FreeDiver 0 #1 June 17, 2003 Something I experienced the day before yesterday... I do all my gear checks in the plane: everything ok. During the freefall I noticed something wasn't right! My jumpsuit had openened up completely although I had completely closed the zipper in the plane. It felt as if my belly belt was comming loose too so I decided to pull a little higher than planned. Took a look at my canopy; was ok. Looked down and I could see my underwear !! Jumpsuit had opened up completely, cheststrap was as good as completely loose, bellystrap was very loose too ! So I figure this is dangerous ? I use a rented Vector 2 from our DZ (still student) that's actually a little too small for me I tighten the legstraps real hard though!! i allways have alot of pain in my legs after opening.. it's so painfull I wanna be on the ground ASAP... maybe I should get a better fitting rig ?? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jurgencamps 0 #2 June 17, 2003 Dave, ask me this question next time when you are at the DZ. Jurgen Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 643 #3 June 17, 2003 Two hints: Install a snap or Velcro at your neck to prevent your zipper from opening accidentally. Secondly, loosen your legstraps a little. They should be snug enough to prevent slapping. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Squeak 17 #4 June 18, 2003 Quote. It felt as if my belly belt was comming loose too so I decided to pull a little higher than planned. Jumpsuit had opened up completely, cheststrap was as good as completely loose, bellystrap was very loose too ! Excuse my ignorance but whats a belly strap, all rigs I have seen have 3 straps, 1 chest and 2 leg, never seen a belly strap???You are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky) My Life ROCKS! How's yours doing? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lauril 0 #5 June 18, 2003 Quote...bellystrap was very loose too ! So I figure this is dangerous ? Bellystrap loosens as the main comes out of the container, so it's not dangerous I don't know about the chest strap though, it should stay put... - Lauri Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kingbunky 3 #6 June 18, 2003 a belly strap is usually found on older containers. it's basically a belt that sits just above your hips. all of our student rigs have them and they help transfer some of the weight of the rig to your hips as opposed to carrying it on your shoulders."Hang on a sec, the young'uns are throwin' beer cans at a golf cart." MB4252 TDS699 killing threads since 2001 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jerm 0 #7 June 19, 2003 what kingbunky said. plus bellystraps help snug things up on student containers that are made to fit most people passably but no one well. 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
Tonto 1 #8 June 19, 2003 So you got rid of belly bands and put in belly straps? Our rigs have chest and leg straps. tIt's the year of the Pig. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kingbunky 3 #9 June 19, 2003 no, there's a belly band/strap and a chest strap, as well as leg straps of course. we used to use belly band throw-outs, but this year they were all converted to boc throw-out."Hang on a sec, the young'uns are throwin' beer cans at a golf cart." MB4252 TDS699 killing threads since 2001 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tonto 1 #10 June 19, 2003 Belly band throwouts were banned here in 1985. ROL throwouts were banned here in 2000. The sport is small here, and we can convert programs fast. When we see something that kills, or can kill, equipment wise, we stop using it. tIt's the year of the Pig. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kingbunky 3 #11 June 19, 2003 i didn't really think about belly band throw-outs being dangerous... the rationale here was that since almost all new gear was boc, it would save a transition for students getting their own gear. i guess boc does promote a more stable depolyment because you tend to arch a bit to reach the pilot chute with boc, where with a belly band, you tend to de-arch to look at the pilot chute before you deply. either way, i like the boc better. (still renting student gear!)"Hang on a sec, the young'uns are throwin' beer cans at a golf cart." MB4252 TDS699 killing threads since 2001 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lippy 918 #12 June 19, 2003 Quotewhere with a belly band, you tend to de-arch to look at the pilot chute before you deply. As well as the possibility of a twist in the belly-band, causing a PC in tow.I got nuthin Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CloudOnMyTongue 0 #13 June 19, 2003 On the tandem rigs I've jumped with they said the belly strap is pretty useless, that it just helps to keep peoples shirts down in freefall so the videos can be kept clean Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Faber 0 #14 June 19, 2003 QuoteTwo hints: Install a snap or Velcro at your neck to prevent your zipper from opening accidentally. Secondly, loosen your legstraps a little. They should be snug enough to prevent slapping. What he said.use it. it will work If you lock your cheststrap in the rigth way then you dont need to worry about it gets abit loose(rember you´ll need to breath aswell) Stay safe Stefan Faber Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tonto 1 #15 June 20, 2003 Belly bands were banned here in the 80's because a twisted bellyband caused a pilot chute in tow mal - as did ROL until stiffeners made it near impossible to twist the leg strap and not notice. tIt's the year of the Pig. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
