Can you leave a reserve packed up for years at a time?

[KidWicked 0]

I have a rig that hasn't been jumped for the last 6 months and probably won't be jumped for the next year or so.

Should I pop the reserve and store it like that, or just store it with it packed up?

I'd like to clarify best practice here. Thanks!

Coreece: "You sound like some skinheads I know, but your prejudice is with Christians, not niggers..."

[masterrig 1]

Try contacting your local rigger. He should be able to advise you.

Chuck

[darkwing 5]

The generic advice to this is to pop it, store it in a clean, loose fitting bag, in a climate controlled place.

-- Jeff
My Skydiving History

[bch7773 0]

search the gear and rigging forums, I remember someone asking this before, I believe the advice was pop open both main and reserve, put the canopies in seperate bags, still attacted to the rig though, and put it in a dry closet.

MB 3528, RB 1182

[Kris 0]

Don't forget about the Cypres batteries, if so equipped. If the batteries get too old, they can leak.

Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and
Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

[speedy 0]

The reserve repack cycle here in Germany is one year. I would trust my reserve after it had been packed for many years but, until the repack cycle is changed, I will get it repacked every year.

I would leave it packed and store it in a cool dry place. Before the rig is used again, get everything checked and the reserve repacked by a rigger. I am not a rigger so that advice can be taken with a mountain of salt. I would be interested to hear reasons why you should do otherwise.

Dave

Fallschirmsport Marl

[riggerrob 643]

Since the military assigns - something like - a 15 year shelf life to parachutes stored in warehouses, a civilian parachute should last at least as long. However, after 15 years it will be hopelessly out of fashion. Hee! Hee!
Nylon is a very stable material and will last for decades when stored in cool, dry, dark warehouses. On the other hand, rubber stow bands and safety stows have a much shorter shelf life. I would not trust any rubber stow band more than 2 years old.
Which is why warehousing your gear is perfectly acceptable, just ask your local rigger to inspect and repack it before you jump it again.

[slug 1]

Quote

I have a rig that hasn't been jumped for the last 6 months and probably won't be jumped for the next year or so.

Should I pop the reserve and store it like that, or just store it with it packed up?

I'd like to clarify best practice here. Thanks!

Hi Kidwicked

Depending on the age of your cypress you might want to consider selling it now and buying a new one when you get ready to jump again (if you want one).

The cypress will depreciate even in your closet, the batterseries may be out of date$$ it has to get checked out every 4 yr's from date of manufacture $$$$Which is different than every 4 yr's$$.

Learned the $$$ way.

R.I.P.