goblin 0 #1 August 30, 2008 Just putting a random question out there-How important is rig fit? Obviously a majorly ill-fitting rig is a big concern during both freefall and under canopy, but where is it most important to fit? obviously a decent rigger can make adjustments if needed but when should these adjustment be made? *** PACK-JUMP-PACK-JUMP-PACK-JUMP-SLEEP-PACK-JUMP-PACK-JUMP Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GaryRay 0 #2 August 30, 2008 the little i know about container fit goes as this, ive rented to small and it sucked b/c it was hard to get to the PC, ive rented to big and it sucked b/c i kept getting hit in the face by the chest strap, i just got my new rig in and it fits perfectly, and its a dream to fly and so very comfortable. there is probably more to it then just comfort but thats my little tid bit of information from an up and coming jumper.JewBag. www.jewbag.wordpress.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NickDG 23 #3 August 30, 2008 The main lift web (MLW) needs to fit you. The MLW measurement is taken from the bottom of the harness ring to the top of the rig's hip junction. And that corresponds from the hole in your throat diagonally down to the top point of your hip bone. Too short and the hip junction will ride too high. Too long and you can't tighten your legstraps properly. The laterals (from the hip junction to the container) should fit you. Too long and the rig will side around on your back, too short and it's uncomfortable and restricting. Plus being too long makes the "hole" in the rig that much bigger. (The "hole" is the part of a rig a lot of people worry about falling through, even though it's never actually happened). The yoke (the part around the backside of your neck) needs to fit you. Too small and it's also uncomfortable and restricting. Too large and in the plane while sitting down, even with everything cinched down the rig will want to fall off your shoulders. The running ends of the chest and legstraps (the free ends that are passed the hardware that secures them) need to fit you. Too long is annoying and they need to be stowed. Too long they can also come lose and interfere with your doing something else. Too short is just scary looking. A Master Rigger can somewhat adjust all these things, except for making the running ends of the chest and legstraps longer. And on the more important stuff generally you can only make these adjustments once per rig as sewing, unpicking, and then re-sewing does fatigue the harness webbing somewhat. One mistake I see often is the seller telling the buyer, "Hey, I'm five feet, eight inches tall too, so my rig will fit you." And that's not always the case. So, when buying used, you have to shop fit, and not color. That means you might have to pass on something that really floats your boat. But if you end up with a piss ugly rig that fits you it's better. And who cares anyway? Once you put the rig on, it's the rest of us that have to look at it . . . NickD Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
UDSkyJunkie 0 #4 August 31, 2008 Agreed with above: #1 concern is the main-lift-web. Too tall is dangerous, too short is (very) uncomfortable, and may impede correct body position. Most of the time, if the MLW fits, you're ok, unless you have particularly large or skinny legs. Legstraps can probably be fixed by a decent rigger if they're too long. If the legstraps are too short or the MLW needs adjustment, I'd recommend sending to the factory. You MIGHT be able to find a loft with the proper equipment (harness machine), but the savings aren't going to be all that large, and the factory knows their rig better than the loft does. Usually MLW adjustment only costs $250 or so."Some people follow their dreams, others hunt them down and beat them mercilessly into submission." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
erdnarob 1 #5 August 31, 2008 A rig can be a bit unconfortable but it has to fit. Where? At the leg straps and the chest strap which both have to be relatively thight since at the deployment of the canopy a lot of force are involved. We can compare that to a safety belt of a car in an accident, if you want it to protect you it has to fit you. Another important fit is at what we call the stabilizers on the sides of the container. Those are made of a strap attaching the container to the main lift web. Some are adjustable while others are fixed. If they are too long or not enough tight, the container is going to slide left and right on the back of the jumper while in freefall making the reach of the BOC handle possibly hard to get.Learn from others mistakes, you will never live long enough to make them all. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TonyJ 0 #6 August 31, 2008 i ordered a custom rig, mlw was too long, scared me when the chest strap slammed my chin on opening. i keep it real tight.. i called and said i need the chest strap moved down... they said no you need the mlw shorter... took pictures with the rig on and it came back with the proper fit....tony Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
