NITE
IZE - S-BINERS AND FIGURE 9s
TEST SERIES BY ANDREW PREECE
INITIAL REPORT NOVEMBER 14TH, 2008
LONG TERM REPORT 24TH JANUARY 2009
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Contents
Initial Report
Long Term Report |
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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. |
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Initial Report
November 14th 2008 |
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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. |
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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. |
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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
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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 |
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Small Figure 9
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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 |
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S-Biner #4
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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
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Max opening |
0.79 in (20 mm) |
MSRP |
US $3.00 each |
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S-Biner #2
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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
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Max opening |
0.39 in (10 mm) |
MSRP |
US $2.00 each |
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S-Biner #1
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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
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Max opening |
0.24 in (6 mm) |
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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 |