Basejumper.com - archive

so if you have a ton of skydiving exp. for a 1st ( beer) base rig. velcro closed? 1 pin? 2 pin? anyone on here want to send me some web sites for base gear makers? I don't know of a base paragear catalog. thanks.....keith

There's little word at the top of the page "Gear". If you click on it, all kinds of neato information pops up....

Is that the one right next to the one that says "Articles" ? The same section that has the "Getting into BASE" article ?

who would have thought...

???
oh wait, that's one of them skydiver things, right?



ps
I think I'll move this out of Technical and into Beginner.

paragearbase.com

Since this is now in "beginners" I can be nice instead of being an asshole as required in all other forums.

A lot of the gear articles are pretty dated at my last reading. When I got into BASE a few years ago I tried looking for a "Soft Cock", the most highly recommended velcro rig and what was recommended for beginners at the time and found that the maker had moved on to pursue other interests.

I think you will find that velcro is pretty rare these days. The modern two pin base rigs are what pretty much everyone is using.

I'm not sure where you are jumping now, but I know some of your previous haunts had some base jumpers around that would be a good source of info. It's not as if you are going to learn what you need to know on here and then go climb that super attractive 1200 footer in your back yard and see how it works out, so hooking up with someone local is probably a good idea anyway.

Besides, believe it or not, even if you figure out what you want, then call APEX up and order your FLIK and a new container, they won't even sell them to you unless you have some references. And since you are probably going to have to buy new gear to fit you, you probably can't go the route of buying it from somebody online who doesn't know any better or is just as happy to let you kill yourself.

Yes a lot of the info on hear is dated and a lot of the links are dead now. Still a ton of good info if you put some time into researching on hear and at Blinc.
check this link for manufactures;
http://www.basejumper.com/Articles/Resources/Manufacturers_730.html

yeah that's what i was thinking. from the base jumpers i have talked to I the general info is velcro rigs are dying out. I can see how halfway up a tower and suddenly hearing velcro tear would really suck. I guess the only down side to pin rigs are making sure your closing loop is not so tight you pack yourself a pilotchute in tow. or so loose your shit falls out during the climb

Goes by Epibase on these forums.

actually, velcro rig fans love that they can hear the touch fastener peeling. it allows them to stop and correct the situation before dumping a canopy on a climb.

pin rigs (especially with loose pins) can release more stealthily.

I'm sure some of the articles are dated. we let users update them, but most choose not to help.

reading these forums, and especially this one, ought to help you understand the current state of equipment. as you might expect, the question pops up with some regularity.

I knew I should have qualified that.

I still use a velcro rig for all of my jumps, including terminal. Its a bitch to close somethimes, but overall not a bad rig as long as you maintain it.

Also, on short delays it gives you a warm and fuzzy feeling once you hear the velcro break before line stretch.

My next rig will be a pin rig, but i'm in no hurry.

Velcro is the way to go,

HA, Im a poet and didnt know it.

I can make it rhyme any time!

A rig with a pin
will make you grin
Don't you know
Pins are the way to go?



But velcro is ok too

Go home and eat an orange
Apply 3 and 1 to the squeaky door hinge

It might be off-topic, but since I saw Kalmar's video, I have chills and freak out whenever I see someone wearing a velcro rig. Why god created horseshoes anyway?

Which video do you mean? Could you PM me the link

2 pin.

The various rigs are similar. Get one used so you can sell it without a loss if BASE is not for you. Otherwise pick one from some one who is close (Jimmy and Marta of Apex formerly Vertigo are great people now based out of Boulder, CO. There's Apex in Perris, Consolidated Rigging in Deland, Morpheus out of Zephyrhills, etc.)

Canopies vary more and what you want will depend on what you're jumping, where you're landing, and personal preference. Off the objects you should first jump it doesn't matter. A used BASE specific (with better reinforcing and opening characteristics than skydiving canopies) canopy of some sort included with a container is a good choice until you figure out if BASE is for you. After that developing some classic accuracy skills and trying out of a plane wouldn't be imprudent. As a back country sort of parachutist with tight and rocky landing areas I like the way my Fox (245) sinks; although jumping off bridges with nice grassy fields I like the flatter glide of my Dagger (244). Lower jumps would make vented more prudent (although I guess cliffs do anyways). There are newer/different/probably better parachutes.

What are you talking about?

The guy in Russia who had a horsehoe jumping a poorly maintained velcro rig from a plane. He went in.

Are you talking about you cringe everytime you see a velcro rig because he was your friend and a velcro reminds you of the inncident, or do you cringe at velcros period?

Cringe at velcros period. Seems to me that buying velcro is like deliberately giving yourself a handicap. What's the point of buying it if pins have more pros and less cons. I mean, pins are designed, stamped and polished to close a container. Velcro is made to fasten your shoes.

That is not true, those shoes fell out of fashion in the 80´s

Velcro shoes haven't come to SA yet, we're still running on leather strap sandals, they should be here next year. Yay

do you use velcroless toggles for BASE ?
how do you close your tailpocket ?

Oh velcro is good for everything but not the shivel thingy that holds your container together

Maybe for you, but I learned to tie my shoes at an early age.

I <3 my velcro rig. Not only do I love it, the fuzzies tickle my sack!

A poorly maintained velcro rig is just as dangerous as a poorly maintained pin rig, or risers, or pc, or mind.

Ok ok, you guys won. velcro=pins. So it's all about preferences and personal opinions.

B-I-N-G-O uer16! Starting out a velcro rig is the way I went. It didnt hurt my wallet as much, but I got a hell of a DEAL! A velcro rig is ultimately idiot proof in regards to closing and its features. Starting out you dont want to have to worry about pin tension/loosness. Just make sure your velcro is not old and beat up like some saggy meat curtains!! I will say my butthole did pucker the first time I jumped my rig after I got some new velcro!!!

But once again its all up to you. Most modern velcro rigs are definately safe enough for aerials and terminal speeds. Stay safe, GO BIG!