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I really need to get my own base rig so I can stop borrowing stuff, I found a good deal on a Reactor 3 container. Anyone have any good/bad to say about them?

Lance

I have a Reactor3,which i hasnt jumped since i broke my leg,besides on my Memorial jumps(back to back) for DW.
I think its a nice hardness to start whith,but i quickly looked after a pin rig.I didnt like the idea that i could pop the canopy just by (dont know the word.. but like if i made a cannon ball-i didnt on a BASE ever).it aint nice to climb and then finding out that the canopy and hardness would like to pop before you need it.Even by new velcro and the right size canopy in it..

A Reactor 3 will work if you know a few key points.

The Reactor3 containers (and I'm pretty sure the older Perigees too) were built small in respect to the pack volume of the canopy that was intended to go inside. This meant that the containers were hard to close, and hard to keep closed.

I think the reason the containers were so tight was to eliminate the potential of a PC in tow if the shrivel flap tried to shrivel the side flaps right along with it. The newer Reactors have a sideflap stiffener built into the flap that eliminates this problem. Now you have a slightly looser container that's easier to close, stays closed better, and is just easier to use.

When you have to fight a container to close it, you will end up distorting the packjob and this could lead to an offheading opening.

So, as long as you're making sure the velcro gets replaced often and you dial in your packjob so it's consistantly the same size, you can use a Reactor3 in BASE. Just be careful when you close it, and be aware that the velcro can peel if you're squirming through a tight space and it gets snagged. (I wouldn't recommend throwing radical aerials with a Reactor3 either, but if you're new to BASE you have no business doing these anyway.)

I made a bunch of jumps on two different Reactor3 containers when I started BASE jumping. They're simple and they're BASE-specific gear. Two strong points for anyone getting into BASE jumping.