Teardrop container

[andybr6 0]

Hi i have recently decided to buy a new rig, it will be my first one i live in the UK and many of my friends jump Teardrops. I have all but decided to go with this but would be very keen to hear any opinions from people that jump them, have jumped them or just can generaly give me some advice. I have spoken to riggers and other skydivers and they seem to say that there are no really bad containers and that the TD is quite a good choice but i would really like to hear other thoughts.

A

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"All men can fly, but sadly, only in one direction"

[SkydiveMonkey 0]

I really like mine. Comfortable and well solid.

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Say no to subliminal messages

[rmcvey 0]

They do the job and are good value.

Ive packed a few that made me swear.

On one, the main container side flaps virtually covered the "slot" the main pin flap is supposed to go into, the tuck tabs are too big and seem completely the wrong shape when in comparison to other rigs.
I dont like poptop reserves.

Every man and his dog has one.
Ive heard little things being wrong with orders (colour mix ups, soft reserve handle instead of metal etc.) simple things that i personally would expect to be right when buying a new rig.

In short, i wouldnt buy one. I would look at what options are available from all manufacturers and chose the one that i liked the most. And then decide on what rig you like best. And then see if you like the price.

[deaffreeflyer 0]

Go for Superfly. It's more secure and freefly friendly than Classic. It's great rig for budget!

[gus 1]

The bottom line is that if there was something horribly wrong with them people wouldn't keep on buying them: being relatively cheap isn't reason enough.
I just bought a second hand SF (all black alien skin - gorgeous!) from one of my old instructors and I'm well please with it so far. Take a look around the dz and see who jumps them, it's not just poor newbie jumpers but experienced instructors and riggers too.

Gus

OutpatientsOnline.com

[nacmacfeegle 0]

There's nothing wrong with a Superfly, in my opinion.
Would have been my choice if Javelins weren't so damn good.

I have an old two pin teardrop classic which is still fine.

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He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me. Thomas Jefferson

[Bruno 0]

Do someone remember the soft housing and reverse risers problem on teardrop?
I was thinking to buy one in the past, but I immediately switched to other rig after that
Bruno

[nacmacfeegle 0]

Reverse risers were fashionable in Europe, it was a French initiative that never really took off.

Soft housings didn't only affect Teardrops, I still have them on my original Javelin, which is grounded for other reasons.

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He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me. Thomas Jefferson

[riggerrob 643]

There are a lot of different designs sold under the Teardrop label. Some of the early two-pin Teardrops are a *&^%$#@! nightmare to pack with Cypres, Avoid two pin Teardrops.
On the other hand, the one-pin Teardrop reserves are fairly easy to pack, provided you learn the tricks.
The Teardrop Superfly has the best main container of all the Teardrops.
So this is one case where buying the latest version really does save you a whole lot of grief.

[andybr6 0]

Thanks for replying, and for all the advice. Though i was wondering about the whole poptop debate, are there any inherent problems with poptops? what is the other method of deploying the reserve?

A

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"All men can fly, but sadly, only in one direction"

[riggerrob 643]

Quote: "

Quote

Thanks for replying, and for all the advice. Though i was wondering about the whole poptop debate, are there any inherent problems with poptops? what is the other method of deploying the reserve?" end quote.

He! He!
You just opened a huge debate that has been running for almost 30 years, ever since Dan Poynter invented the Pop-top circa 1975. Remember that when Dan introduced the Pop-Top as a chest-mounted reserve, most skydivers were still jumping military surplus containers and the Pop-Top was a huge technological leap forward. Its through loops made the Pop-Top half as thick as other reserves, putting the last man in a 10-way speed star team several feet closer to the door, shaving several seconds off competitors' times. Also with the ripcord laying against his chest, it was almost snag-proof.
When piggybacks came into fashion in the late 1970s, John Sherman introduced the SST, which was little more than a Pop-Top chest pack sewn onto the top of a simple main container. Early SSTs were the thinest piggybacks for several years.
When the Racer introduced a tapered reserve container circa 1979, it was thinner again and set the standard for all other manufacturers. Racers were the best containers on the market as long as round reserves dominated the market. Sadly, Racers did not keep up with the times because they never re-thought the design when square reserves and Cypri were introduced.

As for inherent problems with Pop-Tops .... most problems are related to sloppy packing. Since the pilotchute is fully exposed, it requires more skill to pack it neatly and get it to nestle into the container. It is easy to see which riggers are current on Pop-Tops. Their pilotchutes are flush or slightly sunken into the container.
Customers also help determine whether Pop-Tops can be packed neatly, If you ask a rigger to pack a huge reserve into tiny container, it is going to look ugly. End of discussion.
Since Pop-Tops require specialized skills to pack, few riggers are good at packing them/ Heck it only took me a decade and several sets of trashed steel bodkins to learn how to pack Pop-Tops. Now I use my own home-made tools because steel T-bodkins are not Cypres-compatible.

Which brings us to the next point. Racer design peaked in the late 1980s, when Jump Shack perfected the top flap. They have never really addressed the issues of square reserves or Cypres. Jump Shack President John Sherman is a brilliant engineer, but a bit on the stubborn side. He may have taken my advice on simplifying the Racer Tandem, but I doubt if he is willing to listen to my ideas on simplifying solo Racers. He! He!

Since then, a couple of companies have introduced one-pin Pop-Tops (Teardrop and Reflex) which are easier to pack, but still require specialized skills. Both designs have room for simplification that would make them easier to pack.

Oh, and Jump Shack habitually refuses to consider how dry desert air increases pack volumes, so if you follow their guidelines, you will always struggle to pack a Racer in the desert. The simple solution is to lie on your order form. For example, claim that you want your new Racer to fit a Raven 181 when you really own a Raven 150.
quote:"what is the other method of deploying the reserve?" end quote.

Basically the other method involves covering the pilotchute with one (Dolphin), two (Javelin, Wings, etc.) or more flaps (Vector, Talon and the rest of them) and placing the ripcord on the outside of the container.
Granted most other designs require fewer tools and are easier to pack, but it took a long time to perfect pin covers for external ripcords. Let's face it, container design is easy. It's the pin covers and riser covers that are difficult.


From a practical point of view, all reserve pilotchutes work the same. You pull a ripcord. The pilotchute launches and the next thing you know, you are hanging under the most beautiful reserve on the planet!

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[andybr6 0]

Thankyou that has really cleared things up, i jumped a javelin during AFF and havent yet jumped a poptop but i think i shall go with the Teardrop.

again, many thanks

A

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"All men can fly, but sadly, only in one direction"