Zip ties... what have you / would you use them for?

Do any of you use them in cold temperatures?
If so, how cold, and did they become brittle?

I was considering them for holding the structure
of an emergency shelter together.
 
naked said:
If I'm ever doing anything involving canoeing or kayaking, I try to keep a couple of carabiners with me for creating a Z-drag system for rescues. I also have some if I go caving.

L
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Pardon my ignorance, but what is a z-drag system?
 
Zip ties and duct tape as very important in a BOB. I would carry an assortment of sizes because they all have different uses. I have seen 3' long ones that could be used to toe a car. The smaller ones have a million uses.

I use them mostly for keeping things tidy. Rope, extension cords, or anything can be bundled together with zip ties. If compacted with zip ties, you can carry more or fit more into a pack. You can zip tie a jacket and carry it in a small bag or pouch where you probably wouldn't take a jacket.
 
Canoeists and kayakers use it for pulling their boat off the rocks (where it's pinned by the current). It affords a mechanical advantage over just pulling with a rope alone.

Doc
 
I admit that I often like to use them in place of a good knot. Just laziness on my part I guess. Like others they are always in my truck and around the garage and boat. I don't always put them in my pack when out camping, but sometimes I do if I happen to see a few poking out at me while packing.

Oh nobody mentioned their use for designing practical jokes on your camp mates. Possibilities are endless! :) :)
 
Not for PSK use, but I use them as strap keepers on my pack.

The "compacting gear" idea is a good one. I'll have to go over some of my bulky, rarely used stuff and see what I can smallify.
 
kgd said:
I admit that I often like to use them in place of a good knot.
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That is the big thing- they aren't as strong as good cordage, but you can fasten them and make them tight one handed or wearing gloves/mittens a lot easier. They are also stiff so you can push them through holes easier. I've used them for all kinds of things, in all weather- they're nylon in most cases, so if cold is getting to them your 550 line and most packs are having the same trouble. Most of them are UV sensitive though (long term only), and they can't take a lot of twisting- thats the downsides.

I can't even begin to touch the surface of what I've used these for this summer alone. Adapting ALICE-pattern gear to civilian and MOLLE=pattern gear, and various other combinations there of. Attaching a Krill lamp to a staff, for visibility. Replacing/adding d-rings and split rings. Used little ones as break aways (the pop at about 20 pounds). Reattached a fishing reel. And there are a bunch of other uses I'm forgetting.
 
Fixed a friends jungle boot when the sole came off at the toe and was flopping around.
A major tripping hazard.
A ziptie around the toe including the bottom loop (extended) of the laces held the sole in place. The ziptie went between the cleats and hardly got worn on the hike out.
I do think that the much vaunted 550 cord would have worn thru, as would duct tape.

Above all zipties are absolutely fantastic for locking a tent's zippers shut...
From the outside, if you get my drift :devil:
 
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