Parachute Care

[mr_music11 0]

Hi all.. am new to the sport and just purchased my first rig.. am getting practice packing my chute and have a concern.. having NOT mastered the whole packing thing, it is a certain struggle thru which I will sweat... some of which ends up on my chute. What effect does sweat have on Zero P fabric? Is there anything that I can do(besides covering myself from head to toe in anti persperant!) to keep my chute in tip top shape? (washing? wiping down? ) Thanks for your time and support!

[BIGUN 1,486]

A long sleeve T-shirt and doo rag will help prevent perspiration while packing.... it'll also make it less slick from your sweat for getting it in the d-bag. I also keep a towel at the top of the canopy so that while I'm lying on it to press out the air; wipe my hands on it just before I jump up to so the S fold and d-bag stuff.... hope that helps (it's not unusual for it to get over 100 degrees in the summer months in my area).

Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

[pontiacgtp00 0]

I was kindof wondering this too, I sweat like a pig when I pack and I always pour sweat on my canopy. I've never really thought much of it.

[millertime24 8]

I also wondered about this. I dont really sweat like a pig, but when Im forcing the air out of the canopy and get back up my arms do tend to want to stick to it. I really want to know now after just ordering a brand new canopy. Maybe a PD rep will get on here and shed some light.

FYI Ive always been told that a little sweat wont hurt them, but it never hurts to get the answer from the horses mouth.

Muff #5048

[millertime24 8]

Update. I just got this from Kolla at PD.

Quote

Hi Mike!
Sweat is not good for canopies so we recommend that jumpers (and packers) do what they can to keep sweat off the material. Simply wearing a t shirt or something like that during packing goes a long way.
Not getting any sweat at all on a canopy is pretty impossible though, especially during the summer or in hotter climates, but the key is to try to keep it to a minimum :)
With that, you should get a long and happy life out of your canopy.
Wear due to sweat/agitation is most commonly seen on the 3 center top skins, or around the area where you put your knees when you pack.

Hope that helped - but please feel free to contact the ladies in our maintenance department (Donna and Robin) with any other questions you might have. They don't hang out on dz.com, but are easily reached via e-mail or phone (first name@performancedesigns.com - 386 738 2224).

blue ones,
Kolla

Muff #5048