My leg straps are killing me!

[huey 0]

I've done 4 junps now and on #2 and 4 my legs hurt so bad from the straps I was wishing for sweet death!!!
never jumped the same rig twice first 3 were tandems. Was is the rig or hard opening or am I just a pussy?

"The Dude abides" - Jeff Labowski

[quade 4]

Could be a number of things, but most likely is that the rigs you're using (as a student) just aren't tailored to you, aren't adjusted very well and just don't fit quite right.

Make sure the leg straps are all the way up into your crotch, right up to the bone and tight so they don't slip. Sure, your package is gonna be hanging out, but, it'll impress da ladies. ;^)

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[n23x 0]

ROFL

.jim

"Don't touch my fucking Easter eggs, I'll be back monday." ~JTFC

[2fat2fly 0]

I remember the inside of my thighs being solid purple from student gear-it gets better but it might be worth it to mention it to your instructor. They may be able to make an adjustment or two.

I am not the man. But the man knows my name...and he's worried

[ltdiver 3]

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I remember the inside of my thighs being solid purple from student gear-it gets better but it might be worth it to mention it to your instructor. They may be able to make an adjustment or two.

Black and Blue. That's what I also experienced on student gear. Nasty military surplus stuff. I wondered the same thing, if this was what happened to everyone and you just got tougher as the jump numbers increased, or was something wrong?

My first personally owned gear (used) was SO much better than what I had to endure through student training. Then a couple of hundred jumps later I finally ordered custom. -That- fits like a glove and I don't even feel I have it on.

Take heart, huey. You're not a pussy.

ltdiver

Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon

[AggieDave 6]

Talk to your instructors about this solution. If they say no, then its no and I'm sure they have a good reason.

A solution I've recommended to folks and have seen folks use with good success is to head to Wal-Mart (or insert other similar type store) and buy a set of seatbelt pads or one and cut it in half (depending on the size of your thighs). Basically enough to fit where the rig pad fits. Whats great is of course the padding and that usually they (the seatbelt pads) have a velcro closed backing. No velcro touching anything external, but you can insert them on the rig without unthreading the legstraps (if the rig doesn't have B-12s).

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

[tdog 0]

You say three were tandems???

I remember the tandem (this was seven years ago) being painful.

Sport rigs are more comfortable...

I personally liked the student Mirage gear, but hated the student Javelin gear... But others are the opposite. Proving that sometimes different rigs fit people differently/better.

I never have had sore legs on my Vector, except for one opening that was so hard it hurt many parts of my body...

So, try a few different rigs, and don't think a tandem rig feels anything like a sport rig...

[azureriders 0]

My first release on AFF I went into a flat spin. The instructor blocked the spin but I couldn't keep it from starting again. I felt that we were not accomplishing anything so before I went flat again I tossed the PC semi stable at 10grand. Opening so hard that an A line broke away at its attachment point. Although it had a built in turn to the left, it only toke a few inches of right toggle to correct and it passed the control check so i landed it, and walked away, with two of the biggest ugliest bruises you have ever imagined. I don’t bruise easy.

I am still on student gear, and have had some painful rides since then, but since my body position has improved and I have learned that leg straps can not be too tight, they seem to be few and far in between. Hang tight, it will get better. Talk to your instructors, as said before.

[GravityGirl 0]

How much do you weigh?

Are you really jumping a Vector II and Triathalon 190?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Peace and Blue Skies!
Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear!

[huey 0]

Thanks for the advise. I just bought my first rig a vector I and I like the idea of the seatbelt pads (even though I'll get made fun of on the play ground)
Hopefully I'll be off the Dolphin student rig soon.

"The Dude abides" - Jeff Labowski

[yamtx73 0]

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How much do you weigh?

Are you really jumping a Vector II and Triathalon 190?

I haven't been to that particular dz although I pass through the area on my way to the dz I jump at. I'm curious as to whether he's jumping a Tri190 too, 2 jumps loaded at 1.11 seems dangerous to me.

The only naturals in this sport shit thru feathers...

[Tyrion 0]

All the student gear I used at my DZ hurt like a bitch. I was glad to jump my own stuff.

One thing that helped for me though was to cross my ankles over each other during the flight, which relieved some pressure on the inside of my thighs.

[LuvToFly 0]

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I've done 4 junps now and on #2 and 4 my legs hurt so bad from the straps I was wishing for sweet death!!!
never jumped the same rig twice first 3 were tandems. Was is the rig or hard opening or am I just a pussy?

I've seen people on student gear get relief by wearing a couple of pairs of shorts (over their long pants or sweats). It can decrease that cutting of the one-size-fits-all student leg straps quite a bit -

"The helicopter approaches closer than any other to fulfillment
of mankind's ancient dreams of a magic carpet" - Igor Sikorsky

[huey 0]

I'm 5'10" and 190 but I'm not jumping my rig yet. I'm jumping a Dolphin with a 240 main. It comes down like a feather with no real penetration speed so I can't wait to jump My own someday soon.

"The Dude abides" - Jeff Labowski

[skrovi 0]

I had similar problems in my first couple of jumps, where my inner thighs were bruised during openings. Subsequently, it went away, and I concluded
i) student rigs are not custom so they might not fit everyone well, so bruises during student status is not very uncommon
ii) tighten the leg strap tight enough that you are comfortable
iii) not too tight that you won't feel comfortable while arching in freefall.

I've had a jump where I had tightened my leg straps so hard that during freefall I wished that I could loosen just a lil bit. On each subsequent jump I figured how to get it just right on the student rig.

[LuvToFly 0]

It seems that a tendency on the part of a lot of folks in the early stages is to hang very forward in the harness - almost as if they are thinking they'll be a bit safer if they can keep their eyes looking downward even at altitude under canopy. This puts all the pressure on the front of the legstraps.

Even though getting gear made for your body is the best answer (known from experience), one of the better tips that I heard was to consciously make sure you are sitting/leaning back in the harness. That way, your butt is taking the weight, rather than the inner thigh. It seems subtle, but the difference in lack-o'pain is immense.

"The helicopter approaches closer than any other to fulfillment
of mankind's ancient dreams of a magic carpet" - Igor Sikorsky

[blue_sky_chris 0]

I feel your pain! As a student I can't think of a single 'nice' opening. Student canopies are huge which may go some way to explaining why they open so hard - tried any number of packing 'tricks' to slow down the openings but nothing seemed to help. I was fortunate enought to finish my AFF in Spain so was able to start using a friends sports rig half way through my consols (190 newish ZP main) and could not believe how comfortable it was! Now I would sooner stay on the ground than risk damaging myself with an ill fitting student rig.
Stick with it dude! You'll be off that student gear before you know it!

[steve1 5]

One of my rigs had narrow uncomfortable leg straps. I since stuffed a piece of rigid foam into both leg straps and now have a more comfortable ride down, on that rig. The softer types of foam probably won't help much. The seat belt pads also sound like a good idea....Steve1

[riggerrob 643]

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One of my rigs had narrow uncomfortable leg straps. I since stuffed a piece of rigid foam into both leg straps and now have a more comfortable ride down, on that rig. The softer types of foam probably won't help much. The seat belt pads also sound like a good idea....Steve1

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Next time, order double-wide leg pads.

You may even be able to order a replacement set of leg pads from the factory and have your local Master Rigger sew them on.

[riggerrob 643]

Since you listed "Vector II" as your rig, and they quit making Vectors about a decade ago, I suspect that your problem is flattened foam in the leg pads. The simple answer is to order a new set of leg pads from the Vector factory - in DeLand, Florida - and ask you local Master Rigger to sew them on.

Student Dolphins can suffer the same problem.

Speaking of common student problems .... far too many student squeeze leg straps tightly around their thighs, then wonder about the bruises. Let's face it, those leg straps are going to end up high in your crotch, so you might as well adjust them there before boarding the plane.

Finally, a thick, fuzzy set of sweat pants will help pad your thighs. I know that they helped me get through Army Airborne school back in 1981. The old hanging harnesses began life with zero padding, then a million students (inadvertently) folded the leg straps and soaked them in sweat. The end result was like sitting on a narrow iron bar.

[hexadecimal 0]

Could be partially because of the fit of the student rigs, as others have stated... but you'll also notice that even jumping the same rig, you'll become more tolerant of it over time.

By AFP 5, I was wondering how anyone could possibly make more than a few jumps a day because of the legstrap discomfort. By AFP 10, I didn't even notice it anymore (and was still jumping the same kind of rig).

[kelpdiver 2]

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Speaking of common student problems .... far too many student squeeze leg straps tightly around their thighs, then wonder about the bruises. Let's face it, those leg straps are going to end up high in your crotch, so you might as well adjust them there before boarding the plane.

Rob, how can it be too tight? Too loose and you get your entire body accelerated into the strap at opening snatch. Couple that with the instant-open pack jobs on the PD (pretty damn quick) canopies my DZ used, and yeah, it could sting. But for me the worse of the bruising came on the shoulders.

When it was container shopping time, the comfort of the wings was the biggest factor, even above their very nice price.

[Scoop 0]

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Rob, how can it be too tight? Too loose and you get your entire body accelerated into the strap at opening snatch. Couple that with the instant-open pack jobs on the PD (pretty damn quick) canopies my DZ used, and yeah, it could sting. But for me the worse of the bruising came on the shoulders.

When it was container shopping time, the comfort of the wings was the biggest factor, even above their very nice price.

I found the same. I now do my leg straps up VERY tight. Not so tight that I cant move or I get pins and needles but so that I dont slap around on opening. Now I get no bruises. It might partly be conditioning though. Its an unusual place for your body to be 'loaded' unless your used to wearing some sort of harness.

I too went for the Wings based on the comfort. When I finally receive it I will know for sure!

[Silverchic 0]

I love it! All these people saying "as soon as you get off student gear and onto your own you will be more comfortable!"

I'm the opposite - I would kill to be able to put my canopy in the student rigs! I have a custom made Wings coming but at the moment my rig is a bit too long for me and I will generally have pins and needles in my toes by the time I come to land!

How is it that we put man on the moon before we figured out it would be a good idea to put wheels on luggage?

[droquette 0]

my 2 cents...
hey man it hurt when i was a student too.. now either shut up and deal with it or take up bowling... the pain just made the sensation that i jumped out of an airplane that much more real.. and i dont like pain... but stop being such a little bitch... whats the big deal with a couple of bruises... go read what happens when you make a low turn... now that shit really hurts..... (from what i've seen/read!!!)

blue skies... bruised thighs....

dan

HISPA 72 ----- "Muff Brother" 3733