Big 8 Stainless Steel Rescue Descender

The Big 8 stainless steel rescue descender is a large figure 8 with ears, made in stainless steel rather than aluminum for better wear resistance. It suits lowering, rope access practice and aerial rescue drills where the device sees a lot of rope.

Stainless vs. aluminum

This is the stainless steel version of the big rescue 8. The aluminum version is lighter, but rope running fast over aluminum wears grooves into it, especially when the rope is dirty. Stainless steel resists that wear and holds up better on a device that gets used for training, lowering a lot of loads, or living in a rescue kit in the truck.

The trade-off is weight and heat. Steel is heavier to carry, and on a long fast descent the device gets hot, so control your speed. Compare it with other devices in our ascent and descent section.

Many crews keep a steel 8 in the aerial rescue bag precisely because it is hard to damage. It handles rough storage in a truck box better than aluminum and still works on the day it is needed, provided someone has practiced with it.

Use and inspection

A figure 8 is a simple device with no auto-stop, so a backup such as a friction hitch or a belay is standard practice. The ears help keep the rope from slipping over the top and forming a girth hitch, but you still need to rig it correctly.

Check for sharp edges, grooves and cracks before each use and confirm your rope diameter suits the device. Life-support use must follow ANSI Z133, the manufacturer's instructions, and your training, and the gear should be inspected before every climb. Practice rescue lowering under qualified instruction.