My first rig.

[kentAllan 0]

I'm about to buy my first rig, and I was wondering if anyone have some inputs regarding my plans.

My first choice was a vector v3 micron,but due to LOOONG deliverytime I think i'm going for:

*Paratec next century rig (most of the standard options is included on this)

* Paratec NRG 180' main

*paratec speed 2000 150' reserve

*Cypres2

*RSL/Skyhook.

is this a decent first rig? Im about 80 kg's btw.

[NWFlyer 2]

I don't know anything about the specific components you've chosen since, other than the Cypres2, they're not commonly jumped in the U.S. I'll defer to folks who know that manufacturer for more specific comment.

But... I do want to ask about your choice of main and reserve sizes. What made you choose those sizes? Here's why I ask.

At 80 kg, you're at about 176 lbs. Add another 25 lbs for gear, so let's say 200 lbs out the door.

That puts you at a 1.11:1 wingloading on the 180 main. Possibly not too bad a wingloading, though many folks recommend going no higher than 1:1 as a new jumper.

That puts you at 1.33:1 on your reserve. Think long and hard about this. Do you really want to be jumping a canopy that's 30 square feet smaller than anything you've ever jumped before when you are also likely to be pumped with adrenaline, open at a lower altitude than you've ever opened, and possibly dealing with a landing away from the dropzone?

"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

[kentAllan 0]

Hi, Thanx for the fast reply!

I Live in Norway, and at my dropzone the "Voss Ventus" guys (and girl) use the same rig. My Instructor told me to get this package actually.

I also questioned the size of the reserve,but he says it would be fine.

Regarding the main I was looking for a 190, but since the NRG comes in --- 160,180 and 200 I'm going for the 180. This is my first rig and because I want to keep it for a long time, i will get the rig sown? as small as possible, so that I can downsize wit it. The plan is to get the first main in ZPX fabric to make the packing volume as small as possible.

Anyone in here who have any experience with the paratec rig or and canopies?

sorry if my english spelling is rubbish :)

[Remster 30]

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I also questioned the size of the reserve,but he says it would be fine.

Ask him again. Then ask a few other instructors at your DZ. Then call paratec and ask them what they recommend. It's a very high wingload for a reserve for someone just off student status.

Remster

[Hellis 0]

Do you need the gear now?
I just looked at UPT's site and the delivery time is ~six months, and thats may next year.
Do you need the gear during winter?

And I agree about the wingloadings. I have about the same wingload on my reserve, but i have made ~400 jumps more than you.
It would have to be a very good reason why I would load my reserve higher than what I do now

[kentAllan 0]

Ok,I'll check again regarding the reserve, I guess I can agree with you guys on than one.

The main will be a 180 and I'm comfortable with that at least.

As I said previously I did put a "?" regarding the 150 reserve.

I Cant wait for six months to get the gear. I'm going to z-hills,Florida in march and I want to have my own gear when I go down there :)

All of the guys I've talked to who owns the paratac rig loves it and says it's the best rig they have used and they all compare it with the vector.

It's pro jumpers I have talked to, so i believe the paratec is a good choise.

you question the wingloading on the main as well.. I'm good due to the handbook requirements for a jumper with my skill (or lack of it ;)) and weight, so I dont want to go for the 200 in this case. But that said, if the NRG came in 190 I would have bought that just because it's a more common size.

[Remster 30]

Paratec makes fine gear (or at least, made, when I lived in the UK.. I would assume quality has not gone down).

I was actually looking at getting a Next when I lived over there.

Whatever size canopies you get, ask yourself this: can I handle *insert problem here* on that canopy on my next jump. It could be a downwind landing, and jumper cutting you off on final, strong turbulence on landing, etc.

Remster

[kentAllan 0]

Thanx for all of your inputs!

ok then, regarding the main canopy; what size do you guys mean a newbie like me should start out with?

Offcourse I could get a 260 student canopy but I actually want to learn and progress in the sport. During the stay in florida I'll get about 40-50 more jumps + wind tunnel time. I guess I will Learn alot ( I will have coaching when I'm there). and averybody I know with my starting weight starts out with 190s. 10 sqft is not thats much smaller.

Of course there will be problems that occure,but i reallo dont think it will be wery different with is I have a 180 or a 190?

[kentAllan 0]

Anyway. I was most of all asking about the equipment,not my wingloads.

But i guess the paratec gear is not wery well known in the us,so ill ask about that elsewhere :)

[3331 137]

Look here for your gear. Try the new coloring program.

http://jumpshack.com/

I Jumped with the guys who invented Skydiving.

[kentAllan 0]

Thanx, but i'm ordering everything directly from paratec :)

[adventurechick 0]

Velocity Sports Equipment's Infinity is approved in Norway, and we're currently at a 7-9 week lead time.

Good luck in your search!

Blue Skies,

Gail Lovelace
Velocity Sports Equipment
gail.lovelace@velocityrigs.com
www.velocityrigs.com
www.facebook.com/infinityrigs.com


EDIT: Gail, please refresh yourself with the rules on advertising in the forums.If you wish to pass that type of information on to someone that is interested in your product please do it via e-mail and or PM. Thanks

[Abedy 0]

The rig you're up to is OK and of very good quality and I can recommend it.
The NRG is nice and offers a broad range of flight characteristics that makes it suitable for both beginners and intermediates. You may jump rental gear to get more practice before you jump the 180, but if your coaches tell you it's OK, they are the ones who know you.
The Speed reserve is a fine piece, have jumped one already. The size you chose is questionable, I'd go for a bigger one. I have a 135 Speed but have 1600+ jumps (and did a ride on another 135 Speed at 1400+ jumps at about the same weight...) I didn't find it too challenging but reserves are no longer slowish/sluggish! The Speed is a modern reserve canopy, bear that in mind ;-) Hence, I strongly recommend a bigger one, again.

All in all, go for the Paratec gear.




P.S.: If you look up my profile you'll find I have a Teardrop VIPER, which is very similar to the NeXt Century. It's a little better when it comes to value for money, and I like a pop top reserve better. But again, the NeXt is a very good rig.

The sky is not the limit. The ground is.

The Society of Skydiving Ducks

[kentAllan 0]

Thanx for the feeback regarding the gear!

As I said previous in this thread I asked him if he was serious about the 150, and asked if a 170 would be more suitable. He is percist, and says the 150 will be fine. Anyway, he'll check with the paratec guys about it before the final order is sent.

Thanx once again for your concerns about the reserve :)

I'm looking forward to get the gear and finally get to try it.

[kentAllan 0]

******** UPDATE *******

I'm back to the drawingboard, due to 20% taxes upon the final price of the paratec gear. It put me off about 1000 euros :/

But shit allways brings something good!

I just got a confirmation from Gail at VSE that the Infinity is approved in Norway so now I'm going for that.

As for the canopies I would be glad to get your inputs.

Yes, my wingload will be around 1.1 but,please dont say get a 220. I'm getting the 190, and im not exeeding the wingload charts, so please again. Just some solid iputs for or against the different canopies.

I'm considering the sabre2 and the pilot as for now. I dont know much about the other wings in this segment.

I'm looking to get a 190 semi eliptic 9 cell main.

Wich would you prefer?

Wich reserve will be the best choise?

[degeneration 5]

Another one that is similar to these would be the Safire2.

If you do a search on here there have been many threads asking the same question, comparing the Pilot, Sabre2 and Safire2.

You will get recommendations from people for each of them. Just look at what people describe for each and see which one fits more of what you are wanting.

I jump a Pilot. Had 1 150 from jump 100 to just under jump 400, and a 132 for the last 10 or so jumps. I really like it. Regardless how good or bad I pack it, the openings are always nice. I had one hard opening in 300 jumps. Depending on how bad/quick my packing is, it sometimes opens off heading, but generally everything is nice and good.

I have no comparison to give regarding flare, speed, aggressiveness etc, all I can say is that I really like the Pilot, I have fun under it and that's all that matters.

Sky Switches - Affordable stills camera tongue switches and conversion adaptors, supporting various brands of camera (Canon, Sony, Nikon, Panasonic).

[kentAllan 0]

Thanx for your inputs :)

I've searched the forum and think I have narroved it down to 3-4 canopies.

I'll have a chat with my instructor before making the choise. In the meantime I'll read up on these three or four I think will be suitable. The Pilot is actually the one I concider the most at this point.

[axelandr 0]

the sweet thing about the Pilot is that you can get it in ZPX-material, which basically allows you to get a smaller rig to prepare for the day you might want to consider downsizing..
ZPX in the size your talking would pack 1-1,5 sizes smaller than, say, a Sabre 2 in the same size.

To give you an example;
I bought a Pilot 188 ZPX together with my Icon I5. The I5 is sized for canopies in the 150-range, but like most ocntainers it will hold both one size bigger and one size smaller. As the 188 ZPX packs like a 170 (or even a bit smaller in my experience), it wasn't a problem at all fitting it into the container sized for a 150.

Now, by doing this, make sure you can fit a big enough reserve into the same container, don't just choose your container based on the size of your main. there are different options for reserves as well, a PD Optimum 190 will pack smaller than a PD R/Smart/Raven etc the same size..

this is if you want a smaller rig which allows for more options when it comes to downsizing later on, whenever that time comes.. as you're about to invest in new gear, you might as well try to get a container which will last you as long as possible..

as a sidenote; you're from Norway (so am I), you might want to consider buying your gear directly from the US instead of going trough a norwegian dealer which imports the gear for you. as norwegian TVA is high (25%), consider picking up the gear in the US yourself. the 25% saved on "smuggling" the gear back might just get you a free holiday with quite a bit of jumping included, for less money than if you get it delivered in norway.
I buy all my stuff from Chutingstar, pick it up in either Atlanta or Deland and jump it straight out of the shop.. that way you can have minor fixes done in case something is not perfectly right as well..



alex.

[kentAllan 0]

Thanx for great feedback!

I'm Going to florida in the beginning of march (sjipparens vårtur til z-hills) and thats why I'm getting my gear right now.

After talking with Gail at VSE, i've concluded to get a rig built for a 170 (tight) and get the PD Pulse for my first main canopy. It has a lover packvolume as well as the zpx. (hybrid)

As for the reserve I think I'll get a PD optimum.

With this setup she said that I most Likely could use the same rig down to a 135 or so. This is excellent as this is my first rig and want to keep it for as long as possible.

[sundevil777 102]

Getting a container that you know will be a tight fit for your main can be troublesome. It might be a bit worse than tight - it might be a real struggle - not at all pleasant, even for experienced packers. It might encourage some bad fixes to the problem, such as an overly long closing loop that can cause problems, or it might encourage downsizing before you should do it, or it might cause expensive and dangerous damage to your container. Your container is also more likely to look awful, and you don't want to spend all that money and have it look wrong every time you see it. Comfort is also somewhat dependent on not being packed like a brick.

You really should have your first container made to fit your particular 190, whether it be a ZPX Pilot or Pulse - just tell them what exact canopy you will use and let them decide what is the best size. Do you think you'll be bored with a 1.2 (170 main) or almost 1.4 (150 main) WL?

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

[kentAllan 0]

I'm aware of what you are saying.

But as I said in my previous post I got the suggestion for the setup with a container built for a 170 and a 190 Pulse directly from the manufacturer.

I trust the manufacturer when they say it will work out great. Whit that said, she told me specificly to get the pulse to make a good match with the suggested container.

Offcourse I have to get this confirmed as a good match, but again, I totally trust the container manufacturer.

[sundevil777 102]

Cool, but I thought you meant that it would be a tight fit (instead of a normal fit) for a normal (not hybrid or ZPX) 170. As I explained, starting out with a tight fit as a newbie can be bad. I have jumped an Infinity or its ancient predecessors since 1988.

Do you think you'll be bored with a 1.2 (170 main) or almost 1.4 (150 main) WL? You should not have a 1.4 WL for your reserve - anyone telling you that is "fine" is not serving you well.

Anyway, good luck, new gear is a blast and the Infinity rocks!

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

[dragon2 2]

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As I explained, starting out with a tight fit as a newbie can be bad.

Heh heh yeah, I know my first canopy costs me a lot of beer to get in the bag.

Totally cured me of my liking of packing I can tell you. For real.

Quote

You should not have a 1.4 WL for your reserve - anyone telling you that is "fine" is not serving you well.

Heck no. Only go to a wl that high once you're very comfy jumping that size main canopy in any and all situations, and even then it's not a very good idea - I know I do it, but I have 2200+ jumps and 15 to 20 rides on reserves at that WL and 200-ish jumps on bad-flaring 7 cell canopies and still I really would have liked my reserve to be a bit bigger my reserve ride last year.

Much safer and smarter to stay at a 1.0 WL for you first couple hundred jumps at least, not above 1:1. And if you're smarter than most jumpers, KEEP that reserve WL of 1:1 for the rest of your jumping career.

ciel bleu,
Saskia