BOC: cordura vs. spandex

[skreamer 1]

I have heard a heck of a lot of conflicting opinions about BOC pouch material. I would be interested to hear what any of you experienced jumpers and/or riggers prefer to stow your PC in and why.
Thanks
/s

[RemiAndKaren 0]

I had my Vector modified from Leg Mount to BBOC and had a spandex pouch.
I now have a Reflex with the fatory Cordura (actually my rig is parapak)
I do prefer the parapak pouch.. just "feels" more secure.
Remi

[DBTECH 0]

If designed/constructed properly, I prefer a Cordura/Parapack BOC pouch because of the durability factor.
I own a Reflex with a Cordura pouch.
Dave Brownell

[Vlad 0]

I have Wings with cordura BOC pouch. It is awesome ! It has an elastic on the mouth, and works just great !

[slotperfect 7]

I prefer the spandex pouch for a hand deploy, especially a BOC. Even though spandex is not as durable as cordura or parapack, replacement of a BOC pouch is not that difficult a job for a good Rigger.
Respectfully,
SP

[Vlad 0]

if you have a cordura pouch you do not need any replacements ! That's the point.

[riggerrob 643]

My old Mirage was retrofitted with a Spandex BOC.
My Talon 2 has a Spandex pouch with an extra Cordura flap. The extra Cordura flap protects the Spandex, but it adds an extra step to the packing process.
When I finally get around to building my radically new contribution to the art of container design, I will probably build it with a Cordura BOC. Finding the correct Spandex is a challenge and stocking a variety of colors of Spandex is a production manager's nightmare!

[skreamer 1]

I did a bit of searching and came up with the following (posted by Alan the moderator to rec.skydiving)

Quote

Also, folding the pilot chute, when cordura pouches were fairly common as an
alternative to modern spandex, they could restrict the pc and milk the
bridle down (when it is folded inside the pc) in such a way as to make it
hard or difficult to pull. I just demonstrated this last Sat. for a novice.
Take the pc folded as you describe it with the bridle 'S' folded inside
against the mesh, grasp it under the handle with your thumb and index finger
together like in the 'OK' signal. You don't have to hold it real tight, you
are just trying to imitate the resistance at the mouth of the BOC pouch.
Now, with your other hand, pull the pc handle. See how the brible 'milks'
into a lump at the bottom and inside the pc? It doesn't pull through your
'OK' signal too well does it? That is what can happen with a cordura BOC
pouch or even a very tight one made of spandex.
Lay the PC near the bottom of your rig, mesh side up. Pull the bridle up
towards the rig. Fold the bottom half of the pc in half, up to the center
where the handle attaches. Fold the top half of the pc down in the same
way, so it is between the bridle and the mesh. Now fold the bottom part up
over the top part, leaving the handle exposed at the bottom and the bridle
coming out the top. There will be one length of bridle about 6"-8" long
inside the pc now with the rest laying near the BOC puch. It should look
like this a t this point.
Bottom of your rig
I I
______I_I_______
( I I )
(______I_I_______)
O
Now fold the pc into thirds and S fold the bridle on top of that, leaving
enough so when you put it in the pouch, a lenght of bridle lays against the
pc and comes out of the pouch and can be tucked under the bottom of the
right flap at the lower right corner of your rig. Next, roll the remainder
of the pc over the S folded bridle to cover it. Push it in the BOC pouch.
If you try the 'OK' finger test with the pc folded this way, you will see
that it will not milk the bridle into a big lump inside the bottom of your
pc. It won't burn or wear out anything.

Makes sense to me and something to bear in mind if you have a cordura pouch.
/s

[SkymonkeyONE 4]

I agree with S.P. on this one. I have had spandex BOC's on my last three containers and have had good service out of all of them. While cordura pockets are nice when it comes to general wear-time, the spandex in the mouth wears out just as fast as that of regular spandex pouches. It is for that reason that you are still going to have to do work on your rig at about the same time interval.
I like cordura, but prefer spandex for those times when you DO end up with a "monkey fist" and have a hard pull.
Chuck

[DZBone 0]

Two words:
pull out

[riddler 0]

Quote

replacement of a BOC pouch is not that difficult a job for a good Rigger.

Hate to dig up an old thread, but I'm seeing more and more of these cordura BOCs. My gut reaction is that they are not as good as spandex, but my brain is having a hard time coming up with a reason for that. Bill Booth has stated in this forum that spandex BOCs are more reliable.

So, I have a Voodoo container, and I have had one rigger tell me that the container needs to go back to the manufacturer to replace the BOC spandex. The reason is that the spandex goes all the way up underneath the grommet of the bottom flap. The spandex is two years old now, and it's getting a bit worn. I had a rigger do a few little things to make it close up better (the mouth is stretched out and a bit loose), and I'm not sure I want to send the container back to the manufacturer just to get spandex replaced on BOC.

All this has me thinking about corudura BOC. Other than the "bridle milking", are there reasons that cordura is not as safe as spandex?

[Tonto 1]

I go with Spandex and replace every second reserve repack. (6 month Cycle)

This costs around R250, or about $30.

I do 400 dives a year, or about 7 cents a dive. I don't think the cost is much of an issue.

t

It's the year of the Pig.

[ryoder 1,590]

I have had TWO reserve rides caused by a PC getting jammed in a parapack pouch. No more non-stretch pouches for me, thank you.

I once had a container dump open on exit, resulting in the PC being extracted by the bridle as the bag left. The PC and the spandex pouch were both destroyed by the friction burns, but due to the ease of extraction, I had a clean opening instead of a horseshoe. I wouldn't bet on a non-stretch pouch giving the same results.

I've also had a premature opening while head down, due to a ZP PC with a hackey sack leaving the pouch on it's own. Since then,
I will only freefly with a tuck-tab type PC handle.

"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones.

[skydiverek 63]

Quote

I have heard a heck of a lot of conflicting opinions about BOC pouch material. I would be interested to hear what any of you experienced jumpers and/or riggers prefer to stow your PC in and why.

Thanks

/s

One word: SPANDURA (although it is not popular, yet). It is supposed to be a great combo of spandex "streachability" and cordura durability.

[riddler 0]

Quote

a premature opening while head down

Ouch?

[ryoder 1,590]

Quote

Quote

a premature opening while head down

Ouch?

Really, it wasn't as bad as you might think:

1. I was doing solo sit for the first 2/3 of the dive, then switched to front-loops, back-loops, barrel-rolls from belly for the last 1/3. The PC decided it was opening time in the middle of a front-loop. I was head-down when I felt the shit dump out of the container, something bruising my left lower leg, and my left shoe being stripped off.

2. It was my snivelly Diablo, (thank goodness), so the opening wasn't hard, just REALLY surprising.

The infuriating part was that the first thing I saw after opening was my two-week old shoe passing me. I never saw it again.

"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones.