Bushwalk Australia

These have been around for some time now, but I've done a search and haven't found many people here using them.

http://www.niteize.net.au/collection/Figure-9.asp

A mate has some for this tent guy lines (in plastic), and some small metal ones as gear ties.

I've ignored them in the past, but had a play with them, and can see the appeal of easily adjusting tension in tying gear off like in the dark or in rainy/wet conditions.

Anyone got these and can comment?

I have one of the figure 9 biners handy most times with some 3mm static cord. Works well for a lot of things. I've used them to tie down boot lids, and rig clothes lines easily. Knots are great but in a case where you need something that is quickly adjustable and not terribly critical, they are really great.

I've seen these plenty of times but never understood the advantage over knowing a few good knots?

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Tying knots? Too difficult!

Small cord, cold fingers. Those are the advantages over knowing some knots. Not for everyone, but not as useless as some folks regard them. I don't use them as part of a dedicated system, I think there are better options for that. But as a just-in-case they are handy.

Gadgetgeek wrote:Small cord, cold fingers. Those are the advantages over knowing some knots. Not for everyone, but not as useless as some folks regard them.

Cheers Gadgetgeek. That's where I could see it coming in handy.

When using it, in the last stage "3" of the device, where the cord goes into the serrated portion, does the cord/rope slip in that at all?

I was thinking of getting a few and using for gear ties, or like your use for car boot tie downs instead of bungee. Had a friend's kid play with the bungee strap and it slipped off, and smacked him in the mouth with some force. I was thinking a tensioner like this would mean not using bungee cord and be easier to tie down and release compared with a knot.

You do have to test each cord you want to use, and for dynamic loads, I'll add a half-hitch or two with live end, down onto the standing part of the rope, but I've had it hold very well. the size I have, I've used it with 2mm,3mm,and 4mm mammut static cord. It will hold the 6mm but only just. Its at its best with the smaller cord, the 2mm will really hold a knot once set. I've also used it with standard 550 para-cord, and it works well for that, because it compresses as it grips, it solves the problem of knotting paracord, especially when wet. I find paracord to either not want to hold a knot, or will set it in to the point of needing to cut it. This happens most if the knot is set with the cord wet, and then it dries. I think because the internal strands can tension up at different rates, it can be a pain. Because of that characteristic, it does make the figure 9 a good choice with the paracord.
One other advantage is that they are fairly easy to undo while loaded. Sure a stack of half hitches can be used instead, but it is simpler than rigging a trucky's and has those same advantages. Keeping in mind the load limits of course. No system is going to be perfect all on its own, but sometimes the easy way does work.