Altimeter on the right hand?

[platein 1]

Hi there!

Maybe a stupid question, but: are there some safety related issues wearing the altimeter on the right hand (instead of left)? As for example getting tangled with your bridle or something...

I am asking because I have only seen left-hand mounted altimeters so far, however, intuetively I would wear it on my right hand (i also wear watches on my right, even tough I am a righty).

Cheers!

[theplummeter 15]

Lots of tandem instructors wear altimeters on the right as they are using the left hand for handcam.

[DiverMike 5]

Wearing an altimeter adds complexity and failure points however small they might be. Your altimeter could start coming off as you go to pull, could twist around and prevent a clean grab of the pilot chute, as well as many other distractions.

Why add these complications to the hand that has the most work to do, when you presumably have another one? When you advance in your skydiving career, (maybe become a TI), you can add complexity, but as a student, keep it simple.

For the same reason I jump off a perfectly good diving board.

[wolfriverjoe 1,523]

Which hand do you pull your main with? Having less to interfere with that (or possibly entangle with the pilot chute or bridle) is a good idea.

I'm a lefty, and I wear my watch on my right. When I started, I wanted to wear my altimeter there too, but the instructors pointed out why they didn't think it was a good idea.

I'm not sure why it's okay to have it on the hand that will pull the reserve handle, but that's the way I was taught, and the way everyone else does it.

"There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy

"~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo

[platein 1]

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Which hand do you pull your main with?

Pulling it with my right, which i feel comfortable with. However, i have been wearing all my watches on my right - therefore having the altimeter on my left is somehow... unfamiliar.

cheers!
platein

[pchapman 279]

Having the alti on your left allows you to start reaching back to pull with the right, while still checking the alti with the left.

[skybytch 273]

You have three jumps. Doesn't every piece of skydiving equipment you put on feel unfamiliar at this point?

You'll get used to it. Really, you will. Why, you may even find yourself putting your watch on the left.

And completely OT - Who wears a watch nowadays anyway?

[Remster 30]

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Who wears a watch nowadays anyway

Cool people with style.

Remster

[zen_mtn_climber 0]

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You'll get used to it. Really, you will. Why, you may even find yourself putting your watch on the left.

+1

I'm a very lefthanded person. I was worried at first about deploying with my right hand and my alti being on my left. Pretty quickly through training and repetition it became natural.

[airtwardo 7]

And completely OT - Who wears a watch nowadays anyway?

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

[GLIDEANGLE 1]

An altimeter on the right MAY increase the risk of bridle entanglement, resulting in a horseshoe malfunction.

The choices we make have consequences, for us & for others!

[Fast 0]

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An altimeter on the right MAY increase the risk of bridle entanglement, resulting in a horseshoe malfunction.

yep.

Though fwiw, when I do AFF, I wear mine on my right hand. It's fairly unnatural to have it over there, but I have a neptune and I got sick of students trying to tear the thing off my hand when they reach for the BOC.

~D
Where troubles melt like lemon drops Away above the chimney tops That's where you'll find me.
Swooping is taking one last poke at the bear before escaping it's cave - davelepka

[djmarvin 2]

[replyPulling it with my right, which i feel comfortable with. However, i have been wearing all my watches on my right - therefore having the altimeter on my left is somehow... unfamiliar.

[popsjumper 2]

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are there some safety related issues wearing the altimeter on the right hand (instead of left)? As for example getting tangled with your bridle or something...

That plus, (from pchapman) Having the alti on your left allows you to start reaching back to pull with the right, while still checking the alti with the left.

Left-handed pull? Alti on right.

My reality and yours are quite different.
I think we're all Bozos on this bus.
Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239

[labrys 0]

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I'm not sure why it's okay to have it on the hand that will pull the reserve handle

The reserve handle is less likely to entangle with a altimeter (no hackey, bridle, or PC to snag). It's also accessible with either hand.

Owned by Remi #?

[wolfriverjoe 1,523]

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I'm not sure why it's okay to have it on the hand that will pull the reserve handle

The reserve handle is less likely to entangle with a altimeter (no hackey, bridle, or PC to snag). It's also accessible with either hand.

Good points. Thank you.

"There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy

"~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo

[labrys 0]

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Good points. Thank you.

No problem. It's also worth pointing out that even if you *did* somehow get your alti stuck on your reserve handle, you could probably still pull down and deploy. Way different than having your PC wrapped around your wrist.

Owned by Remi #?

[wolfriverjoe 1,523]

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Good points. Thank you.

No problem. It's also worth pointing out that even if you *did* somehow get your alti stuck on your reserve handle, you could probably still pull down and deploy. Way different than having your PC wrapped around your wrist.

Yeah, the thought that the reserve handle is a ripcord not a throw out occurred to me.

"There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy

"~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo

[excaza 1]

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Though fwiw, when I do AFF, I wear mine on my right hand. It's fairly unnatural to have it over there, but I have a neptune and I got sick of students trying to tear the thing off my hand when they reach for the BOC.

Hey, that's how I failed my level 2. Turns out altis feel kinda like handles

[BIGUN 1,297]

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And completely OT - Who wears a watch nowadays anyway?

Unfair. You have a time on target.

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

[jumpsalot-2 3]

Have you considered a chest mounted altimeter ?

Life is short ... jump often.

[JohnMitchell 16]

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I'm not sure why it's okay to have it on the hand that will pull the reserve handle, but that's the way I was taught, and the way everyone else does it.

1- Well, you have to wear it somewhere!

2- It doesn't matter if the reserve ripcord entangles with it. You just need to pull it, not throw it.

3- By the time you pull your reserve, you should be done looking at your altimeter.

4- When I started, the altimeter was on top of the reserve. But then they put the reserve on the back, behind your head, and it made it really hard to read the altimeter then.

[JohnMitchell 16]

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Have you considered a chest mounted altimeter ?

I know several that still use that. I have one for my wingsuit and occasionally wear it on regular loads too. Used to be you never looked at your own altimeter doing RW. You would just glance around at everyone else's chest mount altimeters.

[airtwardo 7]

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Have you considered a chest mounted altimeter ?

I know several that still use that. I have one for my wingsuit and occasionally wear it on regular loads too. Used to be you never looked at your own altimeter doing RW. You would just glance around at everyone else's chest mount altimeters.

I had a buddy in college that had one mounted on the front of his helmet...didn't do HIM much good but the rest of us were grateful!

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

[JohnMitchell 16]

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I had a buddy in college that had one mounted on the front of his helmet...didn't do HIM much good but the rest of us were grateful!

One of our tandem video guys used to do that. Very handy indeed.