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Petit 8
Standard 2500
Standard 3000
Krokro
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| Petit 8 | Standard 2500 | Standard 3000 | Krokro |
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I acquired this eight from Barrabés.com in Spain in 2003.
The Simond Petit 8 is forged from aluminum alloy and then hard anodized. Mine is 115 mm. tall, 69 mm. wide, and 13 mm. thick. The rope hole is 40 mm. high and 46 mm wide. The top center thickness is 11 mm. The shaft length and width are 35 mm. and 22 mm., respectively. The eye measures 20 mm. by 23 mm. My eight weighs 106 g.
This eight is stamped with the Simond Logo, "Simond," and "FRANCE" on the front, and "FORGED," "364" and "30-KN" on the back.
The Petit 8 is a typical example of a "mini" size, forged, aluminum eight. Like most small eights, this one works well enough on flexible climbing rope, but provides too much friction on stiff caving rope. It has a well-rounded shape that works satisfactorily, and the hard finish should wear well. The eye is not designed for belaying.
[ Top | Petit 8 | Standard 3000 | Krokro | Return to Figure Eights ]
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I acquired my this eight on eBay from Rodney Mills in 2021.
This eight is forged from aluminum alloy and then hard anodized. Mine is 143 mm. tall, 74 mm. wide, and 15 mm. thick. The rope hole is 51 mm. high and 51 mm. wide. The top center thickness is 12 mm. The shaft length and width are 44 mm. and 26 mm., respectively. The eye measures 26 mm by 25 mm. This eight weighs 123 g.
This eight is stamped with the Simond Logo and "F. Simond - Chamonix" inside an ellipse. "2500" is forged in the reverse, indicating a strength in kg.
This is a typical example of a full size, flat shaft, forged, aluminum eight. It is essentially the same as the BlueWater eight.
The flat shaft is less common than other designs, but has little functional effect. The body is thin but well-rounded, and the rope tends to run smoothly. The inside of the eye and the rope hole have a cylindrical area. This does not affect the eights performance since the rope does not really cross the edge of the rope hole cylindrical boundary. The finish is harder than many eights, so the eight will wear better until the finish breaks through. The eye is not designed for belaying.
[ Top | Petit 8 | Standard 2500 | Krokro | Return to Figure Eights ]
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I acquired this eight from Inner Mountain Outfitters in 1999.
This eight is forged from aluminum alloy and then hard anodized. Mine is 142 mm. tall, 74 mm. wide, and 15 mm. thick. The rope hole is 49 mm. high and 50 mm. wide. The top center thickness is 12 mm. The shaft length and width are 45 mm. and 26 mm., respectively. The eye measures 26 mm by 25 mm. My eight weighs 120 g.
This eight is stamped with the Simond Logo, the number 501051 (which might be a serial number) and "F. Simond - Chamonix." "3000" is forged in the reverse, indicating a strength in kg.
This is a typical example of a full size, flat shaft, forged, aluminum eight. It is essentially the same as the BlueWater eight.
Aside from the higher strength rating, this eight appears identical to the Standard 2500. Denis Pivot provided the following information:
I asked Ludger Simond, Simond owner at that time, if he remember why two different strengths. For him, the aluminium of the 2500 was too soft: the rope wore down the descender too quickly. Changing the aluminium grade improves hardness. …
Regarding the date, Simond Figure 8 was placed on the market in 1984 with the resistance of 3000. The 1989 Simond catalogue indicates 2500 and in 1997, 3000. An explanation could be: Simond started with 3000 but regarding the competitors, he needed a lower price. To save money, he used a cheaper aluminium with less hardness, the 2500. But facing the climbers claims regarding the quick wear, he came back to 3000.
[ Top | Petit 8 | Standard 2500 | Standard 3000 | Return to Figure Eights ]
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I acquired this eight from Walkhigh Mountaineering in 2007.
The Simond Krokro is forged from aluminum alloy and then hard anodized. Mine is 143 mm. tall, 74 mm. wide, and 15 mm. thick. The rope hole is 50 mm. high and 50 mm. wide - or would be if there weren't three triangular insets arranged to form a pair of 13 mm. wide, 14 mm. deep notches. The top center thickness is 12 mm. The shaft length and width are 48 mm. and 27 mm., respectively. The eye measures 25 mm. by 25 mm. My eight weighs 138 g.
The front of my Krokro is stamped with "KROKRO," the Simond logo, "FRANCE," and "43003." The rear is stamped the same except "30 KN" replaces "43003."
The Simond Krokro is one of the "other eights" that do not fit into my normal categories. Although it is similar to the Simond standard eight in size, material, and finish, the internal V-grooves set the Krokro apart.
First, let me say that one can rig the Krokro so that the V-grooves do not come into play. In this arrangement, the Krokro performs much like any other eight of its size. What the Krokro adds, at the cost of about 18 g., is increased friction when rigged so that the trailing line runs through the lower V-groove (on double rope descents, use both V-grooves). There are many times where one would like more friction from an eight, yet not enough to justify passing the bight through the upper hole twice. The Krokro provides some additional friction in a very simple, yet clever manner.
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