First gear recommendations

[Sled14 0]

Hey I graduated AFF yesterday and saw that I need to get a helmet and jumpsuit. I was wondering what you guys would recommend. I was thinking of getting the Bonehead Mindwarp but do you think thats too much for someone who still doesn't have their A license? I plan on going regularly, and maybe in couple months getting a Pro-Track for the log book feature but wouldn't use the audible for a while so I dont become dependent on it. And for jumpsuit, should I just get something basic or what? Thanks for any help

[Scoop 0]

Hmm, id say get what you want. Coming from another newbie though. My understanding is stay away from full face helmets for a while because you wont be allowed to jump them at this stage.
ive got a Pro Dytter, but I set it quite low. Mines set so first warning is at 4. With me pulling normally at 5 i shouldnt hear it. Sometimes hear it as canopy is inflating. I dont see it can be a bad thing as long as you dont use it as a tool and , like you said yourself, become dependant. My instructors were happy for me to use it anyway. I got a cheap second hand suit suitable for relative work. Its very hardy and will take a few rough landings. Ive seen few other new guys in there flash white jumpsuits with very impressive grass stains (and sheep shit smears)

[Dumpster 0]

Basics: Helmet - Goggles - Altimeter - Jumpsuit.

Nothing wrong with a newbie with a fullface here in the US.

Easy Does It

[mattjw916 2]

Personally I'd wait on buying anything except maybe goggles until you get more jumps. Not that there is anything wrong with buying the stuff you mentioned but here are a couple of things to consider:

If you buy a new jumpsuit, you will probably beat the crap out of it as you get the hang of landing. Just about everyone will slide, PLF, or just plain screw up during student jumps. Get some cheapo surplus pants or something in the meantime that you won't care about ripping up.

You don't really need a Pro-Track, spend the money on jumps and coaching instead (you'll thank me later). You probably won't be able to use the audible feature (the best part IMO) until are off student status anyway.

Mindwarps are decent enough helmets though, but once again, you might want to hold off because you may decide you want to do more RW stuff and want a full-face... same thing goes with the jumpsuit. It's hard to pick out the right one if you don't know how fast/slow you fall, whether you want to freefly or flatfly, and most importantly it might not match the colors of your rig when you buy one.

Overall the decision is yours and listen to your intructors... these are just some things to consider.

NSCR-2376, SCR-15080

[MB38 0]

I had a snowboarding helmet lying around the house. I picked up a pair of goggles for about $12. The altimeter I picked up used in the classifieds section of this site. I jump in jeans and a t-shirt.

I really don't know what I'm talking about.

[Jackpunx 0]

the only thing I have purchase so far is a Altimeter and goggles.
Square one loanes us the rest while new....
I will probably get on a demo program next month as I have been jumping 5-7 days a month.
the money I save there will go towards a RW jumper and a helmet.
which brings me to a question.
I see lots of people jumping with out helmets.. Even some of the newer jumpers.
I dont mind wearing mine.. but what are your thoughts on it?

[Andy9o8 2]

Quote

I see lots of people jumping with out helmets.. Even some of the newer jumpers.
I dont mind wearing mine.. but what are your thoughts on it?

There are lots of ways to bash your head in skydiving. That's why I wear one, pretty much always.

[Jackpunx 0]

Quote

Quote

I see lots of people jumping with out helmets.. Even some of the newer jumpers.
I dont mind wearing mine.. but what are your thoughts on it?

There are lots of ways to bash your head in skydiving. That's why I wear one, pretty much always.

thanks for the reply
I want to take some pictures this summer with out a helmet..
but I think I will always wear one.. They are pretty thin.. and Im sure they wont save me from a major accident.. but.. the little bumps in FF or out of the plane Im sure they will work for them.

[NWFlyer 2]

Quote

I see lots of people jumping with out helmets.. Even some of the newer jumpers.
I dont mind wearing mine.. but what are your thoughts on it?

Ditto what Andy9o8 said... lots of ways to conk your head in this sport. I'm enough of a klutz that I'm happy to have a helmet all the time. Plus it helps keep my head warm, especially in these upcoming winter months.

Seems a shame that you're seeing newer jumpers choosing not to wear them. It can't be a cost issue ... you can get a Protec for under $30. Some don't wear them on hop & pops, but I can't imagine not wearing one in freefall. (I wear them on all jumps becasue I figure there's still a risk of bonking my head on the plane or on landing, and it's easy extra protection).

"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

[wmw999 2,534]

For your first helmet I'd recommend a Protec. It's inexpensive, it's probably the best helmet made from a protection point of view, and you can use it for quite awhile while you figure out what you're interested in.

You should get your own altimeter, some goggles, and a jumpsuit. If you jump at a decent-sized dropzone, someone is probably selling a semi-ragged-out jumpsuit that would fit you. That's just fine -- you can patch it, or have it patched, and learn what you like before paying $200 or more for a new jumpsuit. Or you can look in dz.com for something in your range. If you know someone who sews, a lot of alterations can be done on jumpsuits.

I also, however, wouldn't consider the possibility of a PLF to be damaging to jumpsuits. They do a lot less damage than a few buttslides, and way less damage than pranging yourself.

Talk to the staff at the DZ; don't invest in the big toys yet unless you have money to burn (in which case, I live in Houston...).

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[HydroGuy 0]

Quote

Square one loanes us the rest while new....

Brenda will be on your ass real fast to order a jumpsuit

Get in - Get off - Get away....repeat as neccessary

[kelpdiver 2]

Quote

There are lots of ways to bash your head in skydiving. That's why I wear one, pretty much always.

Removing group jumps from the equation, is the greater risk of bashing something, or risers catching the ears? I've not done any jumps without yet, but that is the bit I worry about the most.

For shoppers - the end of snow season may be best, but just a couple days ago I got a snowboarding protec at SportMart for $15. It's the non ear hard shell, with a heavy cordura type ear covering that should protect as necessary, but be a bit cooler on a hot plane. Much shinier finish too. The one catch is there is this odd hook on the back that I'm going to pull off, perhaps need to tape over.

[Jackpunx 0]

Quote

Quote

Square one loanes us the rest while new....

Brenda will be on your ass real fast to order a jumpsuit

LOL.. yea.. Ive talked to her about it.. but no pressure so far.

[wmw999 2,534]

Stuff just happens sometimes. I mostly (ok, almost exclusively) do RW, but I've hit my head on the door (hard enough to crack a helmet once), on other people, and on the ground. The one that cracked my helmet might have damaged me; the others probably wouldn't have.

Note, BTW -- it was the middle of a lineup in a small-door DC3, and it was a cheap hockey helmet, so no one these days is likely to suffer a cracked head in exactly the same way

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[Superman32 0]

You can probably wait a bit on the jump suit until you have a couple more jumps under your belt, but you will always need an alti, goggles and helmet. Get them as soon as you can -- It suck if you couldn't go up because there were no alti's available.

The Protec helmet is not as cool as all the other ones at the DZ, but it actually IS rated for impact -- keep in mind that skydiving helmets are not rated for nor do they make any claims to protect you from impact. Just add some stickers to it and it will look fine. It will also fit 2 audibles nicely and confortably on the ear holes.

As far as not wearing helmets --(IMO, it's just stupid for new jumpers not to wear them) -- It would suck if you banged your head on exit or landing. Concussions, broken bones and death will keep you from jumping, regularly.

Inveniam Viam aut Faciam
I'm back biatches!

[Andy9o8 2]

Quote

Quote

There are lots of ways to bash your head in skydiving. That's why I wear one, pretty much always.

Removing group jumps from the equation, is the greater risk of bashing something, or risers catching the ears?

Point well-taken about "riser ear", but for me I use it mainly against head-bash. I've had my share of hard landings, a couple on paved runways, parking lots, rough terrain, etc., where my helmet probably prevented a concussion. I think since the sport made the transition over to all square canopies even for students, the newer people in the sport, who never jumped a round & were weaned on the expectation of soft landings, greatly underestimate the risk of head injury on landing.

Quote

I got a snowboarding protec at SportMart for $15. It's the non ear hard shell, with a heavy cordura type ear covering that should protect as necessary

Just curious if there's a space to use an audible in those models..?

[kelpdiver 2]

I've scuffed my protec on a bad tumbling landing, so your point there is well taken. At some point I'd like to do a jump without to see how it is, but I don't think it would be the SOP. I have found my protec may stay on even with the buckles undone.

On the new one with the soft ears, I think this particular one can accommodate an audible, though I'm not sure how sure I'd be it couldn't be lost. Am soon to get a dyter, but for $15, not a huge risk if it doesn't work out to be compatible.