MLW Too Small

[dontsplatmatt 0]

Long story short, I bought a used V3 with the MLWs resized for me. A rigger took my measurements, but the rig is really tight through the shoulders and puts a lot of pressure on my shoulders and back making it very uncomfortable to wear. Also, the rig sits pretty high on my back making the PC handle a bit harder to reach than I would prefer. I put a good amount of money into this rig with the intention of keeping it for a while, so I was wondering what you guys think would be the best option. I guess my options are to fork out the money to have the rig resized again, to sell the complete and look for something else or to yank everything out and just sell the container and find a new one that fits everything (and me!). I have a couple concerns with selling the container. One, it's in great condition and by chance matches my canopy and jumpsuit. Two, it has some embroidery in the left MLW that I tried to pick out but couldn't get the threads out completely so I'd have to fix that. Third, the MLW is 16.5, so I'm not sure how many people that would even fit or if I could get what I payed for it. I've attached some pics. Please let me know what you guys think :).

[Harmless 0]

It does look a little small but not horribly so, but if it's uncomfortable, then it's too much. I noticed the leg padding looks a short for your thighs.

As for the PC handle... that looks pretty low on your back to me.

Sorry that's all I got.


ETA...

I didn't even recognize you in the pictures. Didn't realize it was you until I went back to the main forum and saw your name lol.

"Damn you Gravity, you win again"

[likestojump 3]

does it just look that way, or is your chest strap sitting a bit too low ? Seems like the yoke is positioned too high, and perhaps laterals are too short. The MLW looks fine.

- just another person on the internet :(

[bwilling 0]

I'm sure more experienced folks than me will chime in, but that doesn't look like a bad fit to me. The large ring on the harness sits a bit low, but you'd rather have that than have it sit high, because everything shifts up when you're weight is suspended in the harness. Do you really want you handles to shift up to your armpits? The container is definitely not high on your back, you might just be comparing it to ill fitting student gear.

Have you jumped it yet? I assume not, but if you haven't, you can tell as much or more about the fit hanging by your weight in the harness... I'd jump it if I was you.

"If all you ever do is all you ever did, then all you'll ever get is all you ever got."

[piisfish 140]

doesn't seem THAT bad in my uneducated eyes. Is it the smallest rig you ever wore ? maybe that has an influence on your perception of "how high" it is.


Oh what surprises me is teh color of the breakaway handle (or the color of the suit). I would prefer something "less stealth/matching"

Congrats on your rig. Try and shoot a P.M. to 2 users here who might be able to help you... Billbooth and Klingeme .

scissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM

[dontsplatmatt 0]

Thanks for your input guys. I have jumped it, but only about 10 times. I will put 30-50 more jumps on it next week so that will probably give me a better idea. The reason I thought it was the MLW is because it's tight enough that I can't get my second arm in without the strap twisting. Also could the fit in the shoulder area be the cause of the leg straps not fitting well? It could be that I'm just used to the ill-fitting student gear, but it still feels pretty tight through the shoulder and upper back area, and I'm usually sore if I wear it for 15+ minutes on the ground. As far as the yoke and laterals, how would those affect the fit in the area I described? Could giving them an extra half inch or inch relieve a significant amount of pressure?

Is the lateral is the piece in my first picture just above the hip ring? That piece presses into my hip bone when I bend forward. Could that be related?



Thanks again guys.

Oh and Ryan I might be in GA for my leave this summer so try not to break the bank at Skyfest lol :P.

[diablopilot 2]

The MLW looks ok, the lateral looks short for your body. Was the rig built for someone slim?

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You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

[DrewEckhardt 0]

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Long story short, I bought a used V3 with the MLWs resized for me. A rigger took my measurements, but the rig is really tight through the shoulders and puts a lot of pressure on my shoulders and back making it very uncomfortable to wear.

If you wear heavy clothing, tighten the leg straps, and lift the bottom of the rig you want a bit of clearance (like an inch) over your shoulders. If you have that you should be fine.

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Also, the rig sits pretty high on my back making the PC handle a bit harder to reach than I would prefer.

Looks about right.

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Third, the MLW is 16.5, so I'm not sure how many people that would even fit or if I could get what I payed for it. I've attached some pics. Please let me know what you guys think :).

A good approximation of required main lift web length is to take your height in inches, subtract your inseam measurement, and subtract 20"

In my case I take 5'10 - 30.5" inseam - 20 = 19.5". Not coincidentally I have main lift webs in the 19-20" range which is long for my height - people double and triple check that they measured right.

[dontsplatmatt 0]

This is my first rig. The MLWs were sized for me (16.5) so I assume it's smaller than most rental gear. Yeah I plan on getting a yellow handle soon because that's definitely something I don't want blending in. Thanks I'll send them a message and see what they have to say especially as far as the best option financially.

[dontsplatmatt 0]

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A good approximation of required main lift web length is to take your height in inches, subtract your inseam measurement, and subtract 20"

When I do this I get exactly 16.5 so I guess that further supports you guys' thoughts that the MLW looks about right.

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The MLW looks ok, the lateral looks short for your body. Was the rig built for someone slim?

I'm 5'8.5" and 147 lbs. The rig was built for someone about my height and heavier. The right MLW was cut and when he sent it to UPT he listed it for sale and I sent in my measurements for the fix after I bought it. I'm not sure what the loft resized aside from the MLW. How expensive would it be to lengthen the lateral since that seems to be a common theme?

[ZigZagMarquis 9]

Okay... just .02 from another person on the Internet... it doesn't look too horribly bad a fit to me, except the leg pads don't seem to be sized right, but if you're not happy with it after shelling out the $$$ then you deserve to have it right.

Have you tried calling someone at UPT and talking to them about it? If possible, have the original order form in hand and check see if what they built matches the measurments y'all sent. Also, ask to email them the same photos you posted here while you've got them on the phone. Ask what adjustments they can make and if they'll do it for just the cost of shipping... the worst they'll do is say "no", but they may say "yes"... you won't know if you don't ask... but but my bet is the longer you go / more jumps you put on it before contacting the mfgr, the less chance you have of them "making it right" without charging you more then shipping or at some discount.

Good luck. Let us know what turns out.

[AggieDave 6]

Here is how you find out 100% for sure.

Get the UPT measuring chart (order form). Get someone who knows what they're doing to measure you. Fill in the numbers. Now, take the serial number for the rig and call/e-mail UPT. Tell them the measurements you have. They will tell you spot on if its a fit, if its off, how much its off and if they think you should get the harness resized.

Beyond that its all subjective.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[JohnDeere 0]

ZigZag just a personal exp. with UPT......I had a minor issue (cosmetic) with my V3 and didnt want too send it back so I procrastinated for 2 years finally sent it back over this last winter and it was fixed for the cost of shipping I did let them know about it 2 years ago but never said anything about it untill over this winter. UPT rocks!

Nothing opens like a Deere!

You ignorant fool! Checks are for workers!

[ZigZagMarquis 9]

Yep, that's been my experience as well with several mfgr's I've dealt with. I often wonder if the "I got screwed by so-and-so mfgr" stories one hears around here sometimes really started off with the person posting it copping an attitude from the get-go?

Anyway, on topic, I was trying to be very conservative in my .02 to the OP in hopes that if / when he contacts UPT it can only get better.

[davelepka 4]

If you look at your last pic (#17) you can see where the lateral (the thingy from the container to the harness) is pulling the MLW back toward the container, and that's bad. The MLW should be straight down to the hip ring.

If the lateral was a little longer, it would ease up on the MLW a little and give you some more room in the shoulder area. Also, the legpads are waay to short for you, and it looks like you squeezing your nuts to get the pads close to wrapping around your legs. This will also pull down on your shoulders a little as well. You should be able to get the legpads to within an inch or two of each other, and still be able to get two fingers under your legstraps.

The MLW looks OK. You should be able to stick your finger into the hip ring, and be pointing right at your hip joint. It looks really close from the pics, and will drop a touch with a longer lateral.

Also what range are the canopies for that container? Are they on the big side for that container? If you stuff the smallest container with the biggest canopies it can hold the container part will 'square up' and feel like a brick strapped to your back.

[airtwardo 7]

Crank those leg straps another inch or so tighter and go jump!

~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~

[JohnDeere 0]

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I often wonder if the "I got screwed by so-and-so mfgr" stories one hears around here sometimes really started off with the person posting it copping an attitude from the get-go?

+1

Nothing opens like a Deere!

You ignorant fool! Checks are for workers!

[dontsplatmatt 0]

Thanks for the advice everyone! I see what you guys are saying about the laterals and how they are pulling on the harness. Not really sure what the deal is with the leg straps and why they're so small because they were sized for someone bigger. Sounds like my best bet is to contact UPT now and get their opinion. Maybe I can send it in to get the fit and the embroidery fixed to kill two birds with one stone.

In regards to what I have jammed in there, it is a V348 and I have it filled out with a 170 Sentry and PDR 160 so that's probably not helping the situation. More incentive for me to get some jumps and experience for a 150!

Thanks again for the help!

[pilot-one 0]

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The MLW looks ok, the lateral looks short for your body. Was the rig built for someone slim?

+1

It looks like your laterals are too short. Look where your hip ring sits. I think it should be a few inches more forward. I had a similar problem. Before I had it fixed it was very difficult to reach back because of the pressure on my shoulders. Once the laterals were lengthened it was much more comfortable.

[dontsplatmatt 0]

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I had a similar problem. Before I had it fixed it was very difficult to reach back because of the pressure on my shoulders. Once the laterals were lengthened it was much more comfortable.

Mine feels the exact same way. Maybe that's why I feel like the hackey is too high on my back. Sounds like the laterals could be the culprit. I've already contacted the UPT rigging loft so hopefully my rig will be "comfortized" soon before the boogies start rolling in