SFD 8

Technical details:

I acquired this eight from Rich Carlson in 2008.

The SFD 8 is forged from aluminum alloy and then soft anodized. Mine is 177 mm. tall, 74 mm. wide, and 10 mm. thick. The large hole is circular and 50 mm. in diameter. The shaft lengths and widths are 32 mm. and 20 mm., respectively. The eyes measure 20 mm. by 25 mm. My SFD 8 weighs 122 g.

One side is stamped with "SFD8" and "30 kN."

Comments:

The SFD 8 is obviously an extension of the Figure Eight concept, and not the first, the Hopf preceding it by more than three decades. Unlike the Hopf, the SFD 8 has two equal eyes arranged colinearly with the main rope hole. Like the extra ring on the Hopf, the third ring provides some additional flexibility. For one, it provides a convenient tie-off point for stopping on rappel or for supporting a climber after belaying a fall. Personally, I think that the various side-horn type eights (e.g., various Russian eights, SBCI Sidewinder) provide more convenient tie-offs, and I dislike belaying with a figure eight because I like to have more friction in my belay device. There are a number of other uses for the eye, some of were shown on the manufacturer's web site (an easier way for English-speaking readers to access the videos on that site is to use the links provided on Rich's canyoneering site). For example, one can use the SFD 8 as an isolator for rigging two rappel lines with the same rope.

Rich introduced this device to the US canyoneering community which showed some significant initial interest in it. He humorously told me that it "It is longer than a normal figure eight, buty not as long as some of the racks them crazy cavers use." and I agree on that point. My preference would be for the Frendo, Version A, but hey, what do I know about canyoneering?