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I'd like to get a new BASE setup but the reality of my finances means that I can't afford both a canopy and container. Currently I am jumping a military canopy modded with a tailpocket. I've been stuffing it in my Mirage.

Right now I am leaning towards going with a new container first because. 1. Even though it's not specific, the canopy's been working for me and 2. The canopy is way too big for my Mirage(370 w/ Dacron going into something made to hold a 300 w/ micro) and I don't like the CReWdog look or the stress it's putting on my Mirage.

I know that in a perfect world I'd be using neither piece of equipment, but that's not the reality. Keeping that in mind, I'd love to hear your opinions on which should be my first purchase.

-Blind

I would recommend waiting until you can use BASE specific equipment.

With the equipment available today, there's just no excuse to BASE jump with skydiving equipment.

A fully custom BASE rig will cost you $3000. A used, but airworthy, rig will cost somewhere between $800-2500. Your life is worth either waiting, or throwing down that much on a BASE rig.

I would not use either piece of gear you mentioned for a fixed object jump.

Have you looked into the Gargoyle/Troll package from Morpheus Technologies? www.baserigs.com You can get a new Troll DW MDV with a Gargoyle for under $2200.00. You might have to wait 14 weeks but it's worth it. Rob and Kathy take good care of their customers. The Gargoyle is a great pin rig and the Troll seems to be holding it's own with other BASE canopies. I only have about 20 jumps on the Troll DW MDV and over twohundred on a FOX. I have nothing bad to say about the Troll. I for sure like the slider off openings of the Troll DW MDV better than the FOX V-Tec. Both are great canopies
though. My two cents.

Blind,

I’m a young in and definitely not an experienced BASE jumper but even I know that jumping anything but BASE specific gear is just plain unwise. BASE jumping is a calculated risk in its own, so why use gear that is not intended for it and make it that much more of a risk.

Look, We have all been there! We wanna do something but just don’t have the money. I’m a broke ass college student so I know how you feel. But that doesn’t mean its ok to cut corners. You have to improvise and find ways to get around the problem but doing so safetly. I have a APEX DP with a Flik 222. My total cost was 2615.00. If you take away VTEC, articulated harness and all the little stuff I got like soft hats for my PC’s (you get two with a complete set) and extra back pad, you could have a full setup for about 2100 bucks!!! (Add a little more since you need a much large canopy)

So how can you get around the money problem? Well, why not get a loan. I got a loan for my skydiving gear. I saved up while in AFF and only needed 2600 bucks for an almost brand new set of gear. Was like a 3 year loan, about 115 a month and I paid extra each month and had it paid off in less than a year. It was a little nice with the skydiving gear because it was smarter to pay interest than pay 30 bucks a jump in addition to jump ticket to rent gear. The interest on my loan was 300 total for the 3 years (well 30 rental * 10 jumps = 300 bucks. That sold me on the loan right there. It actually saved me money to pay interest) It doesn’t apply for BASE but a loan is still a great option!

You could also try saving for the container (new or used) and get a loan for the canopy (get a new one, its worth it!). Canopy will cost more so pay for that over time. If you can’t save up the money, a loan is the best way to go.. It’s a low dollar amount, short-term loan that should be easy to handle and will boost your credit score when you pay it back. And don’t say you can’t get a loan either! I work for Wachovia and banks can find a way! There are tons of little things you can do to bring your interest rate down if you have bad credit history. Even if you get a high interest rate its not a 20K car loan that will take years to pay off. Interest will cost you 200-500 bucks. A little interest is a lot better than taking the risk of using what you are using right now.

There are lots of different options so don’t settle for jumping gear that might get you killed. Back in the day BASE specific gear was not available. Today it is! You may say “its working ok so far” Well all I can say is “ Yea….so far……”

Stay safe bro!
Coco

If he's jumping 370 square foot canopies, it's unlikely he's going to get the package price.

I'm assuming you read Gil's comment in this thread, because that was also a thread you started. Definitely re-read what Gil said, bearing in mind that he is a very experienced BASE jumper, and has significant experience on the canopy.


My bottom line best advice: Wait until you can afford real BASE gear. Your life isn't worth saving a couple thousand dollars. Neither is spending the rest of your life living in constant pain, or with a major disability.


That said, and if you are determined to go ahead in this manner, consider this; If your container fails to open you will die. If your canopy streamers, or has a line over, or lands you poorly, you might survive.

This may sound hokey, but I did honestly plan to take everyone's advice and get a complete set up, after talking to Todd at Apex, I was looking really hard at their biggest Flik and a Sorcerer. Unfortunately a custody battle bled me dry and I went ahead and picked up the MT1 because it was all I could afford.

It is my ultimate goal to have a totally BASE-specific setup, i'm just not there yet. The prudent side of me knows that I should wait for an all specific setup, but I'm in awe about just how much I am jones'ing for a jump right now.

So far, I've managed to convince myself to wait till the first of May when I'll have enough money and time to get half the system and spend a week at Perrine. I don't know if I have the willpower to wait past then. Maybe if I give my base friends my MT, they'll hide it until I have a full system in my hands?

-Blind

Oops, I've got to quit drinking and posting at the same time.

If you will swear never to jump that skydiving gear off an object, I will loan you my Gargoyle and largest size Troll for that week in early May. But you have to promise not to jump at home until you have real BASE gear.

What do you say?

This posting is getting funny now. So your willing to jump gear that is totally unsafe because you say you can’t afford BASE specific gear, but now you are talking about get a Sorcerer, a multi canopy setup. That’s even more expensive! Even if you just use one canopy, which I’m not sure if that is even safe or not, the container alone is more expensive than a regular Velcro or Pin container.

You so don’t need a Sorcerer. Correct if I’m wrong, those who are experienced, but unless your going to be doing terminal jumps regularly, or you are going to be a “dirty high puller”, you don’t need a Sorcerer.

Just get a one canopy setup. Take your time packing and making sure all your lines are clear and get WLO’s and you will have no need for a Sorcerer. I liked the idea of having two canopies on my back when I first started too but I realize now there is no need. On most jumps you don’t really even have time for a second deployment. Even with the amazing speed of the Sorcerer.

Until you have the money for BASE specific, I’d say trying filling your time with something else. Cause No one wants to see you as #92.

Coco

Sorry, my bad. I meant a Wizard. I get the two confused.



Tree, thank you. I'll probably take you up on that offer.

Tom, thank you for your gracious offer too. I'll drop you a PM when it gets closer to may.

and to everyone. don't worry about me jumping that stuff around here. Where I live the majority of the objects are sub-200, and I've seen abotu half the jumpers here get injured even using BASE specific gear. I'm not very sure that I could take a vented canopy off this stuff and get full inflation in time, so there's no way I'm going to take the MT off them.


-Blind

If money is an issue for gear and the local objects are not condusive to you jumping even with BASE specific gear.... what exactly will you be jumping and where is the money going to come from to travel to all these objects?

Jack,
Probably outta just start saving, and get the BASE specific gear. Nothing over 200ft here except Scotty's Triangle(A site), which I'm not sure you could fit into or climb to 500-600ft. It's a workout if you are in decent shape. Not trying to be shity, just stating facts.
321CYA
Sitflybaseboy

Perrine is my most current goal. I want get up there and spend 5-7 days just getting comfortable with my technique and canopy. The money for that trip is coming from a fund I set up to visit some of my friends when they graduate from college. It's a few hours from where they are to Perrine. I can afford money for the extra gas and I've got a tent and plenty of Ramen. After that, there's some A's within a few hours driving time of here.

-Blind

You know of an A within a couple of hours of here that has enough room inside for you to climb? I know that climbing scotty's triangle is a tight squeze for me with a rig on.

i've got a lead on a couple with elevators. I may be fat, but there's not way I'm bigger than the elevator.

-Blind

If you do you should share that with your local BASE brothers. I am sure I know 2 that have been opening objects like crazy that would probably love an A with an elevator.

Oh I plan to share wiht all the AR crew. I just want to make sure that these things really are accessible before I show up going "Hey guys, have I got some sites for you!"

-Blind

Hey Blind --

No matter how desperate the situation, there is always a way to save enough money for BASE gear. To pay for my first BASE rig, I stopped skydiving and started working as a packer. And believe me, that is nothing compared to what other jumpers have done. One of the regulars on this board sold his plasma until he had enough monay to buy a rig...

Please don't jump your current set-up from a fixed-object again. It is an accident waiting to happen.

Pack rigs, sell your plasma, become a man-whore, or even get a 3rd or 4th job. Do whatever it takes!

Tree and Tom have made some gracious offers to you. They have been around for awhile and have seen a LOT. And they don't want anything bad to happen to you. Huge kudos to them for stepping up with solutions! (I know you are very appreciative too)

Bryan