shah269 0 #1 May 24, 2009 I'm sorry to bother every one. But quick question. What should one buy new and what should one buy used? And at what stage of their development? Also, provided that one takes good care of their equipment how long does sky diving gear last and how does one know when to retire a piece of equipment? Is it much like aircraft in that one counts the number of uses and thus make preemptive corrective measures? Thank youLife through good thoughts, good words, and good deeds is necessary to ensure happiness and to keep chaos at bay. The only thing that falls from the sky is birdshit and fools! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DSE 5 #2 May 24, 2009 Some gear will stay with you "forever" (depending on how you care for it and barring anything that may damage it. Helmet and Altimeter can be purchased new or used, but whichever they are...you'll have them for a long time. Jumpsuits wear out, but new is always nice. Goggles/glasses...scratch, crack, grow legs, but I'd recommend new, just cuz it's a low-cost acquisition. Rigs... I'd recommend used for at least your first two mains and container. There will come a time when your transitions from one canopy to another will be few and far between, but some folks go between as many as 3-4 canopy sizes in their first year or two, depending on currency and growth of skills. Save the shiney new rig purchase for when you've got at least a couple hundred jumps under your belt. re; life of your gear... life of a main is counted in part, by the number of jumps on it. Environment in which it is used plays a role, where it's been packed, etc make a difference too. Helmets, altimeters, jumpsuits, etc don't count too much on jump jumpers to determine life remaining. Either they're in good shape or they're not. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
humbled1 0 #3 May 24, 2009 There are a few reason to go used as far as a rig goes. The downsizing is one issue for sure, plus you can always resell the gear for close to what you paid once you are ready to downsize. Good luck! edit: decided my first response was to off topic "Tell ya the truth, I don't think this is a brains kind of operation." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ScottyE 0 #4 May 24, 2009 Shah If your not financially independent I would go used . I am in the process of putting my first rig together I am a big guy 6 ft 220 no gear and it took me a little while but it can be done . I bought everything right here on the classifieds Racer container 275 dollars sent to jump shack had ugly main flap repaced with new one +tuck tabs , new cutaway handle, new risers , all velcro replaced , updated bridle protection and new BOC pouch total 390 bucks. Like new Pilot canopy 2008 less than 25 jumps 1350 dollars Reserve 1997 used for 2 years super Raven 3 reserve 1 jump 400 dollars so I got the whole system that fits my needs for around 2500Nothing wrong with buying used just have your local rigger check it out Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rhys 0 #5 May 25, 2009 Quote What should one buy new and what should one buy used? And at what stage of their development? Alti, jumpsuit, helmet, goggles = new container and canopies second hand. You will get to a point one day when you will have the smallest container that is suitable for you and then you should buy new. untill then you will be wasting your money. you can have a container adjusted to fit you. i just got my forst custom container at 5000 jumps, i could have got it sooner but i am too stingy"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, then the world will see peace." - 'Jimi' Hendrix Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KermieCorleone 0 #6 May 25, 2009 Quoteyou can have a container adjusted to fit you. ball park figure on how much it costs to get a rig refitted to fit a diff size person? this good to know because I thought that the container size is "rigid" so the only deciding factor in terms of size when looking for a rig is to make sure that the container can accept the specific canopy size on flies, correct?- Neil Never make assumptions! That harmless rectangle could be two triangles having sex ... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shah269 0 #7 May 25, 2009 Thank you so much guys! Greatly appreciated! To think I've just had my second jump and am thinking of what to buy I will start looking at altimeters. The helmets....no offense but wow are they expensive for the little protection they provide! So i was thinking of this... http://www.diseno-art.com/images_3/Caberg_Breeze.jpg 1kg But it may be a bit overkill.... But again thank you so much for the help! And great info! Life through good thoughts, good words, and good deeds is necessary to ensure happiness and to keep chaos at bay. The only thing that falls from the sky is birdshit and fools! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NiteQwill 0 #8 May 25, 2009 Buy used!! Or, if you're lucky like me... buy new at a used price! (bought a rig that was never jumped and the owner just wanted to get rid of it) Just pay attention to the classifieds. Helmets are there for the small knocks and headbangs... they're not like moto helmets. Expensive, yes, because of materials used (carbon fiber on some). "Fail, fail again. Fail better." -Samuel Beckett Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andy9o8 2 #9 May 25, 2009 QuoteHelmets are there for the small knocks and headbangs. Don't underestimate the need for a helmet. A hard kick from or collision with another jumper in freefall, a hard shove into a door jamb on exit, and a hard landing can all produce serious head injury without a decent helmet. To Shah: plug the word "helmet" into the search function (menu bar at top of page), find the threads that actually are devoted to discussions of various types of helmets, and carefully read the various descriptions and opinions about different kinds of helmets - for example, open face vs. full-face; fit vs. price; level of protection; room for audible altimeters; room for eyeglasses (if applicable); avoidance of snag points (like external goggle clips), etc. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 643 #10 May 25, 2009 That Caberg looks pretty good for skydiving, even if the nose guard is over-kill. Just ask a local instructor to inspect it for snag points before jumping it. The primary reason skydiving helmets are expensive is short production runs. The are are plenty of hockey, kayaking, surfing and snow-boarding helmets that work well for skydiving ... at much lower prices. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andy9o8 2 #11 May 25, 2009 Quote The are are plenty of hockey, kayaking, surfing and snow-boarding helmets that work well for skydiving ... at much lower prices. Agreed; the only problem being that practically all those I see in the stores have open-ears that can't accommodate an audible. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shah269 0 #12 May 25, 2009 QuoteThat Caberg looks pretty good for skydiving, even if the nose guard is over-kill. Just ask a local instructor to inspect it for snag points before jumping it. The primary reason skydiving helmets are expensive is short production runs. The are are plenty of hockey, kayaking, surfing and snow-boarding helmets that work well for skydiving ... at much lower prices. Ah ok thank you!Life through good thoughts, good words, and good deeds is necessary to ensure happiness and to keep chaos at bay. The only thing that falls from the sky is birdshit and fools! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kingbunky 3 #13 May 25, 2009 i wore an open ear protec for a couple of years (4 or 5 actually) with an audible mounted on the upper 'V' part of the chin strap. worked fine! the main thing to watch out for with other-sport specific helmets is snag hazards. goggle retainers, visor hardware etc."Hang on a sec, the young'uns are throwin' beer cans at a golf cart." MB4252 TDS699 killing threads since 2001 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shah269 0 #14 May 25, 2009 Thank you so much for the advice! Greatly appreciate it! Will keep my eyes open in the classified for an altimeter and my ears to the ground for a good deal on a new lid.Life through good thoughts, good words, and good deeds is necessary to ensure happiness and to keep chaos at bay. The only thing that falls from the sky is birdshit and fools! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
