First Gear Purchase

[LilVixen 0]

I’m currently looking at buying my first set of gear. I went through the Canadian PFF program, have 25 jumps, weigh around 122 without gear, and have been jumping a Navigator 260 square canopy. I haven’t been standing up many of my landings on the Navigator, especially when there is no wind…no injuries, and I’d like to keep it that way. I’ve been offered a chance to buy a used lady-flown rig…about 600 jumps on the Vector container, 300 jumps on the PD 170 canopy (I don’t know exactly which PD canopy style at this point…but I will be asking after reading about the Lodi incident). My PFF instructors have differing opinions…one feels I should be looking at a 190, the other (my primary instructor) thinks I’d be fine with the 170. Both are familiar with the gear/canopy and the former owners. My question: what kinds of questions should I be asking about the gear, and how can I make the best decision? Transitioning safely to my own gear is of paramount importance to me. Thoughts/Advice?

"Fear will make you hestitate. Hestitation will make your fear come true." - Unknown

[arlo 0]

first off, welcome to the sport. :)

secondly: you say safety in gear transition is paramount? YOU GO, GIRL!!!! another person using their brain!!!!
okay, alot of your questions can be answered if you go to the tab above "Search Posts" and enter the words "first gear purchase" and search postings by "skybytch".

you'll get a wealth of info from her as well as others regarding canopy sizes and conservative decision making.

my recommendation: err to the conservative. ask each instructor why they think you should be on a 170 or 190. Just because one was your primary instructor doesn't mean that he's the one that's right...sounds like the 2nd instructor is taking a more conservative approach. :) stair-stepping down from your current canopy to a 190 can be nothing but good. i wouldn't make a drastic jump from the 260 to the 170. go 260, 230, 210, 190. get lots of jumps on each canopy to get used to flying each of them.

also, PD has alot of great information on their website to help you better understand the process of picking a canopy that is suitable for the novice skydiver. http://www.performancedesigns.com/education.asp

http://www.performancedesigns.com/docs/choosing1.pdf

you'd be amazed at how many people are "experts" at 30-40 jumps. Alot of them post here. If you have detailed questions, it is your perrogative to call the manufacturer and ask them questions. They want you to do exactly what you're doing: ask questions and make an educated decision and do so safely. the growing trend is buying the smallest, coolest looking stuff and to hell with the consequence. You are headed in the right direction. :)

best of luck and again, welcome.
arlo

[tbrown 26]

A PD170 is an older low porosity square. They tend to lose their "starch" after 500 jumps or so and don't flare very well because their porosity isn't so low anymore. You would be much better off buying a zero porosity material canopy, such as a Spectre, Sabre, Sabre2, etc. ZP canopies, even well used ones, can last for up to 2000 jumps if they're cared for and have the lines replaced every several hundred jumps. They fly - and flare - much better.

A 190 would be good for you, but ask your instructor about it. If you get a container sized for a 190, most of the brands on the market are sized to allow a safe downsize to the next size, i.e. a 170, without the main container getting too loose or sloppy.

Pay attention to the reserve, used is OK, but only with an inspection by your rigger. You're not a heavyweight, but you should consider a canopy with lateral reinforcement. Blowing out a reserve on opening can be SOOOO embarrassing....

Finally, you might consider buying your harness/container system new. There's NOTHING like a rig that fits your body properly. You can always upgrade the canopies later.

And get a Cypres, your life's worth the $1250.

Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

[Chrisky 2]

Good answer by arlo. I second all the above said and would like to throw in my two cents;
As you are quite new and low in jump numbers, but primaryly because you state that your landings under that 260 aren't all that well. I would recommend you to NOT downsize until you can.
Smaller canopy=higher wingloading=more speed
Thus, I'd recommend to staying on rental gear for a while, until you have gathered some canopy flight expertise (does your DZ maybe have smaller than 260 for rent? so you could start jumping on something smaller without buying equipment) and then go in the market again.
It may seem more expensive to rent gear for a long while, but it usually pays off because you can stick to the gear you BUY longer after that. Usually DZ make a deal with someone who wants to jump their rental gear for a given number of jumps, say like 20-30 and pays in advance. I know, that might be like 400-600 bucks, but they are not spent worst...
This is just MHO, but i got good results proceeding that way.

The mind is like a parachute - it only works once it's open.
From the edge you just see more.
... Not every Swooper hooks & not every Hooker swoops ...

[LilVixen 0]

Thanks for all the advice. As much as I'd love my own gear NOW, I have reservations about going down to a 170 so soon, and because its F111 (instead of the ZP I've been jumping) I have had some concerns about whether the canopy might be baffed out. Not to mention our season's pretty much done around here, so I wouldn't have the opportunity to get alot of experience on it before I take it south to jump in Arizona.

I am hoping to maybe try it out this weekend under the watchful eyes of instructors I trust, and have a rigger look at it before I decide to buy anything. I've been told to definitely check the velcro too...that Vector's tend to wear out the velcro quickly...basically have it checked by the experts to see how much I'm going to have to invest in it...

If the rig fits well, is in good shape, and the reserve gets the okay, my next question will be how much range I have canopy-wise...i.e., could I replace the 170 with a 190-200, and go down when I'm ready. I think I'd prefer ZP anyway, for lots of reasons.

Wish I had the coin to buy new...maybe that lottery ticket or my NFL bets this weekend will work out.... LOL

Lots to think about and I really appreciate all the advice!!! And no worries...I wouldn't even put gear on if it didn't have a Cypres!!!

Any other thoughts are definitely appreciated!

"Fear will make you hestitate. Hestitation will make your fear come true." - Unknown