Figure Eights With Ears

I don't really like ears on my eights, since the make the eight larger without really adding anything. Some people think that ears keep the eight from locking off in a girth hitch. I have three points against that. First, if so, why are the ears in the wrong place? To see what I mean, look at the DMM Anka, which has the small ears placed in the right place. Second, if you rig the eight properly, it is almost impossible for the girth hitch to occur. Finally, even if it does, releasing it is trivial - if you have the rest of your gear set up properly and know what you are doing.

I get rather annoyed by the large number of badly-designed eights on the market. Instead of just copying each other, manufacturers ought to show some innovation. Look at the Morph 8 - now there is a new idea! It has its problems, but at least it shows some attempt at innovation. My own Open Eight is another innovative example, as is Tom Mayer's Lazy 8. The DMM Anka and the Faders Ballet have the right idea on where the ears should be. The Famau and Job are old exceptions that also put the ears in the right place.

ID	Device	Description	Acquired	Weight	Height	Width	Thickness	Std. volume
1225	Ace	Forged, hard anodized, bent, pentagonal rope hole, oval eye, low ears	Katie Jo Miller, 2009	93	109	80	19	164
1141	Advanced Base Camp	Milled, soft anodized, round rope & lightening holes, lunar eye	Kris Steele, 2008	242	174	171	13	378
936	Aircraft Materials Ltd.	Milled, soft anodized, triangular ears, round top hole and eye	eBay, 2004	231	173	122	13	264
1149	ASR Rescue 8	Milled, soft anodized, subtriangular body, trapezoidal top hole and subtriangular eye	Alan Leach, 2008	273	162	162	13	339
922 1094	AustriAlpin Eight Special	Milled, hard anodized, blended triangular ears, oval to D top hole, triangular eye	Barrabés.com, 2003 AustriAlpin USA, 2007	101	114	95	10	108
1157	Blitz Safety 8	Milled, hard anodized, subhexagonal rope hole, long slot eye, side ears	Tim Nolan, 2008	205	179	101	13	231
552	BlueWater Rescue 8	Forged, hard anodized, oval rope & lightening holes, lunar eye	GearPro, 1999	216	171	149	16	408
925	Calma Antibloc	Forged, soft anodized, twin-bar shank, low ears, round holes	Barrabés.com, 2003	143	151	109	15	242
1158	Climbing Technology Ltd.	Forged, soft anodized Al, lunar rope holes, oval eye, belay slot	We're Not Scared Safety, 2008	246	172	172	16	463
311	CMC Rappel 8	Milled, soft anodized, round rope hole, large vertical oval eye	Bob & Bob, 1990	158	132	140	13	240
309	CMC Rescue 8, Version A	Forged, unfinished, steel, round rope hole, large vertical slot eye	L&S Sporting Goods, 1989	635	168	167	14	393
310	CMC Rescue 8, Version B	Forged, painted, steel, round rope hole, large vertical slot eye	Bob & Bob, 1989	624	168	167	14	393
1027	CMC Survivor 8	Milled, hard anodized, triangular ears, round holes	CMC, 2007	44	73	71	10	51
314 1153 1154	CMI Rescue 8	Forged, hard anodized, oval rope & lightening holes, lunar eye	? Lisa Ward (2), 2008	219	167	151	17	429
1170	CT?	Forged SS, Lunar rope hole, D eye, Pentagonal aux. hole	Derek Nichols, 2008	536	171	160	12	329
316	DMM Anka	Forged, unfinished, 90 degree twist	Bob & Bob, 1987	188	142	84	47	561
1172	Eiger RP100	Forged, polished, oval rope and aux. Holes, lunar eye	Andrew Knoflicek, 2008	197	172	150	13	332
927	Faders Ballet	Forged, hard anodized, bent, pentagonal rope hole, oval eye, low ears	Barrabés.com, 2003	84	108	80	19	84
317	Famau, Version A	Forged?, unfinished, bent, rectangular rope hole /w spike, round eye	Pathfinder Sports, 1979	203	154	79	41	499
1061	Famau, Version B	Forged, unfinished, bent, rectangular rope hole /w spike, round eye	Craig Kubanoff, 2007	211	153	80	46	559
1140	Fusion	Forged, soft anodized Al, lunar holes, belay slot	Yi-tien Tuan, 2008	260	171	171	16	455
319	Handley Cool 8, Thin-walled	Welded 9.8 mm. thin-walled stainless steel tubing, unfinished, irregular holes	B&C Wunderwear, 1991	108	158	164	19	492
320	Handley Cool 8, Thick-walled	Welded 9.8 mm. thick-walled stainless steel tubing, unfinished, irregular holes	B&C Wunderwear, 1991	173	126	141	19	338
1007	Hugh Banner	Forged, unfinished, side T horns, round rope hole, auxiliary hole, and eye	Koen Viaene, 2006	149	123	116	13	181
595	Hugh Banner Safety "8," Version A	Forged, unfinished, hexagonal rope hole, sewn 19mm x 3mm attachment sling	Cormier Mountaineering, 2001	156	145	108	13	199
1032	Hugh Banner Safety "8," Version B	Forged, unfinished, hexagonal rope hole, trapezoidal eye	Christopher Wanless, 2007	140	141	109	13	193
564	Interalp/Camp Job, Version A	Forged, unfinished Al, Oval rope hole, round eye, irregular slot, four lateral ears	Dirk Stoffels, 2000	199	171	100	34	581
1103	Interalp/Camp Job, Version B	Forged, unfinished Al, Oval rope hole, round eye, irregular slot, four lateral ears	The Outdoor Outpost, 2007	199	174	100	34	581
933	ISC	Milled hard anodized, oval rope & lightening holes, lunar eye	Marc Savinac, 2003	208	170	147	13	312
1022	Kong	Forged stainless steel, round holes, belay slot	Barry Duncan, 2006	446	140	129	16	285
561	Kong Big "8" (805.04)	Forged, plated steel, lunar holes, belay slot	Inner Mountain Outfitters, 2000	787	171	170	17	494
562	Kong Big "8" (805.05)	Forged, unfinished SS, lunar holes, belay slot	Inner Mountain Outfitters, 2000	822	171	170	17	494
563	Kong Big "8" (805.06)	Forged, soft anodized Al, lunar holes, belay slot	Inner Mountain Outfitters, 2000	265	171	170	17	494
1108	Krok 8 Ear	Milled, painted, side T horns, round holes	PetrenkoWorld, 2007	139	151	99	10	154
1109	Krok Inv Aluminum	Milled, painted, side T horns, round holes	PetrenkoWorld, 2007	126	132	109	10	149
1110	Krok Inv Steel	Welded 10 mm. rod, side T horns, subrounded holes	PetrenkoWorld, 2007	287	149	108	10	166
1144	Krok SQU-EAR	Milled, painted, side T horns, pentagonal rope hole, round eye	gear4rocks.com, 2008	115	118	99	9	109
981	Lazy 8	Milled, offset irregular rope hole, oval eye, noncommercial	Tom Mayer, 2005	82	104	72	10	74
1205	Mad Rock Small Rescue 8	Forged, hard anodized, bent, pentagonal rope hole, oval eye, low ears	Mad Rock, 2009	91	109	80	19	84
1097	Mizo Jet Man Big	Forged 7071-T5, unfinished, side T horns, round rope hole, auxiliary hole, and eye	Mizo, 2007	145	122	116	13	177
1098	Mizo Jet Man Small	Forged 7071-T5, unfinished, side T horns, round rope hole, auxiliary hole, and eye	Mizo, 2007	105	114	110	10	123
1099	Mizo Jet Man Sus	Forged SS, unfinished, side T horns, oval rope hole, round eye	Mizo, 2007	467	136	121	14	237
532	Morph 8	Milled, unfinished, asymmetrical, one ear, noncommercial	Ben Schwartz, 1997	151	146	65	13	123
952	Morph 8 Prototype	Milled, unfinished, asymmetrical, one ear, noncommercial	William Shrewsbury, 2004	144	146	67	13	124
322	Munter Egg Mark 3	Cast, unfinished, D rope hole, Rectangular eye, 4 round & 2 arced lightening holes	Eiselin Sport, 1982	219	181	124	10	224
583	New England Micro Rappel Device	Forged steel, round rope hole, two rectangular eyes	Gearshop.com, 2000	150	92	52	10	46
904	Petzl Pirana	Forged unfinished Al, asymmetric, three horns	Karst Sports, 2001	96	115	76	15	130
1021	PMI Steel Rescue 8	Milled steel, round rope hole, pear eye	On Rope 1, 2006	663	170	158	13	344
1114	Quechua	Milled Al, irregular rope hole, oval eye, small ear nubs	Matthew Collings, 2007	91	122	75	10	92
935	Rappel Rescue Systems Pro-Pak, Version A	Forged Al, hard anodized, partitioned oval rope hole, round eye, vertical ears, for kevlar webbing.	Alan Shelby, 2004	294	191	86	16	255
1215	Rappel Rescue Systems Pro-Pak, Version B	Forged Al, hard anodized, partitioned oval rope hole, round eye, vertical ears, for kevlar webbing.	Centurion Surplus, 2009	299	189	84	17	266
514	Rappel Wheel, Version A	Forged & cut by hand from MS part 22940, soft anodized, 2 ears	Para-Gear (blank), 1995	356	150	150	16	360
515	Rappel Wheel, Version B	Forged & cut by hand from MS part 22940, soft anodized, 4 ears	Para-Gear (blank), 1995	356	150	150	16	360
1132	Rescue Q	Milled, hard anodized, round rope hole, subtriangular eye, side ears	Mark Hopkins, 2007	239	194	120	13	293
551	Rescue Systems Inc.	Forged Steel, oval rope hole, sound eye, short belay slot, asymmetrical	On Rope 1, 1999	672	162	149	19	459
326	Rock & Rescue	Milled, soft anodized, round rope & lightening holes, lunar eye	John E. Weinel, Inc., 1991	231	174	169	13	382
328	Russ Anderson, Version A	Milled, soft anodized, round holes	ca. 1981	191	159	135	13	279
329	Russ Anderson, Version B	Milled, soft anodized, round holes, slot	Speleoshoppe, 1982	177	159	135	13	279
334 1156	Russ Anderson, Version C	Milled, soft anodized, drooped ears. round rope hole, D eye	Bob & Bob, 1987 Donley Safety, 2008	195	155	133	13	268
335 1142	Russ Anderson, Version D	Milled, hard anodized, drooped ears. round rope & lightening hole, D eye	Inner Mountain Outfitters, 1989 Dana D. Sandefur, 2008	184	155	133	13	268
336	Russ Anderson, Version E	Milled, unfinished, steel, dropped ears, irregular rope hole, quarter circle eye	1980s?	648	180	161	13	377
1159	Russ Anderson, Version F	Milled, hard anodized, dropped ears, irregular rope hole, quarter circle eye	Inner Mountain Outfitters, 2008	226	180	163	13	369
342	Russian, Version A	Milled, soft anodized, tie-off horns, round holes	John E. Weinel, Inc., 1994	140	134	108	12	174
473	Russian, Version B	Milled, unfinished, two separate side horns, round holes	John E. Weinel, Inc., 1990	86	98	82	11	88
492	Russian, Version C	Milled, soft anodized, side T horns, round holes	John E. Weinel, Inc., early 1990s.	64	85	79	11	74
523	Russian, Version D	Milled, unfinished, pentagonal rope hole, oval eye, two manufacturing holes	John E. Weinel, Inc., 1996	111	134	74	12	119
965	Russian, Version E	Milled, soft anodized, side T horns, round holes	Ural Sport, 2004	111	135	105	10	139
966	Russian, Version F	Milled(?) steel, painted, side T horns, round holes	Ural Sport, 2004	330	147	125	10	184
967	Russian, Version G	Milled, soft anodized, side T horns, round holes	Ural Sport, 2004	81	98	85	10	83
968	Russian, Version H	Milled, painted, round rope hole & eye	Ural Sport, 2004	79	94	81	10	78
969	Russian, Version I	Milled steel, painted, side T horns, round holes	Ural Sport, 2004	297	132	109	10	147
970	Russian, Version J	Forged, painted, side T horns, round holes	Ural Sport, 2004	172	153	98	13	193
971	Russian, Version K	Forged, painted, side T horns, oval rope hole, round eye	Ural Sport, 2004	189	155	115	15	259
972	Russian copy of Petzl Pirana	Milled unfinished Al, asymmetric, three horns	Ural Sport, 2004	81	123	77	10	93
586	SBCI Amigo Bailout 8	Milled, soft anodized, pentagonal rope hole, oval eye	On Rope 1, 2000	143	120	92	13	142
531	SBCI Banditt	Milled, soft anodized, belay slot at top, lunar rope hole & eyes, round lightening hole	John E. Weinel, Inc., 1997	321	180	173	13	405
902	SBCI Sidewinder	Milled, hard anodized, oval rope hole, long slot eye, side ears	Luke's, 2001	290	194	108	13	273
949	Single Rope Technique R8B	Milled, hard anodized, Normal & low ears (for longhorning), round holes	On Rope, 2004	296	172	92	17	262
570	Single Rope Technique R8Ba	Milled, hard anodized, low ears (for longhorning), round holes	Single Rope Technique, 2000	281	172	92	16	258
569	Single Rope Technique R8La	Milled, hard anodized, truncated circular rope hole, belay slot, D eye	Single Rope Technique, 2000	311	176	159	17	462
568	Single Rope Technique R8Sa	Milled, hard anodized, oval rope hole, D eye	Single Rope Technique, 2000	157	135	119	12	195
585	SMC Personal Escape 8	Milled, soft anodized,triangular rope hole, round eye	On Rope 1, 2000	48	72	70	10	49
344	Smith Safety Products, Version A	Milled, hard anodized, drooped ears, round rope hole /w inner nubbins, round eye	?	211	168	150	13	328
958 1129	Smith Safety Products, Version B	Milled, unfinished, stainless steel, round rope hole & eye	N. Lester, 2004 Chris Christensen, 2007	614	166	152	13	320
1040	Smith Safety Products, Version C	Milled, chrome plated steel, round rope hole & eye	George Stehle, 2007	618	167	155	12	321
1123	Smith Safety Products, Version D	Milled, chrome plated steel, round rope hole & eye	Chuck Hoffmann, 2007	224	168	154	13	326
1199	Smith Safety Products, Version E	Milled Al, hard anodized, round rope hole & eye	Gerard Scholler, 2009	193	160	136	13	280
343	Spelean Harpoon	Forged, unfinished, low ears (for longhorning), round holes	Speleoshoppe, 1979	286	168	89	17	254
507	Stubai	Milled, hard anodized, blended triangular ears, oval to D top hole, triangular eye	Speleoshoppe, 1995	104	114	95	10	108
347	TZ eight	Milled, unfinished, stainless steel, Rectangular rope hole, long clip slot	B&C Wunderwear, 1993	488	128	88	14	158
1031	Unknown	Milled, hard anodized, oval rope hole, belay slot, round eye, side ears	eBay, 2007	215	176	100	13	227
916	Ural Alp (20.01)	Welded 10 mm. steel rod	Ural Sport, 2002	252	123	90	10	111
948	Ural Alp (20.03)	Welded 10 mm. steel rod, painted, crosspiece	Ural Sport, 2004	300	123	117	10	144
987	Ural-Alp (20.05)	Welded 10 mm. steel rod, painted, top post	Ural Sport, 2005	289	148	80	10	123
961	Ural-Alp Self-Braking Descender/Belay Device, Version B	Two bent Ni-plated Al sheets screwed together, sub-rectangular rope hole, round eye, ears	Ural Sport, 2004	88	137	70	27	259