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I thought about connecting middle and large ring with soft link. What are possible problems?

 

 
My guess is, you wish to remove the ability to release the risers. There's no real reason it would be necessary.

Connect the risers as usual and use a cutaway handle with the excess being at least 6 inches. Removing the release capabilties has the potential to cause problems. Catch the canopy over a light pole, or stick yourself in a tree and you'll have to remove the harness to getaway.

If you land in a body of water, again, you can't release the canopy. If it's a fast moving body of water, you may and probably will drown.

Hookitt,
I am with you in ALL your points about having and keeping the cutaway possibility.
Probably Fido was talking about TEMPORARILY eliminating the cutaway possibility, possibly in some particular jumps...

Well, you need 3-ring only when jumping:
1) From plane with belly mounted reserve
2) Near water
3) McCutaways
For rest of jumps L-bars are just fine.
Think about this thread as another part of "we need something better than 3-ring" discussion.

> Well, you need 3-ring only when jumping:
4) Any time there is a possibility to be hanged up onto a tree, a street lamp, any other vertical structure in country or urban environment (pretty much all the jumps).
IMHO, the cases in which there is NO NEED of cutaway are a very limited number.

In this case you could cutaway and then cut softlinks using hook knife.

I second that. I dodge trees on 99% of my jumps and I tree myself once thus far.

Why do you fear the 3-ring system? As Tim said, if you got a MIN of 5, better 6" of slack in the cutaway cable then the system is solid.

If you really like slinks use them instead of the yellow cable but not to connect the rings together; however a mini rapid link works better for this use as already stated.

I think you should PM Bill Booth with this question. Really.

rl

Another idea. What about two white loops at each riser and two cutaway handles? After pulling first handle you end up with normal 3-ring system.

This is similar to a system that Russel has used. In his case, the idea is to change the location of the riser attachment (and where he hangs beneath it), by cutting away the first riser attachment and shifting his weight onto the second.

Do you have picture of that setup?

another system found on the german vdo website.
http://www.base-jump.de/47782.html

I have dissabled my 3 rings by removing the cable and replacing it with doubled cordage on each riser, it could be undone while loaded but only intentionaly and not quickly. did this because i was doing Mr. bills, as the first to open, and did not want the other guy to brush my cutaway handle, as he was climbing all over my harness changing positions.

(out of a balloon)

but my rig on order has sewn in risers, solves that.

In earlier days when BASE rigs are getting popular people often fouled their Three Rings. I don't know why they did so as 3-ring failure is very rare. It probably came from when people are just starting to get used to jumping with one canopy and trying to eliminate as many failure points as possible.

One fellow told me he was afraid he'd have line over and instinctively cutaway. I never understood that and don't think it's very valid. How do you forget you are BASE jumping?

Also, I wouldn't use a metal connecter link through the white loop. Some of those links have burrs on them that could chew into the loop. In fact I wouldn't put anything in there other than a cable.

The rational for L-bars is a bit fuzzier. It does make for a simpler cleaner rig but you do have to check the screws once in a while. I suppose there are folks who'll take dangling in a tree and being alive over other things they might imagine happening.

I actually wouldn't mind another handle altogether. This one sheds the entire rig from your body. More than once I've fallen on my face trying to run away and get out of my rig at the same time.

NickD
BASE 194

People have died due to the inability to disconnect their parachute system. They have also been caught, stuck, injured, etc.

By all means, develop another/better cutaway system.

But before you go switching all your gear over, think about what the advantages are of NOT having one versus having one????????



Could you list reasons for and against. I am interested to see where your logic is heading. What are the benefits of L Bars over 3 rings? I think I know most of them but I am trying to understand your logic.

I'll give you a few more reasons why you need 3 rings:
- tree landings
- snagged canopies
- getaways
- easier gear inspections and maintenance
- ability to switch canopies over without requiring tools (esp handy when travelling)
- some people make untangling lines easier by disconnecting their risers first
-

Nick-
I actually have made a harness like that, with fabric "3 ring" cutaways on the lift webs.

it is for my rope work, getting out of a harness quickly, not exactly to "cut away" while suspended. and i used it with a round canopy, with a single attachment point for all lines on one riser.

Hey Calvin,

from all your posts I really get the idea you are doing some bad ass shit out there in the field. Any chance you have some video lying around of some cool stunts? I'd love to see some.

Thanks,

Jaap