How often do you pack yourself?

[Antidote 0]

Mostly to US people/people at large DZs.

My home is a small Cessna dropzone - club based. No pakcers around and if we do pack for each other, we don't charge for it.

Culture in Russia was different, but the DZ was much bigger. Plenty of packers, and plenty who used them.

How often do you pack your own canopy? For me, it's basically after every jump.

If you use a packer, is it pure convenience?

[cocheese 0]

I use packers for 85% of my jumps. When I'm at a dz, I'm
on vacation/holiday. If the packers are too busy, i'll pack my own, but not jump as much/fast.
Packers usually pack 3 times faster than I and i like the break between jumps to rest, drink,socialize, etc.
Did i mention i'm lazy ?

[pincheck 0]

We don't have any profesional packers, there are university students who will pack for the price off a packjob to make money but the club prefers everyone to learn. Which is a good thing apart from making the jumper more knowledgeable about their canopy and is required to get the packing certificate to pack club kit. Going rate is £4 about $7.57 but you get that off kit hire if you pack yourself.Me i am still learning as at first speed and looking to get in the air as much as possible where always a hindrance.

Billy-Sonic Haggis Flickr-Fun

[bbarnhouse 0]

well I don't actually pack myself...but I will pack for myself Okay small attempt at humor.
If I am training back to back all day I do use packing services.
If I am not going at it hard, I will pack for myself.
Most I have done in one day packing for myself is 15. Needless to say, packers have my respect. Every muscle in my body screamed the day after

[BenediktDE 2]

I never used a packer exept for a few of the AFF jumps where I was taught to pack.
I jumped my own packjobs (with an instructor doing 4 checks during packing) in my AFF Levels and do so since then.

For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong.

[maxmadmax 8]

I use a packer as a golfer would utilize a caddy.

But I ask around and find out the best ones. I don't like to see my rig slung around!

Ahhhhhhhh.......my best ever is 'Becca at the WFFC.

Smoooooooooooooooooth openings.

Don't go away mad....just go away!

[ladyskydiver 0]

I'd say I pack for myself about 80% of the time and utilize a packer about 20% of the time. When I'm on vacation or just not in the mood to pack is when I'll use a packer.

Life is short! Break the rules! Forgive quickly! Kiss slowly! Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably. And never regret anything that made you smile.

[skybill 22]

Hi Anti-D,
Where as I have jumped rigs packed by other people, I have never paid anyone else to pack my main canopy or any canopy I was using at the time. Also, as a rigger, if you "really" want me to pack your main chute for you, that will be $100.00 period! Sorry about that.
PS. Nobody has taken me up on that,"yet!" If someone did, I'd probably raise the price to $1000.00 and the title to their BMW!!

SCR-2034, SCS-680

III%,
Deli-out

[Avion 0]

Now that I know how and have the time, I prefer to pack myself. I only used packers when I was in AFF and durning my canopy class.

[funks 1]

unless someone is training and doing back to back loads or an instructor is doing back to backs with students i dont understand why someone wouldnt pack their own rig. The only reason i can think of is laziness or the lack of desire to learn. just my .02

[freeflyimpaired 0]

Pack my own rig every single time, and will rarely turn down the opportunity to make 5 bucks packing for someone else.

"Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so."

[Icon134 0]

I'm happy to get about 5 jumps in per day and I usually pack for myself... I'm not opposed to using packers I'd just perfer to have that money to go towards jumping. Its a great skill to learn... and I am still learning )

Scott

Livin' on the Edge... sleeping with my rigger's wife...

[beowulf 1]

There have been very few times that I have hired a packer. I always pack for myself. When I bought my Sabre 2 I paid for a packer the first 50 jumps on it because it just took way to long for me to pack it. Now when I do buy a new canopy I will pack it myself. I am much better at packing.

[Peej 0]

I pack my canopy myself. I used packers when i first got my gear and i was still struggling to get it in the bag and i wanted to make a load.
Then when i went to the US last year i packed for myself to save cash and now i pack fast enough to make the next load.
I can understand when teams are training or AFF-I's are back to backing or need to debrief that they would use a packer and that's cool. Yet i have the utmost respect for some of the camera guys out at Perris who land from a traning jump and pack themselves.

Advertisio Rodriguez / Sky

[Cornholio 0]

I used to pack for myself all the time up until I had my first cutaway. Then I realized that no matter how good I think I am at packing and thinking that my packjob would be better than any packers out there, that I could still have a malfunction. So I started to let packers pack for me. If a packer isn't around or I'm at a different dz, I'll pack for myself.

Butthead: Whoa! Burritos for breakfast!
Beavis: Yeah! Yeah! Cool!
bellyflier on the dz.com hybrid record jump

[adamsr 0]

I pretty much always pack for myself.

The only time i've used packers is when i'm on holiday, and then probably only about 50% of the time, and usually it's soo hot that i can't be arsed to do it myself!!

[shunkka 0]

always

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"jump, have fun, pull"

[Remster 30]

I used a packer at the very start of my jumping, but since about jump 100 or so, all myself. I think I used a packer maybe 10 times since...

Remster

[kelel01 1]

I am in the process of learning to pack. I've known the steps for quite some time, but I can't seem to DO it. Being broke has become a great motivator, though.

If I could just remember the steps Packer Dave taught me wrt putting it in the bag, I'd have it. He keeps having to coach me, though. "Put your left hand here . . . now put your right arm across this seam".

I'm feeling better about it, though. Before too long, I won't be "that girl with 200 jumps who can't pack". I'll be "that girl with 300 jumps who almost has it".

[upndownshop 0]

Gave up packing mains 15 years ago, had about 3000 of them by the time I was 16. Reserve is left to my rigger.

Still no cutaways, came close but not yet. No, no jinx, been saying it for a while, twice after saying it came REALLY close but still no need.

Been spanked a few times, had a toggle wrapped completly around both risers then stowed properly in place, but was able to clear it after opening.

I have learned that packers will blame hard openings, and line twist on body position.
So figure it goes both ways.
Landed told packer "hard opening" he said, Body Position.
Landed told packer "line twist" he said "body Position"
Landed told packer "great opening" he said "thanks"
I said no "body position" ha!

[airdweller 0]

I always pack for myself. It saves money for more jumps

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"From the mightiest pharaoh to the lowliest peasant,
who doesn't enjoy a good sit?" C. Montgomery Burns

[Chrissay 0]

I'm too cheap to pay for a packer so I always pack for myself.
There has only been two situations where I have not. 1. I was demoing a canopy and they made me use a packer. 2. I was doing back to backs in Eloy doing coaching.

[StevePhelps 0]

When I'm fun jumping, 100% of the time, unless it is the last pack and I'm ready to go home or go out and eat.

As videographer on busy days? Almost never.

[johnny1488 1]

I am a full time packer and have packed for a lot of people. I also never use a packer. Even when my GF packs for me I feel a little weird about it. (I always get amazing openings with her, and I still feel weird.)

Johnny
--"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!"
Mike Rome

[HeyRobin 0]

95%. When I don't, it's just outa laziness.

I'll use any packer nearby.