Winter Skydiving

[rendezvous 0]

Hi,
I want to do some skydiving this winter in the North East region. Wanted to know what kind of clothing is required for all
that cold. Are their any special gloves or will cycling gloves suffice. What about the helmet. Would I need a full face. And what else. Thanks.

[indyz 1]

Every pair of cycling gloves that I've worn has been made out of stretchy stuff (lycra?), and was really porous. I doubt it would do much to keep cold air out.
--
Brian

[jfields 0]

There was some good info in this thread in the gear and rigging forum.
http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forums/showflat.pl?Cat=&Board=forumtalkback&Number=61380&page=2&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=0&part=
Justin
My Homepage

[Slappie 9]

Only thing I can say is check out some cheap tickets and come jump with us in Texas.
My New Website with 24hr Chat

[rendezvous 0]

Sure thing, but I'll eventually have to get back to the NE and winter is not going away anytime soon.

[Slappie 9]

Why go back? Once you get down here and jump here and see all out hotties you'll never remember where you used to live.
My New Website with 24hr Chat

[scottbre 0]

nothing is required per se, it's just whatever you feel comfortable wearing. "Can't keep my mind from the circling sky. Tongue-tied & twisted just an earth-bound misfit, I."

[FallingILweenie 0]

My biggest problem is my hands...they get cold fast so good gloves are a must. Over the weekend we were jumping when it was about 45 on the ground and i was wearing several layers and some thick gloves. the gloves were great for keeping the cold out but they were so thick that they caught more air than i was used to...the sitflying was easy as hell because of it but flying head-down was hard work!
we shall see when it snows....
blue skies
Tomas

[AggieDave 6]

Go to a good outdoor type store, like REI and try on some gloves. Remember, you really NEED dexterity, just this past weekend, a guy I was jumping with had gloves on and freaked because he had trouble finding his hackey with his gloves on.
Also, what I've done for the few really cold jumps I've been on was wear a Poly-Pro Baclava (sp?), since I don't own a helmet and only jump with goggles. Although I look like I'm about to rob a bank, I've been warm. For gloves, I've been using D3A gloves with the wool inserts. (Those are the US issue leather gloves). Although, I would imagine that there are much much better alternatives out there, those just happen to be the ones that I have.
Remember farting in the plane not only warms you up, it warms up the entire plane. AggieDave '02
-------------
Blue Skies and Gig'em Ags!
BTHO t.u.

[Vallerina 2]

I've heard that a type of scuba diving gloves also works extremely well for skydiving in cold weather. I forgot what they're called, so i guess I'm not much help!
Homer:No tv and no beer make Homer something something. Marge:Go crazy? Homer:Don't mind if I do!

[PhreeZone 20]

A tightly molded Polypropolene diving glove works really well. Its got windblocking properties and the material is also a insulator. Is made out of the same stuff as dry suits for scuba.
I want to touch the sky, I want to fly so high ~ Sonique

[Hugo 0]

I was at Hinton in the uk last week, and it was really cold. Our Cessna had no door which didn't help and added to that I thought I heard someone mention -15 at 10,000 which was our jump alti! ..Still, it was quite beautiful. It was my first time in gloves too. Everything went well except I found getting my fingers in the loops on the control lines not as easy as usual, guess it's just a matter of getting used to it.

[lazerq3 0]

I just made a couple jumps this weekend where the temp at alt was -4 degrees c. I wore my neoprene tops and bottoms with a longsleeve shirt and baggy pants then put my jump suit over it. Wore a protec helmut and regular new gloves. During the climb out and FF I had no problems but as soon as I got my canopy rolled up to start walking back....YYEEEEEOOOUUUCCHHHH!!!!! my hands hurt like a beetch...but that only lasted a few minutes!!!! my face was fine in the air!!
jason

[weber 0]

For the hands I recommend getting a cheap pair of cotton strech gloves from walmart for like 50 cents. Then you put batting gloves or neoprene on top of that. The inside cotton liner works wonders.

[Jimbo 0]

I know a few people here in the NE that are wearing disposable surgical type gloves as liners. I haven't tried this yet, but they swear it makes a hell of a difference.
Good luck.
-
Jim

[mnischalke 0]

my choice: www.sealskinz.com
mike

[Stacy 0]

I wear gloves year round- my hands are always cold. winter in the NE is not fun for that. I tried the cotton liner idea, it works OK when ground temps are above 40-45. Best thign I've tried are my normal gloves with the surgical glove liner. better mobility too with those. definitely make sure you have a full face!!! =c)
Stacy
http://users.snip.net/~stacy

[lazerq3 0]

Quote

definitely make sure you have a full face!!! =c)

I really didnt think it was that bad with just a protec. The adrenaline going through my body kept my mind off the cold ...that is until I landed!!!!
jason

[AggieDave 6]

A Poly-Pro Baclava only costs like $4, AND it's super super warm, so you could save almost $150 if you get one if you don't have a full face.
Poly-Pro underware works really good also, you can find that stuff at army surplus stores or at US Cav...
AggieDave '02
-------------
Blue Skies and Gig'em Ags!
BTHO t.u.

[FallingILweenie 0]

another way to avoid the wind in your face is to sitfly or fly head-down.....of course it doesn't help you when you track.
Word of advice...don't geek people when it's that cold out...if you get saliva on your face it is really friggin cold. not that i know.
blue skies
Tomas

[jfields 0]

Dave,
I'm with you on the polypro balaclava. I wear one when it gets really cold. It goes fine under my pro-tec, even if it does make me look like a criminal prone to seizures.
BTW, "baklava" is a greek/turkish dessert.
Justin
My Homepage

[RedBull 0]

For anyone who doesn't already have them, you may want to invest in some velcro-less risers. The toggles are a lot easier to grab when your fingers are cold, since they tend to bulge out a bit. A canopy descent is much more relaxed when you don't spend the first 30 seconds trying to unstow your brakes with your useless numb fingers.
Velcro toggles can also be stowed so that the toggles are folded and are a little easier to grab -- ask someone if you don't know.

I am amused by the simplicity of this game. Bring me your finest meats and cheeses.

[FallinWoman 1]

For my hands I use 3mm neoprene scube gloves. Anything thinner doesn't keep them warm enough and anything thicker makes feeling the handles too difficult.
Anne
"by stitches, cloth, and cord,...a god of the sky for those immortal moments."-Lindbergh