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Nite Ize SB1-2PK-01 Size-1 S-Biner, Black, 2-Pack by Nite Ize
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List Price: $3.99 Our Price: $2.59 You Save: $1.40 (35%) Availability: Usually ships in 3-4 business days Category: Tools See more product details
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Product DetailsManufacturer: Nite Ize Model: SB1-2PK-01 Color: Black Product features: - Securely clip items on one end, attach with the other
- Clip items together
- Great for zippers on laptop carriers, suitcases and more
- Hang plants, store belts, many uses
- Winner of 2008 editor's choice award backpacker magazine
Tools and Hardware Reviews of Nite Ize SB1-2PK-01 Size-1 S-Biner, Black, 2-PackCustomer Review: S-Biner: my nomination for Handy Widget of the Year Summary: 5 Stars
Once in awhile you run into a small item that may seem unworthy of reviewing, but it's so handy that you come back for more. The Nite Ize Size-1 S-Biner is such a product.
First discovered these in a camera store in New Jersey one weekend after paying for my purchases, and they looked interesting enough to make me go back for a second look. I'm glad that I did, as they were my first ones. Since then I've purchased a number of them for various purposes, including here on Amazon.com, as I'll explain.
First some general observations on this interesting product. Had seen a small write-up in Backpacker Magazine in a doctor's office a couple of years ago where they gave it an Editor's Choice Award, and said: "Don't ask yourself if you need this useful little widget. The question is: How many?" I thought that is was an interesting comment and made a mental note to look for them... then promptly forgot about them until they were encountered in that camera store.
Since then I've bought a number of them, and have used these gadgets for attaching items to a rack on the back of my mountain bike, as a replacement for the junky carabiner on water bottle lids, as a handy belt-loop clip for temporary devices, and to attach a tripod to my photo backpack for quick release. The uses for these are only limited to your imagination.
The S-Biner is a small, handy thing that is a sort of double-ended carabiner, constructed from "2Cr13 Stainless steel for the body and 202 Stainless steel for the wire gates" according to the manufacturer. The hooks are slim and handy enough to use to attach to a variety of items, as you can see from the photos here, and they're available in black, stainless or "spectrum" (multicolored) finish.
It's hard to figure out what size might meet your needs. I made a mistake while ordering a couple of these, so I went to the manufacturer's site and pulled down what is available. Will try to summarize here:
* Size #1 - dimensions: 1.56" x .56" weight rating: 5 lb.
* Size #2 - dimensions: 2" x .88" weight rating: 10 lb.
* Size #3 - dimensions: 2.63" x 1.13" weight rating: 25 lb.
* Size #4 - dimensions: 3.5" x 1.5" weight rating: 75 lb.
* Size #5 - dimensions: 4.38" x 1.94" weight rating: 100 lb.
The manufacturer also offers a handy S-Biner Ahhh Carabiner Clip Bottle Opener (look it up), which is a double-ended gadget list like the regular S-biner gadgets except that it has a built-in bottle opener. There are a number of other innovative versions and styles, including a handy KeyRack Key Holder with S-Biners, with a stainless steel carabiner clip holding six different colored plastic S-Biners, and sized to hold 6 separate keys.
They also offer some light weight but sturdy glass-filled nylon S-Biners with stainless steel wire closures, handy where you might not want to scratch more valuable equipment, such as photo gear. These can be found in the following sizes:
* Size #0, plastic - dimensions: 1.18" x .49" x .14", no weight rating.
* Size #2, plastic - dimensions: 2" x 1" x .3" weight rating: 10 lb.
* Size #4, plastic - dimensions: 3.5" x 1.5" x .3" weight rating: 25 lb.
The package on each warns that none of these, plastic or stainless, should be use for climbing or where "disengagement could result in bodily injury or property damage." Enough on that, but just let common sense prevail. On a personal note, just be sure that the gate spring properly engaged with the hook and you should have no problems.
I cannot fault these products. You could probably just use a garden-variety cheap aluminum carabiner as a substitute for these, but if you value your gear, these are well worth a look. Might suggest that if you're going to use them where they will result in metal-to-metal contact, the plastic versions might be a better choice. Have use both the #2 and #4 sizes with cycling and for photo use as noted above and so far they have held up admirably.
After having bought a number of these both for personal use and as gifts for those who already seem to have everything, can only become one of the handiest gadgets that I've seen this year. Am calling the S-Biner a 5-star Handy Widget of the Year... and I just ordered a few more.
Description of Nite Ize SB1-2PK-01 Size-1 S-Biner, Black, 2-Pack
Carabiners
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