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I am going to be take a FJC for BASE, and am considering buying this gear which is mentioned in the classifieds. I am just about the same height and weight as the person I am buying it from which should fit me well. Can any experienced jumpers tell me if I am getting a good deal or not?

Reactor Rig with Fox 225 Canopy for Sale. Reactor rig has articulated harness (rings at hips) fits small person, 5’5”, 150lbs or so. Color: purple and teal with “Enigma” embroidered on the shrivel flap. Fox 225 is purple and teal. Rig comes with stash bag, mesh slider, 42” & 48” pilot chutes, owner’s manual, Pro-tech helmet, “Boneless” knee pads, and the following packing tools: crescent wrench, packing bands, 4 clamps, PVC pipe. Rig has never been jumped! Canopy has been flown twice in a skydiving rig. This gear is brand new! All this gear is worth over $2,000. I’m getting married in August and need to liquidate gear. $1,100 gets you the rig shipped to your door C.O.D.

TomA has pointed out to me a few times the your first Base canopy should be your body weight + 100 to geive you the SQ footage needed. Might be a tad zippy of a canopy, but then again I know next to nothing about BASE.

I don't think I've ever heard of a BASE jumper downsizing on his next BASE canopy purchase. Bigger is better.....a 225 sounds small to me.
Good luck.

Would the container be able to hold a canopy one size bigger?

You'd have to ask the owner. A Reactor can take two size canopies usually but if the 225 is already the bigger of the two compatible sizes, then no.

I don't know if you've ever tried to pack a tight velcro rig, but I have and it's terrible. It's so hard to close the container that you'd end up distorting the hell out of the packjob.

Once you did get it closed, if you could, it wouldn't stay closed. As soon as you bent over to tighten a strap or pick up your helmet, or climb a fence/ladder... pop! Out comes the canopy. Right in the dirt.

Whew! What a waste of time. I actually had a rig open on me at the exit point once. Yeah, I don't jump that rig anymore. If you've seen how slow I pack, you'll understand what I mean.

edit: Typo

did 30 jumps in a 225,got a kick out off the sport the next 8,5month by a injury under the 225, got a new 265 which just is lovely

Some things you might want to ask:


What kind of Reactor? The Reactor 4 is a great rig. Older Reactors were not my favorites because they (a) were tight and hard to close, (b) sometimes peeled accidentally, and (c) had unstiffened side flaps. Obviously, BR didn't like these characteristics either, as they changed all of them in the latest Reactor (the Reactor 4).


Is the Canopy vented (vtec)? Is it valved (Vtec with covers)?

I believe that the list price of the vents is $150, and the valves are $350, so if the canopy has those, it's worth more (to you, and to resell).


Seems like an added frill (and cost) that won't benefit a beginner. The only time I've thought articulation was useful was on advanced (i.e. multiple rotations slider down) aerials.


A 225 seems quite small for a 150 pound jumper. If you are exclusively jumping towers (especially in wind) it might be ok. It'll land hard on a city street, though.


I'd want to see the gear and decide how loud it was. If you are jumping exclusively legal sights, loud is fine. If you're jumping high profile illegal stuff, though, stealth is the way to go.


So, basically, it's the standard BR package (lists for $1950 with the Reactor 4), plus a helmet, knee pads and some tools (BTW, what the heck is the PVC pipe for?).


$1100 does seem like quite a deal for the gear, assuming that it's a Reactor 4. I'd still be concerned about the sizing, though.

BTW, am I the only one who capitalizes the abbreviation F.O.X. (Fixed Object eXpress)?

 
IMHO, a 225 is way too small for a 150 lb. person's first BASE canopy. I agree w/ 428 that people rarely downsize their canopies as they gain experience & purchase more gear.

A 225 may be a fine choice for you if you're trying to broaden your quiver after you've got some jumps under your belt or if you're jumping in Norway, certain places in Europe or sites with good landing areas. Barring that, I'd say aim for a minimum size of 240-ish.

I'm </= 100 lbs. & my canopy of choice for many jumps is a 225.

Also, I wouldn't bother w/ buying the Reactor for a larger canopy unless it's an Reactor 4 "loose" (really loose) fit for the 225. Ask & find out.

Have fun, stay alive.

Thanks to everyone who replied, I really appreciate it.. I will be following the advice of getting a bigger canopy. have contacted the seeler to see if he would just sell me the container.

I guess if I ever want to get into BASE, I'll have to find a used tandem canopy for my 220 lbs ass.....

doesnt BR make a big container, that fits like 325 or something? Maybe Im wrong and read they were planning on developing one like that...

You're covered, there are canopies in the 320 range.

Somewhere, a fat American BASE jumper is laughing...

My 200 lb ass is flying sweet under a Flik 293 now. And BR makes one size bigger.

 
Somewhere, a fat American BASE jumper is laughing...

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Hahahahahahaha from south kakalakie