Forethought on first equipment

[Tailgate 0]

I am persuing my "A" and am starting to get opinions on gear. I cant afford to get it all at once. Anyone have opinions on what to get first ( helmet, suit ...?) I, of course will pick my instructor's brain, but thought I would ask the question while I was here. Re: the suit... I am 5-11 amd 195 lbs or as the suit manufacturers say "A mature jumper with a lower center of gravity"

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Let me live in my house by the side of the road and be a friend to man- Sam Walter Foss

[CrazyIvan 0]

I'd say get the gear in this order:

1-Altimeter
2-Helmet
3-Goggles
4-Jump suit
5-Rig

Regarding the jumpsuit and rig, ask your instructors, they'll give you a more accurate opinion based on your height and weight

__________________________________________
Blue Skies and May the Force be with you.

[Tailgate 0]

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I'd say get the gear in this order:

Seems odly logical
Thanks.
Re your tag line: I'm work on the force thing but just in case, I have duct tape ( it has a light side, adark side also holds the universe together

_________________________________________________
Let me live in my house by the side of the road and be a friend to man- Sam Walter Foss

[CrazyIvan 0]

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Seems odly logical

That's the idea.

__________________________________________
Blue Skies and May the Force be with you.

[mr2mk1g 10]

If you put goggles first its also in price order - considering how horrid borrowed goggles always are, that might not be a bad idea either

[BadDog 0]

You could always get a full-face and skip the goggles part.

[BadDog 0]

Better add ProTrack, JumpTrack, and Pro-Dytter to the list (not necessarily in that order). And grab a packing tool at some point.

[Fast 0]

I think maybe thats why goggles are after helmet. I know that I haven't bought a pair because I can't decide if I want a open or full face helmet

~D
Where troubles melt like lemon drops Away above the chimney tops That's where you'll find me.
Swooping is taking one last poke at the bear before escaping it's cave - davelepka

[Tailgate 0]

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Better add ProTrack, JumpTrack, and Pro-Dytter to the list (not necessarily in that order). And grab a packing tool at some point.

Thanks for the input. Now I have to find MORE convenience stores to knock over

_________________________________________________
Let me live in my house by the side of the road and be a friend to man- Sam Walter Foss

[dterrick 0]

Welcome Paul!

Ivan has the right ideas but I might add a thought or 2.

Re the accessories: Goggles and helmet first. I bought a ANSI rated ski (winter sports ) helmet - cooler looking than the student protec, and able to hold an audible. I raced cars with a full face and rode motorcycle with a fullface - in skydiving I WANT the wind my face. Closed helmets are, in my opinion, most valuable for serious RW people who fear being kicked in the face... .. and may already have been kicked . $50-75 at a good sporting goods store. Check out this thread:

http://www.dropzone.com/forum/Skydiving_C1/Gear_and_Rigging_F6/Ski_Helmets_P535379/

Goggles: Same story. If you wear contacts, make sure you get something form fitting with no vents or you risk them drying up / popping out. I've lost three lenses in 162 jumps - don't buy expensive lenses. No glasses? No problem. Get something cool that you like but avoid deep tinted lenses because then your RW partner / JM can't see your eyes.

Altimeter: you'll need one eventually and the sooner the better. Any wrist mount style is good butthe Alti-III is the most common and easy to get used. Used Altis may be scratched on the case or the face but a "full rebuild" is only $50 from the manufacturer. Later style Alti-III's have a user-replacable bezel for $10. Aim to get one of these.

Jumpsuit: We share a similar build. Used jumpsuits wil be hard to come by. Custom jumpsuits with 'all the toys' are not cheap and you may find you'll be motivated to shed a few pounds as you progress in the sport. WE ARE athletes and you WILL find that your upper body and torso will get a really good workout in skydiving. Get a few dozen jumps in student jumpsuits and have a serious chat with your RW instructor about material types and options. Think about your "custom colour scheme" and how it will look with your rig.

The Rig: I bought this right off student status to save rental money. The only thing modern about it is the reserve - the main is old F-111 and the Racer container is 22 years old but still in good shape. This is the "$1,000 gear package" in the USA and it will get you through your first season or more. I'd suggest you look at the rental cost of your first season (plan your season!!) and spend that money on a first rig.

A custom fit harness/container is likely the best money spent in the sport. If you buy an old complete rig make sure you get a suitable reserve that you could put into your new container when you buy it.

***

Or you could get a loan and do it all at once butthen you have nothing to look forward to. The key, I've found in this last two years, is to map a plan of progression to your B or C license (say, 200 jumps), estimate the costs, and then just do it. when you get to the DZ, it's far more fun if you know you have the dollars in your pocket to deal with the most important part of this whole discussion - THE JUMPS!!


-Dave

Life is very short and there's no time for fussing and fighting my friend (Lennon/McCartney)

[Tailgate 0]

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I raced cars with a full face and rode motorcycle with a fullface -

By brother in law Races Late model stock and I help out on the crew. Occassionally he lets me take the car for a few laps and I noticed that I prefer the open face there.

Thanks for the great input

_________________________________________________
Let me live in my house by the side of the road and be a friend to man- Sam Walter Foss

[dterrick 0]

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By brother in law Races Late model stock and I help out on the crew

Ah-HAA! The speed gene lives in you already, does it?

My discipline was sports car racing (Datsun 240Z GT-2, Mazda RX-7 GT-3, Triumph GT-6 (Vintage) ). The biggest thing about full face in auto racing is the risk of fire so I wore a fullface and a 2 layer balaclava. On a Bike it was dumping it for whatever reason and 'losing face'. Same idea. In skydiving as I know it, the risks are being kicked in RW or biffing a landing. Biffed several times, never been kicked yet. No scars to show but a stalled rear riser flare (buttsmack slide) made me glad I had a good hat on. Much like dumping a mountain bike.

-Dave

Life is very short and there's no time for fussing and fighting my friend (Lennon/McCartney)

[phoenixlpr 0]

I had in this order:

0-Overall
1-Altimeter
2-Goggles
3-ProTech
4-Jump suit
5-Helmet
6-Rig

Try club/DZ jumpsuit if you can. You might see want kindda jumpsuit you want to have.

Safe Landings

[CrazyIvan 0]

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I had in this order:

0-Overall
1-Altimeter
2-Goggles
3-ProTech
4-Jump suit
5-Helmet
6-Rig

Try club/DZ jumpsuit if you can. You might see want kindda jumpsuit you want to have.

Safe Landings

I'd have the ProTrack for VERY LAST, you better develop your altitude awareness very well, before getting an audible, that's of course is my opinion.

__________________________________________
Blue Skies and May the Force be with you.

[poohbeer 0]

Has everybody forgotten the logbook?!

------- SIGNATURE BELOW -------
Complete newbie at skydiving, so be critical about what I say!!
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."

[Tailgate 0]

I ve got a logbook ( not fance but it works ). Good observation.

There is probably a glossary somewhere that I can't find....but ..... "overall"?

_________________________________________________
Let me live in my house by the side of the road and be a friend to man- Sam Walter Foss

[wmw999 2,548]

Overall is probably a clothing cover (e.g. mechanic's suit) to jump in. Or could be a jumpsuit, but less specialized than a custom-built RW suit.

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[Tailgate 0]

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By brother in law Races Late model stock and I help out on the crew

Ah-HAA! The speed gene lives in you already, does it?

Oh yea, I have the speed gene. I thought there was no substitute for horsepower, then I discovered gravity.

_________________________________________________
Let me live in my house by the side of the road and be a friend to man- Sam Walter Foss

[Tailgate 0]

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Overall is probably a clothing cover (e.g. mechanic's suit) to jump in. Or could be a jumpsuit, but less specialized than a custom-built RW suit.

Wendy W.

I thought about the mechanic;s suit, but that answer seemed way too easy.

_________________________________________________
Let me live in my house by the side of the road and be a friend to man- Sam Walter Foss

[champu 1]

I got stuff in this order

1 - goggles
2 - helmet
3 - real logbook after student one was full
4 - alti
5 - rig
6 - prolly going to pick up a suit very soon
7 - may get an audible later

At my dropzone there is an instructor about my size who has a bunch of various old suits he lets me borrow, so I've been trying a few things to get a good feel for how I fall first, and jumping with people to get feedback. Then I can get a suit that gives me the best control, range of speed, etc.