firstime 0 #1 April 30, 2003 not sure on the pros & conson side packing or pro packing. Im very new at this sport(15 jumps) and would wuld like some input.Thanks,Larry Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #2 April 30, 2003 Very simple and easy to follow advise. Follow the recommendations of the gear manufacturer.quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Amazon 7 #3 April 30, 2003 IT seems that to the DZ's I have been to Pro-Packing is more prevalent than flat packs( side packing) at this time. I have seen a few people do the roll up psycho pack but not nearly as many as the Pro-pack. My advise is to get with a rigger and take a packing course from them. Ultimately its up to you to pack it. Might I suggest the first few pack jobs you do.. take your time and get someone to look at the steps as you go thru them. Then get out high and dump high . As it deploys sit back and watch your canopy unfold itself. I trust my pack jobs. I get twitchy when someone else packs my parachute. I modify a couple things if I know I will be doing a slow speed opening for a hop and pop under low clouds like we have in Seattle. Little tricks such as not rolling the nose as much. If I am going to be doing a jump where I know I will be going fast on deployment from doing a freefly jump without big bellyfly suit I roll the hell out of the nose. I am old and brittle and appreciate a nice soft sniveling canopy for an opening that does not jar my bones. I used to freepack a Parafoil with no bag and a slider spider, just to get a good positive opening. I dont need that type of nosebleed opening anymore. Amazon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jtval 0 #4 April 30, 2003 as far as Pro's and con's its all just about the same thing just done a different way. if you have a big mian you may find it easier to flat pack. most ppl pro pack b/c it takes up less space. I personally think its easier even, with a 210 main. its all really up to you. once you get accustomed to your sylte in packing you will have no worries. its those first few that willgive you the pucker factor at pull time! take you time do it right, even if you have to undo it all and re-do the whole thing. if it doesn't fell right to YOU re-do the job. dont worry about all the jokes; its your ass youre saving! when i first started I was really particular about my packs. now I kinda kno whow sloppy I can be and still have a nice opening!My photos My Videos Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flyhi 24 #5 April 30, 2003 QuoteFollow the recommendations of the gear manufacturer. Good advice. Flat, trash, pro, or psycho - Our women; our pack jobsShit happens. And it usually happens because of physics. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jimmytavino 16 #6 April 30, 2003 I have been comfortable with what I call "the pre-pro " pack job...I.E. flat packing... If the canopy has packing tabs on it,(like my PD Spectre 210 does....) ,, I use 'em,,, and flat pack it....... flat packed an RW Challenger 240 for over 1100 jumps,,,,never a Mal.... It does take up more space,, ( but for me it is MUCH faster )... and so I do not crowd the normal packing areas at the club, and instead spread out a packing mat outdoors, which is large enough to share with others........If the wind picks up,,,I may head indoors, but I NEVER lay my parachute out,,,, and then walk away ,, leaving it in the way of others,,,,,,Like all aspects of Jumping,,,, we learn when we listen and watch and ask questions,,, then LISTEN to the answers..( just be sure to learn how to differentiate between the variety of ideas on any particular subject and weigh all the replies to your question in order to formulate a course of action..).. Many ways can be "right" so investigate what works best for you......for me the "pre-pro" approach is quicker, cleaner, familiar, and functional... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jumpy 0 #7 April 30, 2003 Quote If the canopy has packing tabs on it,(like my PD Spectre 210 does....) ,, I use 'em,,, and flat pack it....... flat packed an RW Challenger 240 for over 1100 jumps,,,,never a Mal.... Are they F111 canopies? I'm not really familiar with either of them. I learnt to flat pack student gear when on student status with F111 canopies but zp tends to slide around alot. I tried flat packing my zp main and it didn't really work to well. Gave up in the end although I don't doubt it's possible. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dougjumper 0 #8 April 30, 2003 I would follow the advice of your Aff Instructor about packing. He or she should know about the gear you have been jumping and should help you in this manner. I learned side packing when I was new and later advanced to Pro packing. Its good to know both. If you have your own gear follow the recomendations of the Main Paracute Manufacturer. Learn to be good and proficeint at both will help you in your Skydiving Career..above all..if not sure...always ask...Blue Skies... The glass is half full or half empty doesn't matter. Let go and have the Lord guide your path. He will take care of it all. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jimmytavino 16 #9 April 30, 2003 True the material is slippery,,, but I have developed the techniques to manage it... and to "bag" it rather easily......After "stacking" the canopy to prepare to bag it,,,,,I put a knee on it and face the canopy with my back to the container, and the D bag and bridle "away " from me....... I then locate the grommets on the D bag,,,, put each hand on a front corner of the d bag,,, and then rather than trying to put the canopy "into" the bag,,,, I think in terms of putting the bag "around" the canopy.... Like a Magician who pulls a tablecloth out from under the china,,,, I use a quick yanking motion, to snatch the bag, under and around the Stacked canopy... You only need to get the grommet flap as far forward, towards your suspension lines, as possible.... The trick is to let up with the pressure from your knee,,,,, as you make that pulling move with the bag..... Then stuff the canopy into each far corner of the bag,,, and lock it up with the first 2 bights of suspension lines..... Then tuck in any canopy material,,, as needed... the slipperiness of the Zero P....is then, not as intimidating as it might otherwise be.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ERICCONNELLY 0 #10 April 30, 2003 Thread hijack! Psycho - for both Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DexterBase 1 #11 April 30, 2003 Here's something that might get me flamed. I think that students should not be taught to flat pack, instead, start pro-packing from the start. I know at least at all the DZ's I've been to, nobody but the students flatpack. Everyone else uses the propack (or psycho pack...etc). Why show them one method, when they're going to switch techniques very soon ? I think it's better to keep it simple in the minds of the student and low timer. Teach them the method they will be using as a skydiver. "You have to pack this way but don't worry, you can propack as soon as you're off student status." What is the point of this, and I know you've either said it or heard someone say it. ---Dex Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 2,991 #12 April 30, 2003 >Here's something that might get me flamed. >I think that students should not be taught to flat pack, instead, start pro-packing from the start. That's what I do. PD recommends pro-packing; it makes sense to teach what the canopy manufacturer recommends. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zenister 0 #13 April 30, 2003 as a student i was only taught to pro-pack..ive seen people flat pack, but wouldnt really know where to start.. going to have to learn a version of it for BASE though..____________________________________ Those who fail to learn from the past are simply Doomed. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dreamsville 0 #14 April 30, 2003 One thought: if you have doubts about the pack job (think you missed something, mussed it up too much) redo it! I didn't like the way I forced it in the bag one time, since I thought I'd messed up the tail around the slider when putting it in. We'll never know if I would have been slammed on that opening. |I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 273 #15 April 30, 2003 QuoteI tried flat packing my zp main and it didn't really work to well. I flat packed my ex's Sabre 135 a few times. He preferred the openings when I pro packed it though. I used to be able to flat pack faster than many people can pro pack. Ahh, the days of all F111 mains... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DexterBase 1 #16 April 30, 2003 Quotegoing to have to learn a version of it for BASE though.. Yes you are. You are going to learn some really cool packing techniques. I've had riggers watch my BASE packs and trip out. It's cool to have a rigger tell you he started doing something himself that he saw you do on a pack job! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bch7773 0 #17 April 30, 2003 At my dropzone, they teach students to flat pack because they are jumping big manta 288s, and i think (ive never tried though) that they are hard to pro-pack. I think flat packing does have its pros, like how you can go take a bathroom break or something in the middle of packing with no harm done. However if theres only 2 spots left in the plane and 3 people packing, propacking will get you on that load before the flatpackers MB 3528, RB 1182 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jumpgod 0 #18 April 30, 2003 and don't be shy about asking your local parachute rigger questions about packing....they are your best resource along with the maker's recommendations. jg Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sid 1 #19 May 2, 2003 I've pro-packed hundreds of Mantas, they're smaller than tandems and I've pro-packed enough of those things too! Most manufacturers recommend the propack because you're packing the canopy on the same heading that you want it to open. For those interested I have a pro-packing study guide on my web site for free at http://www.sidsrigging.com with over 30 pages of instruction and high res. pictures. There is also a cd available with an extra 200 mbs of video clips (couldn't put those on the web site I'd have got hammered for bandwidth). Enjoy! SidPete Draper, Just because my life plan is written on the back of a Hooter's Napkin, it's still a life plan.... right? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 643 #20 May 6, 2003 Quote Quotegoing to have to learn a version of it for BASE though.. Yes you are. You are going to learn some really cool packing techniques. I've had riggers watch my BASE packs and trip out. It's cool to have a rigger tell you he started doing something himself that he saw you do on a pack job! >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I disagree. Most BASE (and reserve) pack jobs start out on their side, but quickly become very neat PRO packs. Several of the tricks I use while packing reserves I learned from the people who now run Basic Research. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jerm 0 #21 May 9, 2003 Quote However if theres only 2 spots left in the plane and 3 people packing, propacking will get you on that load before the flatpackers ha.... you're obviously looking at the wrong flatpackers... someone ask johnny1488 or killerkimmy about this one Landing without injury is not necessarily evidence that you didn't fuck up... it just means you got away with it this time Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jerm 0 #22 May 9, 2003 Quote Most BASE (and reserve) pack jobs start out on their side, but quickly become very neat PRO packs. yes... exactly... i propack, i just happen to lay the canopy on its side first and i'm quick about it. Landing without injury is not necessarily evidence that you didn't fuck up... it just means you got away with it this time Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DexterBase 1 #23 June 14, 2003 QuoteQuote Quotegoing to have to learn a version of it for BASE though.. Yes you are. You are going to learn some really cool packing techniques. I've had riggers watch my BASE packs and trip out. It's cool to have a rigger tell you he started doing something himself that he saw you do on a pack job! >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I disagree. Most BASE (and reserve) pack jobs start out on their side, but quickly become very neat PRO packs. Several of the tricks I use while packing reserves I learned from the people who now run Basic Research. I know this is an older thread, but I was hoping you'd read it again and explain exactly which part of my post you disagree with. Just curious... I learned flat packing after I had already been BASE jumping (I wanted to save a little $$$ by packing student rigs and that's how my dzo wanted them packed) and what I saw horrified me. I couldn't imagine why anyone would prefer that method over a propack. Basic Research is still recommending starting on the ground, but CR says start like any regular over-the-shoulder PRO pack. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tbrown 26 #24 June 14, 2003 Like a Magician who pulls a tablecloth out from under the china,,,, I use a quick yanking motion, to snatch the bag, under and around the Stacked canopy... He used to get us kicked out of more restaurants doin' that.... That sounds really cool actually, I've packed a few Spectres so far, but not any new ones, so I haven't come up against the slippery fabric yet. In the old days I used to side pack a Viking Superlite (a 230 ft seven cell, for you kids...) and it opened just fine. But at Perris they taught me how to pro pack and it's easier and makes more sense. The openings are wonderful. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity ! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
