24 in (6 mm)
   
   
 
Long Term Report
February 24th 2009
I have had the Nite Ize Figure nines and S-biners now for about two months and I have found them to be very useful indeed. I have used the large S-biner and the largest of the Figure 9 to lash down various items in my car and on my trailer.
The S-biners are so simple to use and it is just a matter of clipping them onto a rope or a metal clip in my car. I like that I can clip one end onto something and it will stay connected while being able to unclip the other end without fear of dropping the biner and maybe losing it while out hiking.
The Figure 9’s are so easy to use and make tying off a rope so much easier and a lot quicker and without worrying about knots binding or becoming jammed.


 
The jerry can lashed down in the back of my car.
I went out on a day hike and needed to carry extra fuel in my four wheel drive as I was heading inland and I like to have plenty of fuel. I used the biner and 9 to secure my fuel can in the back of my car. Look at the photos to see how it was done, it was just so easy and over bumpy gravel tracks it never came undone. I decided to leave the can in my car for a week whilst I drove to and from work and after this time the rope was still very tight.
 
A close up of the figure9 and the large s-biner.
In the field
I used the biners and 9’s while hiking and camping out on the two occasions I was able to get away and found the small Figure 9’s indispensable. I have used two small Figure 9’s, one on each end of the tarp I use above my hammock. And I used one each side of the tarp.
I gave some thought as to how I could best use the Figure 9’s and S-biners and came up with a much better hammock set up. I used one Figure 9 at each end of the ridgeline of the tarp. I loop the guy line through the Figure 9 and leave this Figure 9 in place. So when I break camp the Figure 9 gets packed away with the tarp and is there again when I set up camp.

 
The hammock setup.
To use the Figure 9 on the ridgeline is just so easy, I pass the guy line around the tree and back to the Figure 9 which is positioned close to the tarp then I loop the line over the Figure 9 and pull tight and lock off in the V of the Figure 9.
Then on both sides of the tarp I attached a small S-biner to a length of bungee cord that I tied to two webbing loops that are attached to the tarp. I then clipped the S-biner to bungee cord and to the wrist strap of my trekking poles and put the sharp end of the pole through a loop on the very corner of the tarp. I then hooked a guy line over the handle of the pole and wrapped this around my stake in the ground and pulled it tight with another small Figure 9.

 
The guide line tie out.
The S-biners are simple to use and fool proof. There are spring clips on each side and one side can be opened without the other side being opened. This means I can clip the the S-biner onto something and leave it in place while clipping something else onto the other end.
I have had a small S-biner on my lumber pack that I use for work for two months now. I have it clipped onto the zipper pull to help with opening and closing the zip. The S-biner has worked flawlessly over this time, opening and closing my pack many days a week and many times a day. But I would have not expected it to fail just doing this.

I have also used the S-biners to clip items to the outside of my pack whist hiking, in particular my Croc shoes have been clipped to the outside of the pack and it is a breeze to just unclip one side of the S-biner and remove the Crocs without having to remove the S-biner from my pack once I make my campsite. They are useful when setting up my tarp as I have explained above and I have also used the largest of the S-biners to attach my pack to the ridgeline of my hammock when I want to keep my pack off the ground.
 
The tree tie and s-biner.
I have also used the large S-biner as a keeper, and I mean that when I am not using all of the biners and Figure 9’s, I clip the guy lines and smaller S-biners onto the larger S-biner. This way all of the items I need to set up my tarp are all held together in one nice bundle and tossed into the bottom of my pack.

as a keeper of items

Conclusions
The S-biners are nice to use and make things easier when clipping items to my pack and onto my hammock. But if I did not have them then I think I would not miss them too much.
The Figure 9’s though I would miss dearly. They are the best thing I have found to replace tying knots and they make the setting up of my tarp so much quicker and easier.
It would not matter if I was a hammock camper or a tarp camper on the ground, I feel the small Figure 9’s make my camping experience so much better.

Thanks Nite Ize and backpackgeartest.org for the opportunity to test these items. I am sure the Figure 9’s will get a lot of use.

Andrew Preece

 



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