FlyingJarhead 0 #1 July 18, 2006 Im a student and i want my own gear. im prepared to shell out enough for a new set up, but everyone says wait to downsize... renting is killing my money sit. hmmmm Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NWFlyer 2 #2 July 18, 2006 QuoteIm a student and i want my own gear. im prepared to shell out enough for a new set up, but everyone says wait to downsize... renting is killing my money sit. hmmmm Do the math. Depending on what you buy, you may be able to sell what you bought for not much less than what you paid for it. Even if your gear loses value, it will most likely still be significantly cheaper for you to buy gear, use it, and resell it than it will be for you to rent gear. Obviously, that'll depend on whether you buy something with some resale value. Lisa Briggs' articles in the section linked below have some good tips on choosing gear: http://www.dropzone.com/safety/Gear_and_Equipment/index.shtml"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FlyingJarhead 0 #3 July 18, 2006 im going to buy a G4 or G3 or Infinity cause thats what my instructor told me to get. as far as a canopy..i have no idea whatsoever. whatever opens the most :-p Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NWFlyer 2 #4 July 18, 2006 Quoteim going to buy a G4 or G3 or Infinity cause thats what my instructor told me to get. While there's nothing wrong with those choices, you may want to do a tiny bit more research than that. Especially if you're looking at used gear, you may find that opening yourself up to a wider range of options will make it easier to find a good choice. Quoteas far as a canopy..i have no idea whatsoever. whatever opens the most :-p Canopy size/type would be a *great* thing to ask for your instructor's advice on."There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bob.dino 1 #5 July 18, 2006 Quoteim going to buy a G4 or G3 or Infinity cause thats what my instructor told me to get. Most modern containers will work nicely, including the Mirage & VSE products. Choosing something that's popular in your area can be helpful in keeping resale value high. As for the worry about downsizing: I did 400+ jumps on my first set of gear. Some of the people I look up to most did 1000 on their first canopies. That's a lot of rental dollars. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FlyingJarhead 0 #6 July 18, 2006 i was thinking stick with elliptical(duh) because right now im more concerned with learning to fly my body, then trying swoops and stuff. so basically my goal is to downsize a bit, buy some new gear, put a lot of jumps. something about used gear doesnt make me feel good.. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NWFlyer 2 #7 July 18, 2006 Quotei was thinking stick with elliptical(duh) Um... I hope that was sarcastic. Quotesomething about used gear doesnt make me feel good.. You should always get a trusted rigger to inspect any used gear that you buy, but there's absolutely no reason not to consider it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BIGUN 1,486 #8 July 18, 2006 Quoteused gear doesnt make me feel good.. Interesting. Used gear makes me feel great. Somone else paid the big bucks, already test jumped it for me and my rigger checked it out. My best deal ever - Vector III, PD 300, PD 281 Reserve. One year old. Guy had 15 jumps on it. Had to sell it. Had to get out of the sport - one thousand bucks.Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Elisha 1 #9 July 18, 2006 Quote[My best deal ever - Vector III, PD 300, PD 281 Reserve. One year old. Guy had 15 jumps on it. Had to sell it. Had to get out of the sport - one thousand bucks. ...great for me to quickly sell again. That's more than double the square footage I would want. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BIGUN 1,486 #10 July 18, 2006 I'm sorry, that wasn't an offer to sell (no way it would fit you). I was attemping to explain a deal I got and that used gear can be good deals - but must have missed the mark.Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
labrys 0 #11 July 18, 2006 Quoteused gear doesnt make me feel good.. Student and rental gear is always used. Nothing wrong with used gear as long as it fits and it's suited for the type of jumping you're going to do.Owned by Remi #? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fast 0 #12 July 18, 2006 QuoteQuoteused gear doesnt make me feel good.. Student and rental gear is always used. Nothing wrong with used gear as long as it fits and it's suited for the type of jumping you're going to do. Just to jump on the bandwagon, yep. Used gear is great.~D Where troubles melt like lemon drops Away above the chimney tops That's where you'll find me. Swooping is taking one last poke at the bear before escaping it's cave - davelepka Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Elisha 1 #13 July 18, 2006 Yeah, I know - just saying. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FlyingJarhead 0 #14 July 18, 2006 ok ok maybs. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kenneth21441 0 #15 July 18, 2006 I would say only buy new gear if you have the funds for it and then be prepaired to wait to have it made if it is custom made: IE colors, harness size. Biggest issue here: cost and time. Used gear you get it cheap but do not have the color or sizing you want inless you are luckey or just wait to find that deal. My first rig was custom made because I had all of the above for new gear. Plus I wanted my own all black container. My other rig is a used one. A old but still good military rig that is a great spare or for those days when I want to travel cross country from 10,000 feet. Plus it is a easy lander.... docile..Kenneth Potter FAA Senior Parachute Rigger Tactical Delivery Instructor (Jeddah, KSA) FFL Gunsmith Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NewGuy2005 53 #16 July 19, 2006 QuoteIm a student and i want my own gear. im prepared to shell out enough for a new set up, but everyone says wait to downsize... renting is killing my money sit. hmmmm I bought a great used rig (under the supervison of my instructor) before I was off student status. I had people tell me to wait and downsize. My thoughts were that the earlier I bought gear, the more suited it would be for a beginner and I would not be tempted to buy a canopy that was too small. Now that I have it, I know it will be a very long time before I even think about buying again. Consequently, I won't be getting in over my head by jumping a canopy that's too small, too soon. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Remster 30 #17 July 19, 2006 QuoteIm a student and i want my own gear. im prepared to shell out enough for a new set up, but everyone says wait to downsize... renting is killing my money sit. hmmmm Have you read those articles? http://www.dropzone.com/gear/articles/ Especially this one from Lisa: http://www.dropzone.com/gear/articles/SomeTipsonBuyingYourFirs.shtml If you are ready to buiy new, then you can order now, and still jump in the next few months until you get the gear and downsize slowly according to your instructos's recommendations. Youmentioned elliptical: I hope too that it was a joke. There is no reason to get what is marketed as an elliptical as a 1st canopy. Some good 1st canopy designs are in fact more elliptical then square, but, they arent marketed as such. Again, talk to your instructors, read up on it, talk to a dealer, make an informed decision. The G3 and G4 are good containers, but ask why your instructor says they are best for you.Remster Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
