A little venting here. I was a bit surprised at my last outing that my Loon double zinger broke and fell into a stream taking my nippers and small fly drying cloth with it. Good thing my nippers were blue or all would have been lost. I get that everything can break but I was a little surprised at how easily this zinger did. I was always under the impression Loon was good stuff. I hadn't banged it around, over stretched it or abused it in any way. Oh well, all came out OK.
Loon Double Zinger Fail
- Thread starter mtaag3
- Start date
sweetandsalt
Well-known member
Any product that attaches to your vest with a hinging pin can and eventually will pull off. There are two secure attachment designs; a good clip that goes on a vest's "D" ring or a metal threaded post that goes threw the fabric and screws into the rear of the retractors body. Check out GearKeepers, I've been using them for years.
Rip Tide
Well-known member
For that very reason, I don't use zingers at all.
I safety pin a cord to the inside my vest pocket from the back. It's never failed
You'll always use your nippers the same distance from your eyes so there's no reason for the zinger operation.
When you're done, you just tuck the nippers away. Nothing hanging around to get in the way.
You can see the cord here, above the fish's head
I safety pin a cord to the inside my vest pocket from the back. It's never failed
You'll always use your nippers the same distance from your eyes so there's no reason for the zinger operation.
When you're done, you just tuck the nippers away. Nothing hanging around to get in the way.
You can see the cord here, above the fish's head
mcnerney
Administrator
I'm not a fan of zingers either. My nippers are on a lanyard around my neck, everything else goes in a pocket.
dennyk
Well-known member
If it's any consolation all the Loon stuff I own has an unconditional guarantee. So maybe you could return it to the place of purchase or contact Loon.
Denny
Denny
el jefe
Well-known member
My dad's lanyard failed, and the whole kit-and-kaboodle is gone. So he got some new nippers and hemostats, and put them in his shirt pocket. He had two pairs of clamps with him when we fished together recently. On the same day, he merely let go of the clamps after use, out of habit, and they fell into the water. He asserted that they were lost; I asserted that they were in the slack water at his feet. Oh, well, I'll grab them next time I am up at the San Juan. The lesson is that every method of keeping your gear has its pitfalls, whether it is lanyard, pocket, zinger, whatever.
Look up "carabiner retractable badge holder" ... very inexpensive and almost impossible to break or fall off.
You will need to remove the "badge holder" plastic snap loop, and put on a spiral key ring, but mine work fantastic.
You will need to remove the "badge holder" plastic snap loop, and put on a spiral key ring, but mine work fantastic.
lookard
Well-known member
The William Joseph net retractor. Its also a little overkill for nippers. But it will stay extended!
knotjoe
Well-known member
Oh, listen to ya now. Sound like a friggin’ Walmart flyfisherman who spurns fine Loon products in favor of ubiquitous retractors more at home in the office than the river.:boink:
And I wholeheartedly concur…
What can I say? Having used a great many (vastly more expensive) retractor ideas, the carabiner type from the office aisle at Wally World or similar beat them all hands down. The little clip one’s aren’t half bad, either. All depends on where you are clipping them and which works best.
Check out the price, guys...and they work better than the "highly refined" ideas of the fishing industry...
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Specialist-ID-Premium-Retractable-Carabiner-Badge-Reels-with-Key-Ring-and-Badge-Strap-Pack-of-Five-Assorted-Colors/150806210
brownbass
Well-known member
The zinger in the top photo looks like the ones I just received from J. Stockard. They seem sturdy and fit in the attachment points on the Fishpond vest. No pins or clips to pull out.
Bill
myt1
Well-known member
These things are indestructible, but a little bulky.
They don't even call them zingers; they are "retractable gear tethers".
Hunting Retractable Gear Tethers - T-REIGN Retractable Outdoor Products
They don't even call them zingers; they are "retractable gear tethers".
Hunting Retractable Gear Tethers - T-REIGN Retractable Outdoor Products
knotjoe
Well-known member
Looks like the same type at a good price, about $5.95 @ Stockard and they have a nice little clip on it, too.:high5:
The law of diminishing returns kicks in on this concept low and early regarding price, IME the cheaper versions are where it's at for functionality and durability. This carabiner style is nice and slim, almost a flat "wafer" type design and it's perfect for fishing wear.
rangerrich99
Well-known member
Over the last 13-14 years I tried dozens of zingers, from cheap to a little pricey and came to a unanimous conclusion: zinger internal parts are designed to fail. It's just a question of what and when.
For about the last 6-7 years, I've used either Simms or Fishpond retractable coil tethers and haven't had a problem.
For about the last 6-7 years, I've used either Simms or Fishpond retractable coil tethers and haven't had a problem.
myt1
Well-known member
Based on similar discussions on this website covering this topic I no longer attach my nipper to a retractor. I simply tie it to my lanyard using a piece of cord, and I have never had a failure.
I don't have an Abel nipper, but I do have a Simms nipper which I think is over thirty dollars. It just doesn't make sense to attach an item like that to a zinger that often times only costs a couple of dollars and as rangerrich99 mentions above, it is only a matter of time before they fail.
Although, I stand by my T-Reign "retractable gear tether" which seems pretty much indestructible...Sherman Tank indestructible, but almost as big.
I don't have an Abel nipper, but I do have a Simms nipper which I think is over thirty dollars. It just doesn't make sense to attach an item like that to a zinger that often times only costs a couple of dollars and as rangerrich99 mentions above, it is only a matter of time before they fail.
Although, I stand by my T-Reign "retractable gear tether" which seems pretty much indestructible...Sherman Tank indestructible, but almost as big.
myt1
Well-known member
"So, I tell them I'm a pro jock, and who do you think they give me? The Dalai Lama, himself. Twelfth son of the Lama. The flowing robes, the grace, bald... striking."
mtaag3, you probably already know this, but I just read Bill Murray's entire soliloquy that you quote above was completely ad lib, unbelievable.
I also heard it was quite a bit longer than what eventually made it into the movie.
I'm always fascinated when I learn some of the most memorable lines in some of the most classic movies weren't even in the script and made up on the spot.
Sorry for getting off topic.
mtaag3, you probably already know this, but I just read Bill Murray's entire soliloquy that you quote above was completely ad lib, unbelievable.
I also heard it was quite a bit longer than what eventually made it into the movie.
I'm always fascinated when I learn some of the most memorable lines in some of the most classic movies weren't even in the script and made up on the spot.
Sorry for getting off topic.
sweetandsalt
Well-known member
GearKeeper screw-on with Hatch Nipper. Military grade indestucto. And the O-ring attachment disengages for use building leaders at the camp table.
dillon
Well-known member
Gearkeeprs zingers are solid, but I had the screw on fail. Better to go with the D ring and clip, IMO.