Wings Container Question

[javip82 0]

I am about to purchase a new wings container and I wanted to hear a little bit more about wings from people who have wings container. I am most interested in hearing how much did you get your container for with its options, this way I can know I am not getting ripped off. Currently I have 2 or 3 quotes, they all go about the same price $1500 with the following options: Cut in laterals(promotion of the month) articulated harness, piping, stripes, pillow reserve handle, rsl, custom color toggles and reserve handle. Is this a good price? What options do you think are worth the money and which are not? I would really appreciate your comments.

____________________________________
You know what's out there.
Take it, it's your's INMORTALITY!!!

[gemini 0]

That's a good price for the container with the options you mentioned. I got the same options except for the RSL, pillow reserve handle, custom color toggles and reserve handle. Opted out of the cut in laterals since I am getting bigger in the middle.

I had a 50% off coupon and all the options except stainless rings were free last June so my cost was lower.

Blue skies,

Jim

[javip82 0]

Geimini, thanks for your quickly responce.
Since I am new in the sport I was wondering if you know if Sunrise Rigging has had better deals recently then this Month's deal which is the Cut in laterals. Because to have all the options free except articulated harness, that is just the best deal ever.
thanks once again.

____________________________________
You know what's out there.
Take it, it's your's INMORTALITY!!!

[riggerrob 643]

This question really belongs in the "Gear and Rigging" forum.

[HeatherB 0]

Hey there,

Custom colored toggles are pretty pointless. I've seen some interesting colored toggles and blocks on CRW rigs, but chances are you aren't doing CRW yet. :) If I had to pay for a rig, I'd skip those...the typical yellow ones are fine.

The other thing that jumped out at me: Pillow reserve handles are really not recommended for new jumpers! I have my own reasons for sticking with a metal handle, even after having had 3 mals, but I'll defer to those with thousands of jumps and let them speak about the risks/benefits here. Please do not make this decision because of the words of a few 100-200 jump wonders who started freeflying right off of AFF. (not saying you've done this...just trying to make the point that a pillow reserve handle is not just any old option, to be chosen based on cost or cash flow. Please speak with your instructors and others who are respected in the industry).

Articulated harnesses are almost always more comfortable and articulated rigs have a higher resale value as well. Free cut-ins? Go for it. RSL? YES. Spend the $30 and then many jumps from now when you're jumping smaller, faster canopies, jumping camera, doing CRW or whatever....you could always disconnect it if warranted.

Piping, stripes etc...yes...if you have the cash and you want a cool-looking rig, go for it.

You didn't mention anything about the pilot chute. Were these quotes including a collapsible pilot chute with a hackey? (pretty standard equipment) If it is, then the quote doesn't seem too far off from the norm, considering what you listed as options.

I've worked for Sunrise and even though it's been almost two years since I left, I'm still jumping a Wings.

• Quote

[okalb 104]

Yeah...what she said!

Time flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana

[f1freak 0]

Yep heather is right on.....And i'd say the same for ANY rig out there....

HAVE FUN...
...JUST DONT DIE

[dubbayab 0]

I currently own two Wings. When I bought them the promotion was free tye-dye, and quilted back pad.
I would recomend getting the back pad.
The first Rig I ever bought new was a Javelin. It was a good rig, IT didn't hace the back pad. The Wings are very similar in looks, and when I wore the Wings for the first time I could tell a big difference in comfort with the back pad, and the difference position in the articulation. I am very happy with my Wings.
FWIW..... would also advise you against getting the pillow reserve deployment handle, It is something you could add later if you have to, IMO...It dosen't seem right to have an RSL, and a pillow handle.

[pbla4024 0]

What's the profile of Wings pillow reserve handle? Has it some insert or is it just flat like on Javelins?

Fido

[okalb 104]

Quote

What's the profile of Wings pillow reserve handle? Has it some insert or is it just flat like on Javelins?

Pretty close to the javelin

Time flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana

[dubbayab 0]

What kind of deployment handle do you use for you main? hacky? or freefly?

[okalb 104]

Quote

What kind of deployment handle do you use for you main? hacky? or freefly?

I use a hackey. I like the freefly handle in theory, but I am a pretty big guy and I have never felt comfortable grabbing the freefly handle. I find it to be an odd angle for a guy my size.

Time flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana

[JonBonGraham 0]

Quote

IMO...It dosen't seem right to have an RSL, and a pillow handle.

Why are having both of these features on one rig going to be a problem in your view? Are you saying a rig with a reserve pillow should not have an RSL? Please excuse me if I'm missing something really big here!

Durham University Freefall Club

Grounds For Divorce website (band I'm in)

[AggieDave 6]

Quote

Why are having both of these features on one rig going to be a problem in your view? Are you saying a rig with a reserve pillow should not have an RSL? Please excuse me if I'm missing something really big here!

There's nothing wrong with a pillow handle and a RSL. Someone might want a pillow handle for certain types of flying that lend to potentional snags, like FFing (espcially with newbies), but still want a RSL for personal reasons.

I think the biggest point is, if someone is a newbie and hasn't had a chop before, a metal handle might be a wise choice. That opinion, though, I bought my first rig (a Wings) when I had 200 jumps, I got a soft handle, no problem.

If you personally think that its not for you or for you, check with you rS&TA and see what they think.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[gjhdiver 0]

Quote

I think the biggest point is, if someone is a newbie and hasn't had a chop before, a metal handle might be a wise choice. That opinion, though, I bought my first rig (a Wings) when I had 200 jumps, I got a soft handle, no problem.

If you personally think that its not for you or for you, check with you rS&TA and see what they think.

Wings are about to roll out a new low profile metal ripcord handle that should address the concerns of free flyers who want a metal rather than a soft reserve handle.

[freeflajankie 0]

Hi,

We do have a new handle now which is really low profile. On the next rig I'm getting I will go for that handle instead of the pillow. So If you would like the low profile handle, make sure to specify that in special instructions. If you don't you will get a regular handle. The low profile doesn't cost anything extra!

Also like Heather said, pin striping is a really nice looks option. If you have the cash go for it. Cause is "brakes" out the colors.
You can get different color risers at no cost. And you can color match the trimtape however you want. You don’t have to have the same color trim tape all over the rig. It’s just the standard. And that is what most people get. But If you want to play around with stuff like that, give me a call and I can let you know if we can do it for free or what the cost would be. 813-788-1910 Ask for Ankie

Our Free Cut in laterals really is the best free option give away we have:)

Obviously if we could we would give away free rigs to everyone. However I wouldn't get paid so that would suck

Blue skies
Ankie

Skydivers are a bunch of insensitive jerks...
And that's why I don't skydive anymore!

[javip82 0]

I just want to thank everyone for their coments, I will take what works and what doesn't work for me according to my beliefs and research. I want to know two more things. What if I had a Cutaway, would that mean I am more capable of having a pillow reserve?
Second, could anyone who owns a wings container or is familiar with it, let me know if their containers are easily adjustable to other canopies. meaning upsizing or downsizing on the size of the main. An example. If I want to make the container for a 170 main, do you think a 190 would fit. lets say a 7 cell main like a used spectre?
thanks once again, and sorry for not having the time to get back to all of you

____________________________________
You know what's out there.
Take it, it's your's INMORTALITY!!!

[PhreeZone 20]

Wings will usually fit one size up and one size down for what they are cut for. Depending on the actual canopies you might be able to go 2 sizes smaller, but thats pushing it in a lot of cases.

In terms of the pillow... actually having gone through an emergency where you are under a lot of stress and have hit the handels correctly does not mean you are automatically perfect for a soft handle, but it means you know how you reacted and if you grabbed your jumpsuit, lift web or missed the D ring completly. Lots can be learned based on reactions in emergencies.

Learn about all the downsides of the soft handle before you get it. Bill Booth (inventor of the 3 rings, Throw out PC, Skyhook and a few other things has a few things to say about them: Read here and Here

Yesterday is history
And tomorrow is a mystery

Parachutemanuals.com

[HeatherB 0]

Quote

We do have a new handle now which is really low profile.

Hey Ankie,

What does this new handle look like? I have what was called a "low profile" handle on my Wings, which is a little over 2 years old.

Just curious about the shape/size since I don't think I'd want anything with a lower profile than what I already have. (And I have small hands!)

• Quote

[sundevil777 102]

Quote

What does this new handle look like? I have what was called a "low profile" handle on my Wings, which is a little over 2 years old.

Just curious about the shape/size since I don't think I'd want anything with a lower profile than what I already have. (And I have small hands!)

Here's one I got for my Infinity to replace the regular D-handle. Any mfg should be able to do the same. It works great and sticks out from the harness about 1/2 as much.

The handle was not yet installed (cable not going into housing) at the time of the pic.

edit - I like this shape a lot more than other triangular alternatives I have seen. Some have said that it was common on Racers of old.

People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am

[AggieDave 6]

Quote

Wings are about to roll out a new low profile metal ripcord handle that should address the concerns of free flyers who want a metal rather than a soft reserve handle.

Oh man, that's squared away! I'm sure this will be a popular option, for FFers and for smaller framed folks that want something smaller as well.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[SkydiveNFlorida 0]

Quote

I think the biggest point is, if someone is a newbie and hasn't had a chop before, a metal handle might be a wise choice. That opinion, though, I bought my first rig (a Wings) when I had 200 jumps, I got a soft handle, no problem.

Has anyone actually had problems and gone in because they couldn't find their pillow? The cutaway is a pillow, so if you could find that, it'd seem reasonable that you could also find your reserve pillow. (?). I didn't have any problems locating mine, but i'm just curious as to if there have been real complications due to this, or if the worries are more a just-in-case thing. I'd be much more worried about having a big d-ring to get snagged on something/someone, although I can see how the low profile ones could be a good alternative.

thx.
-A

[AggieDave 6]

I'm not sure about actual problems with the pillow, but I wouldn't doubt it.

I do know of some folks that had an easier time getting a reserve out due to a dislocated shoulder and such. Easier to hook the ring and pull with the wrong hand that way. Better alternative then cutting away and hoping the Cypres catches or the RSL works (both of which *should* work, but why depend on it).

Good question, though and I've been wondering about that myself.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[okalb 104]

Tons of people who have never had a cutaway have a tendency to try to rip velcro rather than peel it. You don't have a very strong grip in the pillow and if you try to pull, your hand can slip off rather than pulling the pin. I know this has happened to people. I don't know any that have gone in from it, but it wasted precious time.

I also remember something about Finland or Sweden banning them a year or so ago when a girl went in. My recollection was she tried to pull rather than peel and couldn't get a good enough grip due to the pillow. The whole thing was on video from the perspective of her camera. I don't remember all the details but it was posted here somewhere.

Time flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana

[dubbayab 0]

Appoligies for not make my statment clear.
IMO... Usualy a jumpers opps for a pilow reserve handle , as to avoid a metal handle from catching a freefliers feet or bad hand grab, etc....... Well the rsl tab and loop hanging off of your risers are also a snag piont.
That is all I ment. If your gonna get a pillow handle for snags, I would think the same for the rls.
And again, I may be old school, but I believe a jumper should jump an RSL and a D ring reserve until they have suscefully compleated an actual cutaway, or obtained a C license.