labrys 0 #1 December 6, 2006 For those of you who complain that skydiving is expensive: I know that it's expensive compared to bowling but it's not that bad compared to a fews other "club" kinds of outdoor activities that many people participate in. Would you rather spend your weekends boating? Go find out how much it costs to buy a decent boat and then rent a slip for it somewhere. How much does a Harley cost these days?Owned by Remi #? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
davelepka 4 #2 December 6, 2006 Some of the complaining is based on the rate of increase experinced in the last few years. Indeed the equipment has gotten better, but has the rate of improvement matched the rate of increase in price? Who knows. Also, skydivers bitch and moan about anything they can, and gear prices are a pretty universal burden to all jumpers. I prefer to distract myself with actual jumping. Of course, now that winter has set in here in Ohio, I'm not sure where that leaves me, Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
therealbonger 0 #3 December 6, 2006 i was just going through this debate in my own head during the past week, and i really like to boat, but is it worth it, as long as it is fun for you you really shoudnt care Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DougH 270 #4 December 6, 2006 How much did a wonderhog, a main, and reserve cost in 1980's? I think I got a fine deal on my gear. My life is definetly worth the 3500 I spent on it, and I managed to get all the bells and whistles. "The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall" =P Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChrisL 2 #5 December 6, 2006 QuoteFor those of you who complain that skydiving is expensive: I know that it's expensive compared to bowling but it's not that bad compared to a fews other "club" kinds of outdoor activities that many people participate in. Would you rather spend your weekends boating? Go find out how much it costs to but a decent boat and then rent a slip for it somewhere. How much does a Harley cost these days? Just because other things are also expensive doesnt mean that skydiving is not.__ My mighty steed Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
labrys 0 #6 December 6, 2006 I didn't say it wasn't expensive. I commented to people who complain about the expense.Owned by Remi #? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MarkM 0 #7 December 6, 2006 Boats and Harleys are easy to get low interest bank loans for. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
labrys 0 #8 December 6, 2006 QuoteBoats and Harleys are easy to get low interest bank loans for. BINGO! That's exactly what I was thinking.Owned by Remi #? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bozo 0 #9 December 6, 2006 QuoteFor those of you who complain that skydiving is expensive: -------------------------------------------------------- 25-30 years ago...folks would jump old surplus gear, very inexpensive and easy to find. Nowadays it better be color coordinated and shiney or its somehow bad. I think that costs for jumping itsself have pretty much stayed the same , if not low, according the the economy and cost of living. bozo Pain is fleeting. Glory lasts forever. Chicks dig scars. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites MarkM 0 #10 December 6, 2006 I think Mirage does loans for their rigs. But if say, Aerodyne, had a loan option on their on their packaged Icon, Pilot and Smart reserve combo the sport might be more available to people. Especially if they worked out a deal with an AAD manufacturer to get one of those thrown in. I could see a lesser known AAD comany(Vigil?) being open to something like that, just to break into the market more. So then skydiving would cost maybe 1k for training, then 500 down and 150-200 a month payments for the gear to get into? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites popsjumper 2 #11 December 6, 2006 Quote...25-30 years ago...folks would jump old surplus gear, very inexpensive and easy to find... Uh Oh....am I THAT far behind the curve? I need to update...anybody got any '80s stuff for sale? Airtwardo...are you paying attention to this?My reality and yours are quite different. I think we're all Bozos on this bus. Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites CSpenceFLY 1 #12 December 6, 2006 Why does a manufactuer need to get involved?I borrowed money from a bank for my first rig.It was a used rig and it cost me $100 a month.Why do people need someone to hold their hands.This is why health insurance is so much,everyone wants someone else to do it for them. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites JSBIRD 1 #13 December 6, 2006 QuoteHow much did a wonderhog, a main, and reserve cost in 1980's? I think I got a fine deal on my gear. My life is definetly worth the 3500 I spent on it, and I managed to get all the bells and whistles. In 1976 my new gear was broken down like this... New custom WonderHog $300 New Strato Star $300 New Piglett2 reserve $300 How I miss the Good Ole Days. 359"Now I've settled down, in a quiet little town, and forgot about everything" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites DougH 270 #14 December 6, 2006 That is if you can get them to give you a loan!! This may not be a representative observation but most of the people I know who are new aspiring skydivers, would be unable to get a bank to give them a personal loan. I just don't see a bank giving a college student a loan to pay for rig. "The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall" =P Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites billvon 3,112 #15 December 6, 2006 >Just because other things are also expensive doesnt mean that >skydiving is not. I can't take many of the complaints about how expensive skydiving is seriously. Often these complaints come from people jumping Mirages and Katanas. Periodically rig manufacturers go out of their way to make really cheap rigs - and no one buys them. Heck, almost no one makes round reserves any more, because although they work as well as they did in the 70's, and although they are cheaper than ram-airs, no one wants them. One of the safest (and cheapest) helmets on the market is the Pro-Tec - and almost no one uses them because they're uncool. Jumpsuits? A $30 coverall will work for most beginning freeflyers - but again, jumpers have to have custom colors and logos. Why is skydiving expensive? Because we want it that way. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites MotherGoose 0 #16 December 6, 2006 Good call . . . it goes back to the skydiving has turned into a fashion show point made in a previous thread.You think you understand the situation, but what you don't understand, is that the situation just changed. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites beowulf 1 #17 December 6, 2006 hey if your gonna jump out of airplanes you might as well look good doing it! Or bad, depending on your choice in colors and who is looking. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites llkenziell 0 #18 December 6, 2006 Just be happy you're not still paying student jump prices... =( 4 more jumps.... "Living like fallen angels who lost their halos" - Unknown Prophets -Love Life- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites NWFlyer 2 #19 December 6, 2006 QuoteQuoteHow much did a wonderhog, a main, and reserve cost in 1980's? I think I got a fine deal on my gear. My life is definetly worth the 3500 I spent on it, and I managed to get all the bells and whistles. In 1976 my new gear was broken down like this... New custom WonderHog $300 New Strato Star $300 New Piglett2 reserve $300 How I miss the Good Ole Days. 359 Mmmm... plugging the numbers in to this that's just under $3200 in today's dollars. Not far off from what you'd spend for a container/main/reserve that's new or close to it."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 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites kkeenan 14 #20 December 6, 2006 Quote25-30 years ago...folks would jump old surplus gear, very inexpensive and easy to find. Nowadays it better be color coordinated and shiney or its somehow bad. I hate to generalize, but back then, most people who were new jumpers bought some cheap, workable gear and spent more money on jumps to improve their skills. Lately, it seems that more jumpers just out of training are buying top-of-the-line, custom gear. Then they complain about not having any money left to jump. Of course the marketing of gear is much more sophisticated now, than it was then, and we know how susceptible some people are to marketing._____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites labrys 0 #21 December 6, 2006 QuoteJust be happy you're not still paying student jump prices Did I complain about prices anywhere? Owned by Remi #? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites skybytch 273 #22 December 6, 2006 QuoteI just don't see a bank giving a college student a loan to pay for rig. A college student - or anyone who can't afford new gear - doesn't have to buy new, or even "modern" used. There are lots of perfectly airworthy rigs out there for less than $1000. The containers won't be freefly safe and probably won't be AAD ready, the reserve will be an older model and the main will be all F111. Figure $100 or less to make the container AAD ready and $400-ish for a used Cypres with a few years left on it and they've got a complete, AAD equipped rig that is safe to belly fly with for $1500 or less. Upgrade to a zp main when possible. Jump it until they are ready to downsize or can afford a new container/reserve. The problem is, newbies are told that they "need" freefly safe gear and they "need" zp canopies right off the bat. While new gear is the ideal choice, older gear is not inherently unsafe. Older gear has limitations, but as long as a person skydives within those limitations it's not unsafe to jump it. Gear doesn't have to be expensive. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites chrismgtis 0 #23 December 6, 2006 Quotehey if your gonna jump out of airplanes you might as well look good doing it! Or bad, depending on your choice in colors and who is looking. If I'm going to end up as a pile of mess on the ground I'd like the ones scraping me up to at least say "hey, this guy had fashion sense". I'm just kidding.Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites champu 1 #24 December 6, 2006 QuoteOften these complaints come from people jumping Mirages and Katanas. Hey, I like my Mirages and Katanas (and FF2 ) That said, my first complete used rig was freefly friendly, had about 400 jumps on the container, 750 on the main, a 3 year old cypres (which is the one I'm still using today) and cost me $3200. Buying all new gear at the time for $5000 wouldn't have gotten me anything "more." I also bought a protec for $35 when I first started and sold it a year later for $20 to a newer jumper. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites stratman05 0 #25 December 6, 2006 my first rig cost me $1,000 2 years ago. It's an old Vector with a swift reserve and a PD-190. I bought a new AAD and put it in (knowing I could resell/swap it out). I downsized with it until I bought a new "freelfy" friendly rig (used for $1,300...killer deal). There's no reason not to buy used. I contemplate snagging another rig for wingsuit jumps just b/c there are some complete rigs floating around for under $1,500 with a cypress installed. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Prev 1 2 3 4 5 Next Page 1 of 5 Join the conversation You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. Reply to this topic... × Pasted as rich text. 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MarkM 0 #10 December 6, 2006 I think Mirage does loans for their rigs. But if say, Aerodyne, had a loan option on their on their packaged Icon, Pilot and Smart reserve combo the sport might be more available to people. Especially if they worked out a deal with an AAD manufacturer to get one of those thrown in. I could see a lesser known AAD comany(Vigil?) being open to something like that, just to break into the market more. So then skydiving would cost maybe 1k for training, then 500 down and 150-200 a month payments for the gear to get into? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
popsjumper 2 #11 December 6, 2006 Quote...25-30 years ago...folks would jump old surplus gear, very inexpensive and easy to find... Uh Oh....am I THAT far behind the curve? I need to update...anybody got any '80s stuff for sale? Airtwardo...are you paying attention to this?My reality and yours are quite different. I think we're all Bozos on this bus. Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CSpenceFLY 1 #12 December 6, 2006 Why does a manufactuer need to get involved?I borrowed money from a bank for my first rig.It was a used rig and it cost me $100 a month.Why do people need someone to hold their hands.This is why health insurance is so much,everyone wants someone else to do it for them. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JSBIRD 1 #13 December 6, 2006 QuoteHow much did a wonderhog, a main, and reserve cost in 1980's? I think I got a fine deal on my gear. My life is definetly worth the 3500 I spent on it, and I managed to get all the bells and whistles. In 1976 my new gear was broken down like this... New custom WonderHog $300 New Strato Star $300 New Piglett2 reserve $300 How I miss the Good Ole Days. 359"Now I've settled down, in a quiet little town, and forgot about everything" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DougH 270 #14 December 6, 2006 That is if you can get them to give you a loan!! This may not be a representative observation but most of the people I know who are new aspiring skydivers, would be unable to get a bank to give them a personal loan. I just don't see a bank giving a college student a loan to pay for rig. "The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall" =P Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,112 #15 December 6, 2006 >Just because other things are also expensive doesnt mean that >skydiving is not. I can't take many of the complaints about how expensive skydiving is seriously. Often these complaints come from people jumping Mirages and Katanas. Periodically rig manufacturers go out of their way to make really cheap rigs - and no one buys them. Heck, almost no one makes round reserves any more, because although they work as well as they did in the 70's, and although they are cheaper than ram-airs, no one wants them. One of the safest (and cheapest) helmets on the market is the Pro-Tec - and almost no one uses them because they're uncool. Jumpsuits? A $30 coverall will work for most beginning freeflyers - but again, jumpers have to have custom colors and logos. Why is skydiving expensive? Because we want it that way. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MotherGoose 0 #16 December 6, 2006 Good call . . . it goes back to the skydiving has turned into a fashion show point made in a previous thread.You think you understand the situation, but what you don't understand, is that the situation just changed. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
beowulf 1 #17 December 6, 2006 hey if your gonna jump out of airplanes you might as well look good doing it! Or bad, depending on your choice in colors and who is looking. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
llkenziell 0 #18 December 6, 2006 Just be happy you're not still paying student jump prices... =( 4 more jumps.... "Living like fallen angels who lost their halos" - Unknown Prophets -Love Life- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NWFlyer 2 #19 December 6, 2006 QuoteQuoteHow much did a wonderhog, a main, and reserve cost in 1980's? I think I got a fine deal on my gear. My life is definetly worth the 3500 I spent on it, and I managed to get all the bells and whistles. In 1976 my new gear was broken down like this... New custom WonderHog $300 New Strato Star $300 New Piglett2 reserve $300 How I miss the Good Ole Days. 359 Mmmm... plugging the numbers in to this that's just under $3200 in today's dollars. Not far off from what you'd spend for a container/main/reserve that's new or close to it."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 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kkeenan 14 #20 December 6, 2006 Quote25-30 years ago...folks would jump old surplus gear, very inexpensive and easy to find. Nowadays it better be color coordinated and shiney or its somehow bad. I hate to generalize, but back then, most people who were new jumpers bought some cheap, workable gear and spent more money on jumps to improve their skills. Lately, it seems that more jumpers just out of training are buying top-of-the-line, custom gear. Then they complain about not having any money left to jump. Of course the marketing of gear is much more sophisticated now, than it was then, and we know how susceptible some people are to marketing._____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
labrys 0 #21 December 6, 2006 QuoteJust be happy you're not still paying student jump prices Did I complain about prices anywhere? Owned by Remi #? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 273 #22 December 6, 2006 QuoteI just don't see a bank giving a college student a loan to pay for rig. A college student - or anyone who can't afford new gear - doesn't have to buy new, or even "modern" used. There are lots of perfectly airworthy rigs out there for less than $1000. The containers won't be freefly safe and probably won't be AAD ready, the reserve will be an older model and the main will be all F111. Figure $100 or less to make the container AAD ready and $400-ish for a used Cypres with a few years left on it and they've got a complete, AAD equipped rig that is safe to belly fly with for $1500 or less. Upgrade to a zp main when possible. Jump it until they are ready to downsize or can afford a new container/reserve. The problem is, newbies are told that they "need" freefly safe gear and they "need" zp canopies right off the bat. While new gear is the ideal choice, older gear is not inherently unsafe. Older gear has limitations, but as long as a person skydives within those limitations it's not unsafe to jump it. Gear doesn't have to be expensive. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chrismgtis 0 #23 December 6, 2006 Quotehey if your gonna jump out of airplanes you might as well look good doing it! Or bad, depending on your choice in colors and who is looking. If I'm going to end up as a pile of mess on the ground I'd like the ones scraping me up to at least say "hey, this guy had fashion sense". I'm just kidding.Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
champu 1 #24 December 6, 2006 QuoteOften these complaints come from people jumping Mirages and Katanas. Hey, I like my Mirages and Katanas (and FF2 ) That said, my first complete used rig was freefly friendly, had about 400 jumps on the container, 750 on the main, a 3 year old cypres (which is the one I'm still using today) and cost me $3200. Buying all new gear at the time for $5000 wouldn't have gotten me anything "more." I also bought a protec for $35 when I first started and sold it a year later for $20 to a newer jumper. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stratman05 0 #25 December 6, 2006 my first rig cost me $1,000 2 years ago. It's an old Vector with a swift reserve and a PD-190. I bought a new AAD and put it in (knowing I could resell/swap it out). I downsized with it until I bought a new "freelfy" friendly rig (used for $1,300...killer deal). There's no reason not to buy used. I contemplate snagging another rig for wingsuit jumps just b/c there are some complete rigs floating around for under $1,500 with a cypress installed. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
