Possible problems with Toggles

[Ron 10]

OK there are some guys at my DZ that are putting their hands through the toggles,a nd wearing them on their wrists.
They do this so they can rear riser with their hands.

Now this seems like a good idea. You will never drop a toggle.

However, you have also just locked youself to this canopy. If you have to cut away from a collision...You are screwed.
You can't get them off fast enough, and you cant cut-away while you are wearing them. And you can't pull your reserve with a toggle on your wrist either.

So, I have my doubts about this technique.

Just a thought I would put out for those that are thinking about this, or are doing it now.

Not trying to be your Dad.

"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

[quade 4]

I've seen people do it as well and question the practice, but I guess it depends on the altitude at which they do this.

Below an altitude at which you could cutaway and deploy your reserve it just might not make any difference.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[Ron 10]

Quote

I've seen people do it as well and question the practice, but I guess it depends on the altitude at which
they do this.

Below an altitude at which you could cutaway and deploy your reserve it just might not make any
difference.

Yeah, but what altitude? I have cut away at 600-700 feet before, and I have seen people cut away this low from collisions. And I would not recomend that you change anything below 1,000 feet.

So I think its bad, but I am just asking those that do it to think about it some.

"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

[Yoshi 0]

I would never put my toggles around my wrists.. jsut my preference, but I wouldnt want that extra hazard jsut in case

-yoshi

_________________________________________
this space for rent.

[SkymonkeyONE 4]

The first person I ever saw practice this commonly was Clint Clawson. He has been doing it at least since June 2001 when I first competed with him, but probably much longer in actuality.

Chuck

[AggieDave 6]

I don't put the toggles all the way to my wrists, but I put them past my fingers to the palm of my hand. It makes it hard to drop a toggle that way and it frees up some fingers to grab my dive loops with. It still would be easy to get out of my hands if I had to, though.

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

[SkymonkeyONE 4]

Just fingers, Dave? Who do you know that just does that? My hands are always all the way in my toggles and are held in place by my pinkie finger when I am using my dive loops with my other three fingers on the hand.

Chuck

[tbrown 26]

If you have to cut away from a collision...You are screwed. You can't get them off fast enough, and you cant cut-away while you are wearing them. And you can't pull your reserve with a toggle on your wrist either.

[obi 0]

I suggest you try what I've been doing for the last couple of years and what I think is by far the best: I use my small and ringfinder for the toggles and my middle and pointfinger for front/rear-risers. It feels a bit strange for the first couple of jumps but you'll get used to it and once you have, you will never want to go back cause it's impoosible to loose a toggle while you play with your risers (and loosing a toggle when you come out of your final 360 will kill you). Just grab the toggles with the 2 fingers and lock the fingers. Then you have the 2 stronger fingers free for risering. Should you have to cut away from your main, toggle and riser release is instantaneous. Also, I think it gives you a better feeling for the toggles than if you put your whole hand through them and steer with your wrist.
Obi

[skynole 0]

I use the same method Obi does and it works well...for me. You clench the toggle to the palm of your pinky and ring finger. Then you have your pointer and middle fingers, plus thumbs to fly your front and rear risers...which is a pretty strong grip like Obi said. I have also practiced up high releasing a riser and getting out of the toggles and going for my handles. By just opening up your palm, releasing any grips you have, and just pointing your palms upward and pulling down your hands come free very fast.

[skygod7777 0]

it seams like a bad idea if you had to cut away, but maybe they don't do it until right before they hook. then you wouldn't have the chance to cutaway or anything, your already committed.

later

[Ron 10]

Quote

it seams like a bad idea if you had to cut away, but maybe they don't do it until right before they hook. then you wouldn't have the chance to cutaway or anything, your already committed

Maybe, but I like to be in my landing configuration befpre I hit my cut away altitude....I would hate to loose a toggle right before the hook.

But to each his own.

"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334