Harness bruises, etc..

[ryan_d_sucks 0]

Hello,

I just recently did my first skydive, a tandem, and it was awesome. It was definately the best thing I have ever done. I'm contemplating entering an AFF course to get licensed to jump on my own. However, I have some questions..

During the jump, I had a blast. Even though I was having so much fun, I did notice that the harness -- more specifically the leg straps were incredibley uncomfortable. It really didn't bother me too much until the canopy ride down.. At some times my legs felt completley asleep. I assume this was because the leg straps were so tight that my femoral artery was being pinched. It wasn't unbearable, but it was uncomfortable. My legs were so close to dead by the time we were ready to land, I was doubting my ability to pull my legs up for the landing. Also, when I got home and showered, I noticed yellowish discoloration (slight bruising) on my inner thighs where the straps were. Is this normal? I mean, I'm not complaining, straps too tight is certainly better than straps too loose, but is this how it is supposed to feel? If I were to enter an AFF course, I would not be confident I could land well on my own with my legs as dead as they were during the tandem.

Even with the slight discomfort, I still had an awesome time. But I was interested in hearing some experienced insight about harness tightness.

Thanks,
Ryan

[AggieDave 6]

We've talked about this in the past. You can adjust your harness to be more comfortable while sitting in it under canopy. You can also get some seatbelt pads to add some padding to your leg pads as well.

However, none of this really matters since you're simply comparing a tandem harness to nothing as of yet. Go do an AFF and then you can figure out what you need to do to be more comfortable under canopy. You can do that WITH the help of your instructors. Remember, when you start your student progression the internet can hurt your more than help you. Talk to your instructors. Understand they won't tell you everything at once, they will spoon feed you information over the course of 25 jumps. That's on purpose. A lot of information you read here either won't appy to you, won' apply to you yet or is wrong.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[Lindercles 0]

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However, none of this really matters since you're simply comparing a tandem harness to nothing as of yet.

Just to flesh that out a little more, in case you're not familiar with gear, a tandem harness is designed differently than a harness designed for just one occupant. So how you feel in it will differ from how you feel under your own canopy, and may not have anything to do with tightness.

[Reginald 0]

Short answer...tandem harness are uncomfortable. Student gear harnesses are less uncomfortable. Custom fit sport gear harnesses are quite comfortable. As a student you are basically jumping "one size fits all" or otherwise known as "one size fits no one very well" gear. Once you get your own it will be MUCH more comfortable.

"We've been looking for the enemy for some time now. We've finally found him. We're surrounded. That simplifies things." CP

[MagicGuy 0]

This was one of the first questions I had for my instructor. Tandem harnesses suck. They are the most uncomfortable things EVER. They ride up so hard on your junk, and plus the way that you sit in them, for me anyways, gave me a very lightheaded feeling. I don't feel any of this under student gear.

[kelpdiver 2]

I got some pretty good bruises (biceps area in particular) during AFF using a rig and chute that opened damn fast. But my rig...feels just fine.

[BDashe 0]

I doubt you did the harness adjusting, and like you said too tight is probably better than too loose. When you jump your own rig you can adjust the straps as you see fit. I had problems with rentals before i got my own not cuz the harness was too tight, but cuz it just wasnt cut for me. All the padding was far from the highest pressure points. Id have half circle bruises after 3 jumps in a day. I can make as many as i want now without any probs cuz of a properly fit harness. Tandems are designed for all sizes and shapes, so are student rigs. O yeah, on one of the rentals i used it was still a bit small and id get bruises in the upper chest/shoulder area. If all you ever get are a few bruises from skydiving, you've got an awesome career ahead of you!

clear skies

So there I was...

Making friends and playing nice since 1983

[ryan_d_sucks 0]

Hahaha, Man I believe that... If the extent of my injuries from skydiving are only slight bruises, I'm in for the long run. Thanks everyone for the answers you've posted so far.


I hope I have a skydiving career ahead of myself.

[jurgencamps 0]

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Tandem harnesses suck. They are the most uncomfortable things EVER.

Not all of them. The newer types (Sigma, ...) are comfortable.

Jurgen