First Container

[LTeetz 0]

Hey everyone.
I'm looking to buy my first rig. I have 30 jumps and i have it narrowed down to either a triathalon or sabre 2 135-150 (I'm around 100lbs). I've read a lot about what good choices are for first canopies, but hardly anything about containers.
Are any containers considered especially good for beginners? Obviously it has to be the right size for me and the canopy, but other than that what other factors do i need to consider.
Are any of them easier/harder to pack than others?
Any imput would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks

[CanuckInUSA 0]

Originally I didn't want to reply to this, but seeing as no one else has stepped forward, I guess I'll give it a go.

First off are you thinking of buying a new or a used container? You will save money if you buy used, but the benefits of buying new is that it'll be sized for your body and a good strategy would be to buy the new container sized so that the initial main canopy you use may be a little tight (obviously not too tight). This way you can still downsize (once or even twice) and still use the same container. So here are a few other things to keep in mind when buying new (some of these points will also apply to buying a used container):

1) Look around at your local DZ and try to figure out what are the popular types. If you think that eventually you will want to sell the container (like most of us do), then you don't want to be stuck with something that nobody wants. And if you have a popular container, guess what? You should have no trouble selling it. Also try to see if you can try on some of the containers that jumpers at your DZ may have. There may be one type that fits your body better than another.

2) Virtually all modern containers are safe and will do the job. But if you are buying a used container, try if possible to find one which is freefly friendly. And before all of the RW Nazis start shitting down my neck for trying to promote freeflying. I'm not. But why would you want to jump with a sketchy container when a freefly friendly container gives you the proper bridle and riser protection. Also any good modern container will NOT use velcro on their products. Velcro is no longer needed in the modern skydiving world and should be avoided when possible.

3) There has been some interesting inventions in the last couple of years and one of them which should be noted is the skyhook from Relative Workshop. The skyhook is a new innovated RLS which works like a RSL but only better (apparently it'll cutaway the malfunctioning main and deploy your reserve so fast that it's almost impossible to develop line twists on your reserve). Currently only RWS supplies the skyhook, but this may or may not change in the future. But that doesn't mean that the other manufacturer's don't make a good product.

4) Riggers may want to step in here, but I am under the impression that not all containers are equal when it comes to packing your reserve and you don't want to be stuck with a container in which no rigger will repack. I don't want to name names (because I know loyalists of this container will start shitting down my neck), but there is a certain container whcih many riggers vow not to touch.

5) You may also want to talk to the different container manufacturers about their estimated delivery times. It used to be that certain companies could deliver faster than others, but in that time word has gotten out and some companies have been flooded with orders and can no longer deliver as fast as they used to. So ask around.

What else? I'm sure someone else can add to these and no doubt someone else will think I'm full of it. Once again, you likely won't go wrong with any modern container from one of the major manufacturers and often it'll come down to availability, price and popularity at your local DZ.

I myself jump a Wings container and they just recently finished making me a really nice product which I haven't jumped yet. Plus I also recently picked up a used Vector3 as a 2nd rig (and I'm thinking out outfitting it with a skyhook). But that doesn't mean that I wouldn't buy a Javelin or a Mirage if the planets were aligned when it came time to buy.

Good luck, look at what people use at you local DZ and don't be afraid to talk to the manufacturers.

Oh I see you're from the Ranch. Tell Thereza (sp?) that I say "hi" and that I'll be gunning for her during those ever so fun tracking dives the next time we're jumping at the same DZ.

Try not to worry about the things you have no control over