Time for a new Figure 8

Limb It

Limb It

Participating member
Location
Simcoe region
After a decade of use, my Blue Water figure 8 has eroded away enough for me to not trust it any more. It's time for a new one. I see there are tons of funky shaped ones on the market, each with it's own claims to fame, but do any of them actually add anything game changing to a a device that is pretty much only ever used for decending?
 
Limb It said:
After a decade of use, my Blue Water figure 8 has eroded away enough for me to not trust it any more. It's time for a new one. I see there are tons of funky shaped ones on the market, each with it's own claims to fame, but do any of them actually add anything game changing to a a device that is pretty much only ever used for decending?
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While not technically an "8", the Rock Exotica Totem has some cool features.
 
I keep a rock exotica mini 8 on my saddle. Small enough to not notice it there and the ears rarely get hung up on branches. Makes a pretty nifty little srt redirect too.
 
Normal figure 8s are fine as long as you pass the rope through your biner as well. Or just get one with wings and never have to worry about hanging from an accidental girth hitch that you have to climb out of. The winged versions also give you more options like additional wrapping options in a rescue situation for added friction.
 
I have several styles of 8. I like them.
Anyway, my favorite is a cheapie winged 8 that says 25kn ACE on it. I think it came from ebay (new) for like 10 bucks.
It has kind of a 5 sided upper hole and is bowed so that one way gives more friction than a standard 8 and the other gives less.
If you go for wings, go for the smaller lower wings. They don't snag things as much and really don't need to be big. Or high.
Arborists stay equipped with ascending gear, so a girth on an 8 is super not a big deal usually... if you don't feel like you're missing anything with your deaf 8, there isn't a lot of reason to change. Maybe go beefier so that it lasts as long as possible.
The dmm anka looks super sexy if you feel like spending a chunk on a new one.
It is my next one, because the funky belay plate ones are pretty bulky and spiky and dainty for how much I'll actually be using it for anything.
 
SomethingWitty said:
The dmm anka
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I have that one and it rides my saddle always. Works well but only if I shorten my bridge. It's gotta little extra friction from being beefy. I call down for the rescue on the larger ropes to actually reduce the friction my DMM makes. I got the rescue recently.
 
96coal449 said:
I have that one and it rides my saddle always. Works well but only if I shorten my bridge. It's gotta little extra friction from being beefy. I call down for the rescue on the larger ropes to actually reduce the friction my DMM makes. I got the rescue recently.
Click to expand...
Okay. I haven't tried it yet, but it's so pretty. And I think it will interface well with my rec harness and rock ropes.
 
To help prevent girth hitching, the method on the left is recommended. In FreeFallin's above video, the method on the right is used. The above method, in the video,is called the sport mode and generates less friction than the standard method.
IMG_1107.webp
 
A Munter hitch develops as much, and sometimes more, friction and doesn't require anything more complicated than an HMS carabiner which you probably own already

I'm not a big fan of eights or even Munters for
Descending. There's no back up. I prefer 'Let go/Lock off' systems
 
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