How tight should a rig be on the shoulders ?

[RandomLemming 0]

Hi all,

I will ask my instructors about this soon, but I just have a quick question about how a rig should fit across my shoulders.

Since receiving my rig back from Aerodyne for harness resizing, it seems _very_ tight across the shoulders. Rolling my forward requires a lot of effort and it feels pretty tight.

In your opinion, is this common of a new harness or is it something I should send my rig back to have changed again ?

Thanks in advance,

[BIGUN 1,395]

1. Could it be the MLW was improperly sized (who took your measurements)?
2. Could it be the laterals are too short?
3. When you say across the shoulders, do you mean it digs into your shoulders when you roll forward or too narrow between the shoulders?
4. How much are you tightening down your leg straps?

Things to go over with your Instructors/rigger.

Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

[riggerrob 643]

We can only answer this question after viewing photographs of you - wearing the harness - and suspended by the risers.

[riggerrob 643]

Also remember that Aerodyne uses a different formula for sizing harnesses.
In comparison with other manufacturers (Relative Workshop, Rigging Innovations, Sun Path, etc.) so that Icon lateral straps are longer, but Main Lift Webs are shorter. This puts the MLW down the front of your torso, like a modern tandem student harness.

[RandomLemming 0]

Sorry for the stupid question, but what is the MLW ? The lateral straps are the ones that go around your legs, right ?

Is the MLW the webbing that goes over your shoulders ?

[MagicGuy 0]

MLW is the main lift web. It's the webbing material that creates the harness, and connects to the hip rings.

The laterals are the two straps of webbing attched to the bottom of the container, on the sides, which then connect to the MLW.

IMO, tight on the shoulders would be nicer than loose. When you are under canopy it should feel looser as the shoulder straps will be suspended above your shoulders a bit. But then again, I guess I should've used the word snug - I can imagine too tight would be rather uncomfortable.

Any way to take a picture of yourself wearing the rig and post it?

[RandomLemming 0]

Thanks for the lesson on which bits of the harness are which - I was way off with that one !

I don't really have anything to suspend myself by, so nothing that would be of any use, no :(

[jumpdr 0]

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Also remember that Aerodyne uses a different formula for sizing harnesses.
In comparison with other manufacturers (Relative Workshop, Rigging Innovations, Sun Path, etc.) so that Icon lateral straps are longer, but Main Lift Webs are shorter. This puts the MLW down the front of your torso, like a modern tandem student harness.

That doesn't seem to be the case for me! My MLW seems to sit down the side of my body and causes a 'kink' where it's attached to the laterals. I contacted Aerodyne about this and Arnold's reply was:
'The "kink" in the lateral back strap is a matter of fit, I am afraid. It looks a little short on you and this explains why it pulls back the main lift web a little. Possibly your main container will loosen up a little once you have some more jumps on it, and it may allow for the container to come around your back a little more. Otherwise it looks like you may not have been entirely honest about your waist measurement :)'

Well, I've checked and my waist measurement is spot on. I've attached pics of me wearing the rig standing and also one where I'm in freefall where the MLW seems to straighten out a little. Does this look right? Are the laterals too short?
In reply, my shoulder straps do feel quite tight, but then I do tighten my leg straps alot. Under canopy however, they do get lifted quite a way off my shoulders.

Skydiving is more than a sport and more than a job: skydiving is pure passion and desire which will fill a lifetime.

[EAerodyne 0]

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Well, I've checked and my waist measurement is spot on. I've attached pics of me wearing the rig standing and also one where I'm in freefall where the MLW seems to straighten out a little. Does this look right? Are the laterals too short?
In reply, my shoulder straps do feel quite tight, but then I do tighten my leg straps alot. Under canopy however, they do get lifted quite a way off my shoulders.

Hi Grant,

Looking at your rig my man, I feel quite confident that your rig fits you pretty well. Especially after looking the picture of you in freefall. Agreed, there is a small kink in your main lift web, but nothing for you to be concerned about and nothing out of the ordinary. Could Another centimeter in your lateral reduce the kink? Probably! However your rig fits you fine. Get skydiving! :-)

Kind regards

Bushman

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