When did you start to nuy your equipment

[Magistr8 0]

Having read a few of the hot threads the last few days and seeing how many people have around the same number of jumps as me, I was wondering how long after your first jump until you started to buy your equipment?

PS. I am getting myself an Oxygen for as a christmas present to myself

"Impossible is a word to be found only in the dictionary of fools." Napoleon Bonaparte

[Beachbum 0]

goggles ... RIGHT away ... those "be sure to wipe the snot off them" comments from the JM's had an effect ... LOL ...

rig, etc. ... a little before I thought I'd get done with AFF and have enough jumps to handle a smaller canopy .. was ordering, so wanted it to be there when I was ready ... and I was TIRED of backing up on the smallest student rig (a 215, and I only weigh 145) ... tho, landing while backing up WAS getting to be 2nd nature ... almost ran the last one out ... LOL. Altimeter was last, cause the dz allowed me to use one of theirs until I could afford that (rigs aren't cheap!).

As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

[Magistr8 0]

Yeah me getting a car puts alid on skydiving equip for a while, but I wanna stop using the Huge 200 foot canopy that they have me flying. It is so easy to land and I have no control over it at all. There is like a 3 second lag before my toggle input takes effect, its horrible. If I can find something for 3G (canadian Dollars) I'll give it a go

"Impossible is a word to be found only in the dictionary of fools." Napoleon Bonaparte

[Beachbum 0]

unless you're like me ... tall & thin (or some other strange body shape .. lol) and have to order to fit, you ought to be able to find used gear in that price range without too much trouble ... any clue what you want yet?

As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

[FallRate 0]

I ordered my container after three jumps. Fliteline was having its 40% off sale which made the cost of a new container about the same as a nice used one. Also, it was obvious to me when I started that finding a nice used container that fit me was going to be hard. I didn't expect to fill out the rig right away, but once I got the container I couldn't stand the empty look of it; it was just depressing.
FallRate

[judedre 0]

i put exactly 100 jumps on student gear at $25 a rental you work it out you think it gets cheaper when u own ya gear but it dosnt you just end up doing more jumps so it still cost me $200 every weekend

[Magistr8 0]

I'm shorter 5'7" and am building up to 175lbs from 150, but that canopy drives me crazy

"Impossible is a word to be found only in the dictionary of fools." Napoleon Bonaparte

[freeflir29 0]

I bought my own alti, helmet, and goggles pretty quick. Didn't buy my first rig until I had 48 jumps. Finally got around to buying a jump suit at about 150 jumps or so. Got a camera at # 194.

[Magistr8 0]

That sounds like what I might do. I really wanna head down to some of the DZ in the US to hang out with some the the DZ.commers but want my own equip before I head on down. Pun intended

"Impossible is a word to be found only in the dictionary of fools." Napoleon Bonaparte

[Snowbird 0]

Started looking for gear while I was still on student status. Gear rental at the local dz is pricey, and I didn't want to spend $ renting what I'd rather own. Found a complete used rig on the dropzone.com classifieds (under $3000 CAN), tried it out as soon as I was cleared to solo, and bought it a couple weeks later. Course, I lucked out finding great gear, just my size, in great shape, from a gal who lives just 1 1/2 hours away, who was really really patient while I scraped together the cash. Thanks Donna!

Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea.
-Robert A. Heinlein

[jumpy 0]

I only have 30 jumps and am looking for a rig now
I got an alti first off because i figured i'd prefer to use my own brand new one that i knew hadn't been droped etc. as apposed to the club ones. I bought a pair of $10 goggles just as i was getting on the load probably around jump 10 and my jumpsuit was given to me for a slab of beer
I needa rig so bad its just not funny! I hate having to pack that damn student rig with those damn springs...the number of times i've almost knocked myself out.... lol

[Jessica 0]

I started looking for gear during AFF. I started jumping my very own stuff on skydive #13. So that means I only paid for rentals...four times, I think.

Skydiving is for cool people only

[Stacy 0]

i had my own gloves/alti/open helmet by my last AFF jump. i used dz gear until about jump 50 ( i worked there so had some pretty good perks), when i got a used rig/reserve/main. bought a used suit too, knowing that i was learning to fly a canopy and would be changing canopies a lot. didn't want to ruin a 300$ suit right off the bat!

of course (unfortunately) in this sport there are always "new toys-" after that came a custom suit, freefly pants. then i downsized mains, then a full face helmet. an audible, competition suit, gear bags, helmet bags, downsized main again, new rig, and i just bought a new cypres today. then there are boogies to go to....

i remember when my JM said "ah, once you get your own gear it gets cheaper." that makes me laugh every time i pay a CC bill at the end of the month!!!

[fasterfaller 0]

I had my own gear (used) before my level 1 aff . I had all new gear by around jump 50 . I jumped my own gear on my second jump after aff .

[skip 0]

I jumped my very own rig on #22. Now the only reason I had said gear was because I found a very nice deal here on the DZ.COM classifieds. I had no intentions, nor the resources to purchase gear that early in my jumping career, but I saw the rig, realized it was a rare chance to get exactly what I wanted (a perfect fit at that) for such a good price. So one full paycheck, a maxed credit card, and part of a student loan later I had my rig. I’ve only put 22 jumps on it so it hasn’t exactly paid itself off yet, but it’s nice to have, and I plan on jumping it for a long time. I also received my first altimeter with the rig. At about 25 jumps I acquired a second hand RW suit for cheap, which I have only worn maybe 5 times. I am now looking at a used Free Fly suit which I will hopefully purchase this week, and well I still swipe a protect helmet from the student bin before every jump, but that’s just a matter of getting off my but and ordering one. I’ve also purchased quite a few pair of goggles; I always seam to loose those fuckers.

.:skip

[flyhi 24]

Bought my alti, helmet, and goggles when I went to a well known West Coast DZ and asked to borrow them. They said sure, but it would be $5. Each. Per jump. Thanks guys, I feel the love. It was about 10 jumps off of student status. I bought my first used rig about 5 jumps later.

Would strongly recommend your first 3 or 4 rigs be used, rather than new. If you buy new, one of two things will happen.

1. You will realize 100 jumps after you buy it, that you really want something smaller/faster/more elliptical/less flashy... and now you have a major investment upon which you are going to lose money.

b. You will attempt to go too small/fast/flashy/... too early and hurt yourself.

Used gear will allow you to ease into the right equipment at the right rate. It might not be the exact color or style you want, but with a rigger's concurrence, it will at least be safe.

Ask Skybytch.

Shit happens. And it usually happens because of physics.

[Dumpster 0]

First thing I purchsed was goggles- around jump 20 I got helemt,(pro-tec) altimeter, and a jumpsuit, mainly because the DZ jumpsuits were always sweaty- (I now have sold the first jumpsuit and have two more- one RW suit and one FF suit)I bougt my Z-1 and my rig at the 28 jump mark- So I guess I really didn't waste any time --- I've saved alot not paying rental- more than enough to pay for the rig!

Easy Does It

[Iflyme 0]

I bought my rig when I had about 30 - 35 jumps ... got goggles after about 5 jumps, an altimiter after about 15 jumps ...

The rig - a Dolphin D3, 210 Silhouette, and a Tempo 170 reserve - with about 300 jumps on it - cost me $1800 Can.

[Designer 0]

I purchased my first complete rig after 25 cheapo round jumps.Didn,t jump the PC until 20 second delays.Back in those days you had(were supposed to have a hundred jumps on same canopy first).Had a hundred jumps on PC before I bought my first square parachute(25 dollars a week)until $650 was payed off.Some 850 jumps on that square I bought a larger(200sq. ft.)canopy.Its about taking the time to learn the canopy!

[airann 1]

I had my first jumpsuit (Freefly suit) after 11 jumps. I couldnt jump it till I graduated. I had my helmet, protrack and Alt by jump 10 or around.

My rig oppurtunity came at jump 19 or 20.

My first rig had around 100 - 200 jumps on it. An all black Jav J1, Saber 150, Raven reserve and a cypress. The whole package contained $5000.

The guy had a hurt neck from a car accident. He let skydiving go. He has since returned to skydiving 2 years later. He sold it to the DZO who sold it to me.

I got my first camera & helmet at like 200 jumps or so.

My advise to anyone buying gear off student status is to try to find someone you trust. An honest rigger works best. And understand what the market is currently on gear.

At the time of this writing I know 3 people personally who cant sell their used gear. (2 Mirages and a Voodoo or a Mirage and 2 voodoos, I forgot already) Even when the gear has 45 jumps on it. All 3 rigs are brand new. A 4 yr old Mirage of a friend of mine went for practically fractions of pennies on the dollar.

So, sportsfans now is the time to buy used gear.
But only at a trusted friends advice.

~AirAnn~

[Chief 0]

I still remember what the tandem master told me on my first tandem. "You will love this sport, from now on, all you have to do is take your paycheck and have direct deposit to the DZO" Turns out, he was right! What you don't spend on "stuff", you spend on lift tickets!

Stay Safe . . . Bill

[PhreeZone 20]

The moment you buy new gear then turn around to sell it, even not taking it out of the bag expect to lose at least 10% and I've seen up to 40% off just to get rid of stuff. Used you can knock at least 25% off new and more likely 35% or more if its got over 50 jumps on it. Don't buy gear thinking you will make money unless you get a complete rig with no jumps for like $200.

Yesterday is history
And tomorrow is a mystery

Parachutemanuals.com

[steve1 5]

You can probably get a good used rig with a cypress for a couple thousand(US), or even less if you shop around for used gear. Have someone more experienced help you. Be leary of buying it from one of the good old boys at your dropzone though. Some of his friends may advise you it's a great deal when it may be very outdated and over priced. Plan on selling whatever you buy though, because you will want to downsize again in the near future. For the price of rental gear it would be a good investment and it's a great feeling owning your own rig. You can always take the cypress off and put it on your next rig easily (when you do sell). Don't buy a new first rig though. You'll lose a lot of cash when you become disatisfied with it and sell it within the next year. Steve1

[ECVZZ 0]

Bonehead, Altimaster III, Gloves, and goggles around jump 12. FF pants jump 43, and container, jump 46 . Main and reserve...your guess is as good as mine, but I suspect within the next 3 months!

G. Jones

"I've never been quarantined. But the more I look around, the more I think it might not be a bad idea."

[Magistr8 0]

WOW that's it!!?!??!

The peps at the DZ are cool with me using their stuff (money in their pockets) but I don't feel like i'm not a skydiver unless I have my own esquipment. having said that I love to freefly and would like to get equipment that suits me accordingly. If you see any more deals such as the one the got please message.

"Impossible is a word to be found only in the dictionary of fools." Napoleon Bonaparte