marcin 0 #1 February 11, 2002 I saw Tear Drop containers being offered for sale and supposedly made in SA. I thought TS of UK is making Tear Drops (FS's?). Would that be an older design of TD? Do you know where I can access info about south african Tear Drops?Thanksm. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MarcusV 0 #2 February 11, 2002 I have never heard anything about Teardrops being manufactured elsewhere than in the UK by TSE Thomas Sports, but who knows... [advertising on]However, Chris, Sally, and the rest of the TSE-team do an absolutely awesome work. I definitely love my Superfly Teardrop which is my third being made by them. For my last one made for 120 reserve/119 main I waited 25 (twenty-five!) days (!) (and no, TSE does not offer from stock), from sending my order till getting it from my dealer. Fully articulated and all stainless steel (with the PDF-patented new buckles) and cushioned back pad (getting old you know) for only 800 €/1600 $. Kicks ass ;-)[/advertising off]Blues Marcus--Perfect speed, my son, is being there. - Jonathan Livingston Seagull Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkydiveMonkey 0 #3 February 11, 2002 I've ordered mine from SA - all good and proper according to the dealer out there. I'm getting a Superfly with hip rings, stainless steel mini rings etc. - all the usual options You shouldn't put a knife in the toaster - but you're an adult now !!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Remster 30 #4 February 12, 2002 Quotefor only 800 €/1600 $. amn the euro has droped sinc ethis morning when I got some at the exchange office! lol... Are you sure its not £800? but even that seems a bit low for new...RemsterMuff 914 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkydiveMonkey 0 #5 February 12, 2002 TSE sell them for 617 pounds without VAT and options. You shouldn't put a knife in the toaster - but you're an adult now !!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Remster 30 #6 February 12, 2002 sweet! I do like their design.... unfortunately, my next rig wont be a pop top... nothing wrong with them, but my persoanl expereince of a premature due to the pop top catching the door handle on exit made me think....RemsterMuff 914 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkydiveMonkey 0 #7 February 12, 2002 I just like the way the pin is protected against your back. I'm sick of jumping rigs that as soon as you leave the door, the flap is all over the place. You shouldn't put a knife in the toaster - but you're an adult now !!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Remster 30 #8 February 12, 2002 And you're right! the reserve pin(s) are extremely well protected on a pop top..... the pop top isnt..... Its a case of chosing which of the compromise you want... IDont get me wrong: 'm still very happy with my reflex, I am not in any rush to change it, but when the time comes, I will favor non-pop-top rigs.RemsterMuff 914 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Skystorm 0 #9 February 12, 2002 Marc,The Teardrop Superfly are manufactured by PISA, South Africa, under license to Thomas Sports Equipment.You can e-mail Dave Macrea at pisakzn@icon.co.za.Hope this helps.Hang onto Heaven, when hell is on your back Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MarcusV 0 #10 February 12, 2002 Quotebut when the time comes, I will favor non-pop-top rigs.Remster,if you'd like the Teardrop SF as without poptop-version, you might like the NEXT from Paratec very much. In Germany you see more and more skydivers wear and love this harness/container system, which is actually a teardrop sf with a reserve flap but no poptop, together with all the options you get from TSE. It even has a much narrower design than the SF because the poptop used more space.Check it out here: Paratec's websiteBlues Marcus--Perfect speed, my son, is being there. - Jonathan Livingston Seagull Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Remster 30 #11 February 12, 2002 Thx for the pointer.... I know the Next.. several of them at our DZ in the UK (Milko is one of their "test till destruction" jumper)... dont mind it, but is it TSOed? (moving continents every few years, its an important factor)RemsterMuff 914 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 643 #12 February 12, 2002 The last few Teardrops that I repacked had "manufactured in accordance with FAA TSO yada yada" stamped on the data panel. As long as PISA is building them, their quality should remain high. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MarcusV 0 #13 February 12, 2002 Remster,I know for sure the SF Teardrop is FAA TSO c23D, and the Next is TSO'ed too but don't know if c23 or c23D - you definitely can use both h/c systems in Europe and US.Blues Marcus--Perfect speed, my son, is being there. - Jonathan Livingston Seagull Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
marcin 0 #14 February 12, 2002 Thanks! I saw somebody's post the other day about how weak the South african currency was (worth half it used to be against USD). Indeed you can get Tempos and Heatwaves for ridiculous prices, so since my girlfriend is changing rigs we decided to go for it. And then we also found out that SA-made Tear Drops are being sold for something like an equivalent of 650 USD. We both jump Next (I switched from Javelin that is IMO unsuitable for really aggressive freeflying) and it is a very good container. Since the only difference b/w Next and TD is the pop top, it appears to be a very good deal to swith a 2 year old Next for brand new TD. Provided they are the same quality as the UK-made ones...marcin Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jessica 0 #15 February 12, 2002 Is a Teardrop considered particularly freefly-friendly? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MarcusV 0 #16 February 12, 2002 Why particularly? It is not only fully freefly-friendly, it is actually made for freeflying.But, of course, there is a difference between the Teardrop "Classic" and the "Superfly". The Classic is not really freefly-friendly because of the flap design with velcro (there have been other threads discussing this recently).Get more info at http://www.thomas-sports.comBlues Marcus--Perfect speed, my son, is being there. - Jonathan Livingston Seagull Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkydiveMonkey 0 #17 February 12, 2002 The teardrop SF is - no velcro, all tuck tabs and proper riser covers. You shouldn't put a knife in the toaster - but you're an adult now !!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
marcin 0 #18 February 12, 2002 On my Javelin, the riser covers, main flap and once even the reserve flap came open (that was at a very high speed headdown with sharp speed and body position changes), not mentioning the harness sliping off my shoulder (rig was custom made, chest strap tightly fasten) - this actually I noticed on most containers in headdown. Tear Drop (and particularly Next) have bulletproof covers everywhere. Next's main cover is IMO slightly better, cus it bends 180 degrees backwards if you know what I mean, TD's main cover only slips under the upper flap. The geometry of harness is such (narrower on the top of shoulders) that I can leave the chest strap completely loose and the harness stays on my shoulders. Protection of bridle is adequate (similar to new Javelin). Its also very comfortable.Some concerns I have heard related to reserve pop top. Apparently on (older?) Tear Drops the metal top was very heavy and could affect proper launch of pilot chute. One thing I dislike about the Next is that (as in Vector) the pilot chute is completely covered by flaps and the container is quite narrow in the upper part. I think it requires a strong spring and thight loop to perform at its best.marcin Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Remster 30 #19 February 12, 2002 Jess: the Superfly TD look prety tight to me for FF (this comming form a belly flyer). I havent spend a lot of time playing with it, but it looks the businness... good construction, pop top (no exposed reserve pin(, solid main pin protection, and the design look good to me... RemsterMuff 914 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
