Basejumper.com - archive

Hey All, Since i enjoy reading this forum so much, i figured i would post this lingering question. If you where to look at some of the top base jumpers and see what gear they are using ,is there a reason they chose that gear? I can't compair with skydiving as in that industry there are sponsered jumpers, alot of advertising so you seem to go with what the top jumpers are using. " and i dont know if that is a great decision unless they had something to do with its design and function. "They must also know there stuff if that is the case" Also i would say how cool and state of the art it is that jumpers base there decision. And i guess what part of town has something to do with it. In base jumping, you would have to hang out on the big walls for a week to see what people are using. I never questioned if a rig i was using to skydive was going to work. If i borrowed a rig, I only would ask what size canopy, reserve and aad are iin iit and if they are in good shape. You guys dont have that luxury. You have one chute, special packing, different settings,and specific things that must tick like a clock. If my main does not open , i have a couple thousand feet to fix things.....it seems you have a half a secound or less. I think that i would be super specific about the contaiiner and gear i used. I would look at top jumpers and pick there brains on why they chose there equipment. "what container does jeb corliss use for instance"? I only mentioned him as i saw the special on tv the other night. How about anyone of you involved in this sport.."You all must have asked this same question when you started. I may be wrong but would like to hear from others. And Tom, "Thanks for all your input on this", as i have asked you about equipment a few times. The more i read and study up about this sport, the more questions i have...

Thanks for the time all, Chris

In the short few weeks I have been in this sport and from the top of my 11 jumps. The only thing I really figured out is that base jumping is not an exact science! I thought it was when I started jumping! I asked a bunch of questions regarding gear before choosing mine. Whatever you choose you gonna find someone who is going to tell you to stay the hell away from it and some will tell you that it's the best. I honestly believe that all base gear manufactured by a reputable shop today is of good quality. I figured it's all preference and lots just based on opinions... and those are just that opinions! Read as much as you can. Ask as many questions as you can, and soon you will realize that the same questions asked to 20 experienced based jumpers will yield somewhat different answers. Like my instructor told me at my fjc... Go with whatever gives you that warm fuzzy feeling when you are standing on the edge!
I know, I know... my post is not helping answering your question. But if your question had an exact answer, we would all be jumping the same gear, pack the same way... etc... again this not an exact science nor will it ever be i think... so go with what YOU think is right after having soaked the most info possible from all available sources.

Peace.

Thanks , I am of the same thinking. Nothings without someone else telling you diifferent. I agree that you , and you only should feel comfortable with your gear choice. I only posted this as a "more information" is a good thing in making good decisions.

All the best, Chris

The major manufacturers have been very helpful to me when I've hassled them with gear questions. Try contacting some of them, explain what sort of jumps you would likely be doing, how much you weigh etc. and most of them will go out of their way to recommend something suitable for you.

If you can pick a manufacturer in your country then it helps for the future if you ever need any repairs or modifications done to the gear.

Edit to add:
As a complete beginner, I was recommended to get a "standard" type container, instead of a wingsuit specific one or anything else too funky that would potentially detract from learning to pack proficiently.

Ross

you may consider getting gear of the same make and model (or similar) as the more experienced jumpers that you will be jumping with.This is because they probably know all of the ins and outs of their specific rig and can then pass that knowledge on to you, while their knowledge of other types of gear might be less abundant. I also believe that most of the gear put out by major manufacturers today is of good quality and none of it will "kill" you as a result of it's design. And once you finally get your gear, remember to have fun with it.

Thanks Ross, I was thinking along this line. As i am going to Eventually go to a wingsuit, i will first master a tracking suit. I was thinking along the lines of a pin rig like a gargoyle, as thats the way i would like to go. if anyone would differ as to getting a velcro rig , i would like to hear something a side from packing that would be why a pin rig would not be a good choice.

Thanks, chris

hey I am a newbie and I definitely went with a two pin container... It really seem that most jumpers I have seen are jumping two pins containers. The ones that still jump velcro rigs are the ones that are too broke buy a new pin closed container... (joke)
No seriously I was really debating if I should go with a velcro container or pin for a first rig... In Tom's article about gear for new jumpers, he recommends a velcro closed container and an all F-111 parachute non vented preferably...like an ACE for example. I started looking based on these recommendations but after mucho research on my own talking to various people, i decided to go with a two pin (perigee pro) container, and a vented canopy (blackjack). I don't really adhere to the idea that a velco rig is easier to close and easier to keep the pack job neater when closing. I have seen a guy try to close his and he was fighting just like me trying to keep the pack job neat while closing the container.
Although their operation is surely more simple and it would be hard to pack yourself a total mal with a velcro rig, I still think that a pin closed container is the way to go in the long run.
And to be honest I think that if you are not heads up enough and your rigging capabilities are so weak that you can't figure out how to pack and close a pin closed rig correctly
even before your first jump then maybe you should seriously rethink if base jumping is an activity you want to undertake...A little common sense is mandatory in this sport. But this is just my opinion though.