How booties are supposed to fit on your feet

[regulator 0]

I got my new RW suit a few weeks ago and I tried it on and for some reason I didnt try to put shoes on to see how the booties fit until it occured to me last night. At first I thought I was screwed because when I first put them on I had the stretchy fabric on the heel portion of the suit underneath the bottom of my shoe and I thought I might have to send the suit back because there was no room for me to move my legs around because the fit was so tight. But I got in the new parachutist and started paying attention to the formation jumpers that had booties, and every one of the guys I saw didnt put the stretchy fabric around the bottom of their shoe they placed it around the backside of their ankle. I tried it again and while its much better, its still a little tight when it comes to flexing my legs below the knee. Is this just how the booties are supposed to fit or do you think I need to send the suit back and get it re-fitted? Oh yeah I almost forgot. The booties I ordered are vented (Yes I realize I probably made a mistake when I ordered vented booties due to my body size.) Any help would be appreciated.

[DanG 1]

To properly check the fit, you also need to put on a rig and tighten the legstraps. That will make the booties tighter.

You should be able to lie down (with a rig on) and assume a good arch while pointing your toes. If you can't do that, the booties may be too tight. If you do that and can't make the fabric taut, the booties may be too loose.

It will be much easier for an experienced RW jumper to help assess the fit in person.

- Dan G

[regulator 0]

Thanks for the advice Dan.

I appreciate it.

[matthewcline 0]

When Dan mentioned pointing your toes he is starting from a horizantol sole of the foot position.

The soles of your feet should be parallel to the ground and when you point your roes you should be able to move them about 2 or 3 inches and at that point all the "slack" is out of the booties.

If the booties are so tight your toes are pulled down toward your shins or you can't even move them, have them double checked by a reputable RW jumper at your DZ and if they concur then have them adjusted. Same goes for if they are too loose.

Have fun in the Beer Suit!
Matt

An Instructors first concern is student safety.
So, start being safe, first!!!

[billvon 3,120]

To see if they fit:

1) Put your rig on.
2) Put your toes in the end of the booties.
3) Lay down, arch, and point your toes.

If you can point your toes enough to make the booties tight, they fit OK. If you can't tighten them, they're too loose. If you can't point your toes at all, they're too tight.

Bootie fit is one of the harder things to get right on your typical RW suit.

[regulator 0]

That makes a lot of sense. When I was doing it I was in the standing up position. I will go home and retry this while I've got my rig on my back and while I'm in the arch positon.

Thanks for the help.

[DanG 1]

Make sure you put on the leg straps and tighten them just like you're going to jump. It makes a big difference.

- Dan G

[buff 0]

Also check that you can bring your legs all the way up when arching, like you want to backslide. If too tight or not enough length, you won't be able to backslide but I think that's more of an overall suit length.

It's called the Hillbilly Hop N Pop dude.
If you're gonna be stupid, you better be tough.
That's fucked up. Watermelons do not grow on trees! ~Skymama

[erdnarob 1]

I was about to say it. Everything said is good and in other words, put the rig on, shoes on and bend the knees. The jumper has to be able to bend completely his knees when standing up or flat on his stomach and at full knee flexion only the booties should be tight.

Learn from others mistakes, you will never live long enough to make them all.

[djmarvin 2]

Paul,

Bring in your jumpsuit and your rig to the DZ next time you are there and ask one of us to look at with you. It sounds like you have a decent bit of advice going on here, but I would be happy to help you figure this out in person.

DJ Marvin
AFF I/E, Coach/E, USPA/UPT Tandem I/E
http://www.theratingscenter.com

[regulator 0]

Word...I'll be there saturday! This looks like one of the few weekends where the weather will be nice.

[rehmwa 2]

over half the RW suits my wife delivers goes to people who do this:

1 - take off their shoes (the suit is designed so the shoes can fit through the knee joint and go straight into the toe cup
2 - pulls on the suit
3 - bends forward and look down (still no shoes)
4 - then call her and say (I think the booties are too long)
5 - also says the torso is long (when they bend forward and look down rather than look at it when in an arch position)


sad part is, she includes a form on "how to check the fit of your booties" with the suit.

1 - wear the shoes you jump with
2 - don the suit
3 - pull the crotch up close as if wearing the rig (or just put on the rig
4 - either
a - lay down and arch, extend the legs a bit and point the toes or
b - sit down so the thighs and shins are at right right angles and point the toes

5 - etc (similar to much of the above)



If I can find the text (not yet loaded onto the website) I'll send it to you.

Short of it is - wear the same stuff you jump in to try the suit on - including the rig

Arch - that's the position you use the suit in (as opposed to standing upright and slouching)

Move the legs about and point the toes to see if the bootie makes a nice comfortable but rigid sail shape.


suit makers have a hard job - everybody has a different idea of how a suit should fit. Usually they are wrong and they don't tell you until after they get the suit

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[regulator 0]

Thanks to all for the advice and I will try your reccomendations tonight when I get home.

[kallend 2,150]

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The booties I ordered are vented (Yes I realize I probably made a mistake when I ordered vented booties due to my body size.) Any help would be appreciated.

What is your body size, and why is it relevant?

I have been jumping with vented booties for 6 years now and I love them.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[regulator 0]

I was just told that vented booties were for larger jumpers that were trying to slow their fallrate. I'm 150 lbs and I fall lightly already.

[kallend 2,150]

Quote

I was just told that vented booties were for larger jumpers that were trying to slow their fallrate. I'm 150 lbs and I fall lightly already.

While that will work if the fat buggers stick out their legs, it is NOT the reason at all. More leg power in turns, and better tracking are the reasons. Your informant was uninformed.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[regulator 0]

Thanks alot for clearing that up sir.

[rehmwa 2]

Quote

Quote

I was just told that vented booties were for larger jumpers that were trying to slow their fallrate. I'm 150 lbs and I fall lightly already.

While that will work if the fat buggers stick out their legs, it is NOT the reason at all. More leg power in turns, and better tracking are the reasons. Your informant was uninformed.

opinion

my opinion - A full sized correctly fitting bootie gives all that anyway

and you, professor, can track like a madman with or without the feature

vents are a sales gimmick - but if it makes the customer happy, that's fine

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants