cgriffith 0 #1 February 2, 2005 I am a new skydiver with 110 jumps and I am looking to buy my first rig. I do not know if I should buy something used or new? I do not want to spend $5000 on new gear then want to down size in a few months I am 5'7" 170lb and I have been jumping a Pilot 188 for the past 70 jumps. Should I go new or used??? Thanks Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites wmw999 2,440 #2 February 2, 2005 I've bought most of my gear over the years used. If you choose carefully, it's like getting a discount, and you can use the savings to jump. Ask to try things on to see what fits; you're not an uncommon size. If you turn out to be hard to fit, then you can consider new. Whatever you get, if it's used, get it inspected by a competent rigger, including a tensile strength test on a used main. Well taken-care-of ones can have problems too. And buy something that's right for jumping NOW. Don't buy something that you'll "downsize into." Because it'll be a pain in the ass to pack, and will encourage you to downsize at the first possible moment, rather than when it's a really good time to. One more thing -- if that Pilot isn't yours, a used main is FAR easier to pack than a spankin' brand new one that's slippery as ball bearings. 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) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites KevinMcGuire 0 #3 February 2, 2005 All good advice, but if I could add something, buy used because your landings aren't going to very gracefull for a while and why spend a ton of money on something new only to scrape it up and reduce its resale value Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites GravityGirl 0 #4 February 2, 2005 You answered the question yourself. If you don't want to spend over $5,000.00, then you will most likely want to look for good used gear. There are plenty of jumpers who do buy new gear right out of the gates. Lucky you. That means there is a lot of good quality used gear on the market! If you PM me your measurements, I can look around here for a match. Any questions or concerns you might have in your quest can be directed to me as well. Good luck! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peace and Blue Skies! Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites GTAVercetti 0 #5 February 2, 2005 My first rig was totally used. My second rig, which will be complete mid Feb will contain my current Cypres, a used main and reserve but the container will be new. For your first rig, i would definitely go with used. There is alot of good stuff out there. But if you can't find a container that fits you well, you could do like I did and just buy that part new.Why yes, my license number is a palindrome. Thank you for noticing. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites ateg92 0 #6 February 2, 2005 I just bought a used rig about a month ago. It was in great shape and exactly what I was looking for. Talon-2, PD170, Raven181, Cypres w/ 5 years left for $2000. I wouldn't ahve done it any other way. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites TheBachelor 5 #7 February 2, 2005 I'd say to definitely get used. You said it yourself that you don't want to buy and then downsize a (relatively) short time afterwards. Another factor to consider is you'll probably have a better idead of exactly what you want once you've got a couple hundred more jumps. You can buy used, jump it for a couple hundred jumps (or more), and then sell it for close to what you paid for it.There are battered women? I've been eating 'em plain all of these years... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Peej 0 #8 February 3, 2005 QuoteAll good advice, but if I could add something, buy used because your landings aren't going to very gracefull for a while and why spend a ton of money on something new only to scrape it up and reduce its resale value This is what i was told when i bought my first set of gear and it's what i continue to tell others who are looking to buy. Advertisio Rodriguez / Sky Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites cgriffith 0 #9 February 3, 2005 I found a rig that was made in 1995 but only has 95 jumps on it. Is this a good deal or to old? http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/classifieds/detail_page.cgi?ID=18315&d=1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites kelpdiver 2 #10 February 3, 2005 It's quite a step down from a pilot to a PD (F-111), and that reserve is pretty small for you, no? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites tdog 0 #11 February 4, 2005 I wanted used... But I could not find the "right" rig for me. So I bought new, but on killer end of year sales for "off the shelf" items - so I paid what some people pay for used but I got new. But - the time it takes to make a new container = rental $$$. That made buying new much more expensive... Here is my thought.... Buy quality, buy the right rig, regardless of new or used. It is after all, your life, that the equipment saves every time it is used. A ER trip = $4,000+, so buying a rig that is right for you in the long run will be less $$$ than buying something a few $$$ cheaper that is not right for you. T. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Join the conversation You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. Reply to this topic... × Pasted as rich text. 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wmw999 2,440 #2 February 2, 2005 I've bought most of my gear over the years used. If you choose carefully, it's like getting a discount, and you can use the savings to jump. Ask to try things on to see what fits; you're not an uncommon size. If you turn out to be hard to fit, then you can consider new. Whatever you get, if it's used, get it inspected by a competent rigger, including a tensile strength test on a used main. Well taken-care-of ones can have problems too. And buy something that's right for jumping NOW. Don't buy something that you'll "downsize into." Because it'll be a pain in the ass to pack, and will encourage you to downsize at the first possible moment, rather than when it's a really good time to. One more thing -- if that Pilot isn't yours, a used main is FAR easier to pack than a spankin' brand new one that's slippery as ball bearings. 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) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KevinMcGuire 0 #3 February 2, 2005 All good advice, but if I could add something, buy used because your landings aren't going to very gracefull for a while and why spend a ton of money on something new only to scrape it up and reduce its resale value Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GravityGirl 0 #4 February 2, 2005 You answered the question yourself. If you don't want to spend over $5,000.00, then you will most likely want to look for good used gear. There are plenty of jumpers who do buy new gear right out of the gates. Lucky you. That means there is a lot of good quality used gear on the market! If you PM me your measurements, I can look around here for a match. Any questions or concerns you might have in your quest can be directed to me as well. Good luck! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peace and Blue Skies! Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GTAVercetti 0 #5 February 2, 2005 My first rig was totally used. My second rig, which will be complete mid Feb will contain my current Cypres, a used main and reserve but the container will be new. For your first rig, i would definitely go with used. There is alot of good stuff out there. But if you can't find a container that fits you well, you could do like I did and just buy that part new.Why yes, my license number is a palindrome. Thank you for noticing. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ateg92 0 #6 February 2, 2005 I just bought a used rig about a month ago. It was in great shape and exactly what I was looking for. Talon-2, PD170, Raven181, Cypres w/ 5 years left for $2000. I wouldn't ahve done it any other way. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheBachelor 5 #7 February 2, 2005 I'd say to definitely get used. You said it yourself that you don't want to buy and then downsize a (relatively) short time afterwards. Another factor to consider is you'll probably have a better idead of exactly what you want once you've got a couple hundred more jumps. You can buy used, jump it for a couple hundred jumps (or more), and then sell it for close to what you paid for it.There are battered women? I've been eating 'em plain all of these years... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Peej 0 #8 February 3, 2005 QuoteAll good advice, but if I could add something, buy used because your landings aren't going to very gracefull for a while and why spend a ton of money on something new only to scrape it up and reduce its resale value This is what i was told when i bought my first set of gear and it's what i continue to tell others who are looking to buy. Advertisio Rodriguez / Sky Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cgriffith 0 #9 February 3, 2005 I found a rig that was made in 1995 but only has 95 jumps on it. Is this a good deal or to old? http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/classifieds/detail_page.cgi?ID=18315&d=1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kelpdiver 2 #10 February 3, 2005 It's quite a step down from a pilot to a PD (F-111), and that reserve is pretty small for you, no? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tdog 0 #11 February 4, 2005 I wanted used... But I could not find the "right" rig for me. So I bought new, but on killer end of year sales for "off the shelf" items - so I paid what some people pay for used but I got new. But - the time it takes to make a new container = rental $$$. That made buying new much more expensive... Here is my thought.... Buy quality, buy the right rig, regardless of new or used. It is after all, your life, that the equipment saves every time it is used. A ER trip = $4,000+, so buying a rig that is right for you in the long run will be less $$$ than buying something a few $$$ cheaper that is not right for you. T. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
