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Hello, I only have a little over 200 skydives and don't plan on trying BASE for awhile. Just want to practice with the canopy safely out of a plane first. I have searched the articles and forums but couldn't find anything on this... I'm trying to order a Flik Ultralight and one of the options in ordering is "Multi " (about $100 bucks extra). Is that multiple bridle attachment points or somthing else? Is it nessessary ? recommended for beginners ?

The "Multi" is multiple attachment points said to "Prevent center cell stripping on extraction". I will give my $.02, I personally dont think it is nessessary, infact, I think its a bad option for beginners because it can be easily misrigged, I also think it makes a simple idea more complicated. Best rule of BASE.. KEEP IT SIMPLE. Apex makes some really good products, but they are also known to sell you options that are not needed, unused, bulky, and easy to missrig. Just my thoughts.

On a side note, As a beginner, why do you want an ultralight canopy? As a beginner, you are statistically more likely to be rough with your canopy.

Edit to add: My suggestion to you, whether you are doing a FJC or have a well qualified mentor taking you under his wing -(And judging by the fact you ask us about multi usually tells me that you dont have a mentor)- Find and jump several different canopies/containers and in different configurations on a safe and forgiving object (Perrine).. Not all canopies are created equal. Dont just buy something because of the name. Do your research. 90% of the sport is research.. Research and testing gear will ultimately provide you with the gear that is for you.

Bottom line, hold off on buying new gear until after a FJC and after testing a variety of rigs.. You may find out the one u want is the best, you also may find out you dont like it..

Also, Its good to buy used gear first also, for a few reasons. 1. you are rough on gear as a newer jumper. 2. Saves you alot of money. 3. Gives you a chance to really decide what you want. and probably many more reasons then i can think of at the moment


Again, Just my $.02.. If you dont like it, Thats ok too lol

Multipoint attachments are only used for slider up deployments and are not all that beneficial. slider down or off deployments using multipoint attachments leads to off headings and broken bones. If you are ever going to do a slider down/slider off jump, don't get it. If you want to keep it simple (simpler is better) don't get it.
Just my .02 cents.

I have multi on my Flik (the one that has just one extra bridle attachment point) and have had it on every single jump and most of my jumps are slider down. There is nothing wrong with multi, especially the simpler (and now only?) version with only one extra attachment point. If you can't lark's head that together, you shouldn't be BASE jumping I'm not saying it helps either.

where did you hear that?

Multi with a crosswind= off heading

The newer style multi is quite different than the older style one as all it is is a regular bridle with an extra support piece to prevent tailpocket slump. The older style multi promoted a wider (spanwise) expansion, thus was much more (At least in theory, as well as in practice as claimed by many people) to cause offheadings due to crosswind.

What I am saying is that the "new style" multi (two attachments chordwise across the center cell) and "old" style (4 attachments across three cells chord and spanwise) are only similar by nomenclature (multi). Functionally they are different animals.

Bottom line - KISS. And by that I mean that just because your 2-line multi works fine, it doesn't mean that you are getting any kind of measurable performance benefit from it.

Its in the manual. Might be just the old style that Im talking about. Not too current on the new style multi....Ask Derek how he likes his multi..I think he had the old style ;)

You should buy a big used SKY canopy
that is square, has 7 cells, is made of
F1-11 material, then jump it several
times out of planes to practice your
canopy drills and landing skills.

I have a Startrac-245 accuracy canopy
for sale that only has a dozen jumps!!

As for multi and ultra-light and lemony
fresh scents -- fuck all that, KISS aka
Keep It Simple Stupid is definitely the
way to go till you do not need to ask.

get a cheap 7 cell like an old raven to skydive with. if you learn to fly it well, you'll be off to a good start... and save some $.

I like to jump my BASE tarps out of airplanes a couple times a year for good measure.

Jumping at night with an average canopy ride of about ten seconds leaves little time for practice or drills.

I route the control lines through the slider grommets but not the guide rings... that way I can fish them back out of the slider grommets once under canopy and fly like i am slider off/down.

Hop and pop from five grand and I have all day to play (flat turns, flare, stall point, rear risers, in head and tail wind etc.).

A couple of things make this easier: Find a bigger sport rig or student rig to do this with (I use a Javelin J5 with a little longer closing loop), use regular skydive toggles not big grabs (they are easier to get through the slider grommets though I have done it with both), be ready for the possible brake fire (you might be chopping it if the toggles drag the slider out of reach though it has never happened to me), keep an eye on altitude (doing the toggles thing leaves you in a turn while looking up and not down and around like you should), ask a rigger to help you with this until you are comfortable with the process. I wouldn't do this below five grand the first time.

Have fun.

haha ZING!

Single with a crosswind=off heading...

Thanks for all the advise. To answer your question Jacob, I just like that it weighs less and the smaller pack volume but I'm not 100% sure ill get it. Might go with something used.

To fit and jump a base canopy with your existing sky rig a flik lite is an excellent choice. Not a real fan of using the reverse ring base risers as I feel it could cause a delay or failure to cutaway in certain situations.

Such as?

True, Alan, but even more so with the "old" style multi. I have it on my flik, and I never use it.