beatlefan1983 0 #1 October 29, 2010 Me and my buddy are repacking our rigs....at midnight....and come to find out, we are out of rubber bands. Murphy's law strikes again and of course...a couple rubber bands break. What else could we do...we high tail it to wal-mart, buy the thickest rubber bands they have (which are not very thick mind you), and finish the pack job up by doubleing up the rubber bands. So i guess my question is....Has anyone else ever used regular rubber bands? (and/or had to run to wal-mart to get more rubber bands). If so....what was the outcome? I dont want to wake up one day and find out it's too late to do all the things I want to do. (Jump by Simple Plan) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnnyMarko 1 #2 October 29, 2010 sounds like your drunk... but good luck...hope you have baglock Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
antonija 0 #3 October 29, 2010 Why not pack next tiem you're at DZ? There must be some spare rubbers at DZ...I understand the need for conformity. Without a concise set of rules to follow we would probably all have to resort to common sense. -David Thorne Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stratostar 5 #4 October 29, 2010 No I used the broken one to wrap the lines and half hitch it, that is as long as there is enough left to do so and only when needed, most normal people carry extra's in their gear bag.you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
piisfish 140 #5 October 29, 2010 free stow your lines... drunk packing makes for interesting openings oh.. get video tooo !! DISCLAIMER !! do NOT take this post seriously scissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fcajump 164 #6 October 29, 2010 I think the consensus here is to put the gear away and get the right parts to do the job right tomorrow. Always remember that some clouds are harder than others... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
beatlefan1983 0 #7 October 29, 2010 Just to be clear....No we were not drunk, No we were not gonna jump it like that, Really appreciate the baglock comment...classy, we thought we had rubber bands but we couldn't find any and yes we are gonna repack at the DZ. Was just seeing if anyone else had started packing and found out they were out of rubber bands. Thanks. I dont want to wake up one day and find out it's too late to do all the things I want to do. (Jump by Simple Plan) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Slurp56 0 #8 October 29, 2010 QuoteWas just seeing if anyone else had started packing and found out they were out of rubber bands. Thanks. Funny, this seems to happen every time I break a band.________________________________________ I have proof-read this post 500 times, but I guarantee you'll still manage to find a flaw. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fcajump 164 #9 October 29, 2010 But your post, in what it didn't say, did bring to mind very entertaining imagery... but come to think of it, your typing was a little too good for the party we all envisioned... Always remember that some clouds are harder than others... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
likestojump 3 #10 October 29, 2010 I have used anything from regular rubber bands to hair scrunchies in times of desperation. No problems. Just be smart about how tight the line bites are. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
beatlefan1983 0 #11 October 29, 2010 haha fcajump. agreed on both points. I dont want to wake up one day and find out it's too late to do all the things I want to do. (Jump by Simple Plan) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
petejones45 0 #12 October 29, 2010 QuoteMe and my buddy are repacking our rigs....at midnight....and come to find out, we are out of rubber bands. Murphy's law strikes again and of course...a couple rubber bands break. What else could we do...we high tail it to wal-mart, buy the thickest rubber bands they have (which are not very thick mind you), and finish the pack job up by doubleing up the rubber bands. So i guess my question is....Has anyone else ever used regular rubber bands? (and/or had to run to wal-mart to get more rubber bands). If so....what was the outcome? that should be ok, you can always freestow the lines to if the main bag stows are in place, swoopers do that all the time and i've done it in some casesLook out for the freefly team, Smelly Peppers. Once we get a couple years more experience we will be a force to be reckoned with in the near future! BLUES! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
erdnarob 1 #13 October 30, 2010 I have encountered that problem several times and I have tried several type of bands like: ordinary flat ones, silicone silly bands (expensive), O rings (not much elasticity but durable), tube stows (expensive), surgical rubber tubing (home made rings using a knot placed at the bag retainer, not outside), black rubber girl bracelet...name it (see picture in attachment). The idea is to have something elastic holding your lines firmly in place. Therefore, on a main packing, you have a lot of choice as long as the bands are tight enough. If you use very tiny rubber bands, fold them several times. Another principle is to have the bands installed by pair to guarantee as much as possible symmetry at the deployment. So when changing the bands change them by pair. In your case another solution is to take off a good stow band already installed then make 2 narrow ones by cutting longitudinally this band in the middle, reinstall them and this is how to make two using one . Your bands will be weaker but it's a temporary solution isn't ? 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
riggerrob 643 #14 November 1, 2010 QuoteQuoteMe and my buddy are repacking our rigs....at midnight....and come to find out, we are out of rubber bands. Murphy's law strikes again and of course...a couple rubber bands break. What else could we do...we high tail it to wal-mart, buy the thickest rubber bands they have (which are not very thick mind you), and finish the pack job up by doubleing up the rubber bands. So i guess my question is....Has anyone else ever used regular rubber bands? (and/or had to run to wal-mart to get more rubber bands). If so....what was the outcome? that should be ok, you can always freestow the lines to if the main bag stows are in place, swoopers do that all the time and i've done it in some cases ................................................................... Freestowing? Yeah! I vaguely remember the first time free-stowing was fashionable ... But our own mjosparky has CRYSTAL CLEAR memories of the last time free-stowing was fashionable. Ask him some time. Bring ear muffs! Hah! Hah! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jtnesbitt 0 #15 November 1, 2010 Quote I have used anything from regular rubber bands to hair scrunchies in times of desperation. No problems. Just be smart about how tight the line bites are. Just an FYI hair scrunchies work great as tailgates too when you're in a pinch "If this post needs to be moderated I would prefer it to be completly removed and not edited and butchered into a disney movie" - DorkZone Hero Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
