Repack not comfortable

[EricaH 0]

So, 3 weekends ago I picked up my gear after it's repack. The new-to-me rigger said he tried to pack it for comfort on my back. This is a very trusted rigger that many people love & trust.

I didn't jump the rig for 2 weekends & at the end of the 2nd one I had a different main put into my container by the same rigger.

Last weekend (3rd after the repack) I jumped my rig. It is SOOOOO uncomfortable. It feels like there are 2 metal slabs goin up each side which dig into my shoulder blades. I had other people feel the back & they said it feels painful.

What can I do? I don't think I can honestly jump this for another 3.1 months, including Rantoul where I plan on doing LOTS of continuous jumping. However, I'd really rather not pay for it to be re-packed right away.

There is no can't. Only lack of knowledge or fear. Only you can fix your fear.

PMS #227 (just like the TV show)

[darkwing 5]

Talk to the rigger who packed it.

-- Jeff
My Skydiving History

[EricaH 0]

Oh, I most certainly will - this weekend.
I just wanted to get a few educated opinions before going to him.

There is no can't. Only lack of knowledge or fear. Only you can fix your fear.

PMS #227 (just like the TV show)

[slotperfect 7]

It's very basic . . . you are a dissatisfied customer. Talk it over with him and hopefully if he wants your continued business (and good referrals), he will repack it for you.

The hard spots you speak of might be the Maillon Rapide Links that connect your reserve suspension lines to the reserve risers. When the bagged canopy is placed in the container, the risers are placed in the bottom, as far to the outside as possible, with the links "fanned out" so they are not stacked on top of each other. Stacked links or links in the wrong place could very well be the issue for you.

I hope this helps.

Arrive Safely

John

[sunshine 2]

If i ever had a customer tell me the rig was uncomfy after i repacked it, i would definately redo it at no charge. I think most riggers will. After talking to him, i'm sure he'll take care of you.

___________________________________________
meow

I get a Mike hug! I get a Mike hug!

[EricaH 0]

thank you Sunny! Very nice to know.

It sucks to put the extra work on him, but....

There is no can't. Only lack of knowledge or fear. Only you can fix your fear.

PMS #227 (just like the TV show)

[FrogNog 1]

Quote

It sucks to put the extra work on him, but....

... but the difference between a pain-in-the-back packed reserve and a comfortable packed reserve is HUGE.
And I don't just think about how it feels when I'm sitting, I think how it feels while I'm PLFing or sliding on my back.

-=-=-=-=-
Pull.

[sunshine 2]

Quote

It sucks to put the extra work on him, but....

It won't be that much extra work. He should just have to re-position the risers and re-close it. He shouldn't have to do a complete repack. Don't worry so much chicky.

___________________________________________
meow

I get a Mike hug! I get a Mike hug!

[hookitt 1]

Is it digging in pretty high up on your back? The Rapide Links are lower than your shoulder blades so it's probably the way the risers are being pushed against your back.

The harness is one layer type 8 (that's pretty soft) and one layer type 7 (which is much firmer)

Put the rig down on a soft carpet and mash the Hard areas back in with your palm. Then put your knees on the backpad, and pull up on the lift web to form the Pack job to fit over your shoulders.

Try that, put it on and tighten it down. Let us know if that helps. It should soften the feel of the pack job.

My grammar sometimes resembles that of magnetic refrigerator poetry... Ghetto

[mjosparky 4]

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Is it digging in pretty high up on your back? The Rapide Links are lower than your shoulder blades so it's probably the way the risers are being pushed against your back.

The harness is one layer type 8 (that's pretty soft) and one layer type 7 (which is much firmer)

Put the rig down on a soft carpet and mash the Hard areas back in with your palm. Then put your knees on the backpad, and pull up on the lift web to form the Pack job to fit over your shoulders.

Try that, put it on and tighten it down. Let us know if that helps. It should soften the feel of the pack job.

Can we say "Dead blow hammer"
Sparky

My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

[riggerrob 643]

Can we say "Dead blow hammer"
Sparky

[EricaH 0]

These ideas are all so great.

However the parts protruding feel about 3 inches wide going down (laterally) pretty much the whole reserve tray & they're very hard. I think I'll just ask my rigger to help.

There is no can't. Only lack of knowledge or fear. Only you can fix your fear.

PMS #227 (just like the TV show)

[riddler 0]

Question - wouldn't mashing or whacking increase the chance of bending the reserve pin?


Edit to add:

Quote

However the parts protruding feel about 3 inches wide going down (laterally) pretty much the whole reserve tray & they're very hard.

Yep, pretty certain the reserve risers have not been fanned.

Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

[hookitt 1]

I didnt say whack it... that was sparky kidding around. It's not a violent action such as throwing or stomping, or hammering with a deadblow

Use common sense and don't bend the pin. All you're doing is squishing the pack job.Stay away from the middle. (does squish sound better than mash? )

Then put your knee on the backpad.. not in the center, but away from the center... and pull on the lift web. All you're doing is forming the pack job to fit over your shoulders better.

Make sense?

My grammar sometimes resembles that of magnetic refrigerator poetry... Ghetto

[masterrig 1]

...and if that don't work, get a bigger hammer! Man, Hookitt, I do what you described on every rig I I&R. Beats the heck outa leavin' it all stiff and un-comfortable. (I was kiddin' about the bigger hammer.)

Chuck

[mjosparky 4]

Quote

...and if that don't work, get a bigger hammer! Man, Hookitt, I do what you described on every rig I I&R. Beats the heck outa leavin' it all stiff and un-comfortable. (I was kiddin' about the bigger hammer.)

Chuck

I have two sizes of "dead blow hammers" if you need to borrow one.
Sparky

My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

[masterrig 1]

This 9-pounder I have, seems to work pretty good, so far. I'll sure keep you in mind! I'm fixin' to do one of your favoritist rigs ever, Sparky! A REFLEX!

Chuck

[riggerrob 643]

Another option is to reduce lumps by installing soft links on your reserve.

[masterrig 1]

It wasn't my reserve, Sparky and I were referring to. I agree Rob. Soft links are the way to go. In some other countries, Rapide Links are not 'acceptable', only soft-links. I got that from a test jumper for Parachutes DeFrance. I don't think, from talking with a lot of folks here, that soft-links are 'trusted' completely, yet.

Chuck.

[riggerrob 643]

Quote

It wasn't my reserve, Sparky and I were referring to. I agree Rob. Soft links are the way to go. In some other countries, Rapide Links are not 'acceptable', only soft-links. I got that from a test jumper for Parachutes DeFrance. I don't think, from talking with a lot of folks here, that soft-links are 'trusted' completely, yet.

Chuck.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Hee!
Hee!
Ironically, Maillon Rapide links were banned in their country of origin - back in the 1980s - all because one clutz forgot to tighten his links. Then another clutz over-tightened a Maillon Rapide so much that he cracked it!
As for soft-links not being trusted .... That is just skydivers' inherent conservativism. They want someone else to do beta testing for a couple of years before they will buy.
For example, sales of Aerodyne's new ICON container are slow, not becsaue it is a radical design (close copy of ATOM by Parachutes de France) or sewn by an unfamiliar company (PISA), just skydivers being cautious.
How many soft link failures can you document?

[masterrig 1]

That was what the test jumper told me also, about them being banned in France. Then too, there were the Taiwan made links found in any hardware store that began to appear on rigs (jumpers and pilot). I pulled 4 - Taiwan links off one pilot rig! The only 'incidences' with the soft links were only because they were not put on correctly and those cases were on mains. As far as reserve 'incidences' with soft links... I have yet to read or hear of one. There are so many benefits to soft links, like; more comfortable packs, they don't beat the hell out of slider grommets, they don't go side-ways when you lay the risers in the container and etc. Seems as though, the testing has pretty much been done 'in the field' with the 'main' soft-links.

Chuck