YOUR personal Gear

[Frikndivn 0]

I noticed from the gear review section that people had only good things to say about their rig of choice. What I am curious about is the things that you DON'T like about it. Is it not comfortable, too big, etc.
I now have a good idea what people like with each rig and the good features. Now I want the negative side to weigh against the good.

[LawnDart21 0]

I love my gear, I have a kickass Mirage G3 M1 that fits like a glove, I have a cypres that I assume works..........LOL, I have a reserve that I KNOW works at 150mph......and my brand new Vengence 120 (aside from putting it in the bag) kicks ass. Now what I hate: I ordered my kick ass Mirage like a week before they came out with the Unysis design..... DAMN!!! It also took two send backs to Mirage to get it o fit right. I ordered two identical rigs from them inside of 8 months, sending the same paperwork for both and they came back two totally different sizes......Other than that, nothing to complain about.
"I live to EFS"
Tom

[mountainman 0]

Well, here goes:
Wings container.....I don't like how the closing pin points down instead of up, I don't like how small the BOC pouch is
Icarus Safire 169.....I don't like how hard the new canopy is to PRO pack (very easy with psycho pack)
Dash-M 181.....nothing yet
CYPRES......super expensive maintanance prices for 4year/8year/batteries/etc. (but worth it if I need it)
There ya go! As you can see, I haven't found much that I don't like. I would not change anything that I have got.
JumpinDuo.com...come and sign the guestbook.

[skycat 0]

On my Mirage I didn't like that there was no place to stow the excess brake line. My rigger fixed that yesterday. Mirage just redesigned the risers to fix this issue. Other than that, lets see, my crossfire had to shorten the brake lines cause they came from the factory set up for hook turning and I have short arms......everything else hasn't been tested yet.

[MarkM 0]

Well, my EOS is uglier than sin, the chest strap is a little low and the cutaway pillow sticks a bit out more than I like. Oh, and the lack of main riser covers kinda sucks too....
But then gear has come along way since they made those back in 1992.
I think if people didn't like their gear, they wouldn't jump it. I'll save my EOS for basing, but wouldn't want to use it for normal skydiving.

[skybytch 273]

Infinity container - the only thing I don't like is that I got door rash on the top reserve flap on my third jump on it.
PD143R - The only thing I don't like is the color - orange, yuk. But for $300 I ain't complainin' too much.
Spectre 170 - again, color - navy blue and pink, yuk. But again, for $300 I ain't complainin' too much.
Aviator helmet - no complaints; Robnyk Saphire altimeter - no complaints; FireFly freefly suit - no complaints; FireFly RW suit - the legs are just a hair too short, hard to put the booties on, but it wasn't made custom for me so I don't mind too much... and the price was right; AirTime Pit Special RW suit - a bit snug through the shoulders/armpits but I've lived with it for 12 years; ProTrack - no complaints; Square One weight vest - weights suck no matter who makes 'em; FlexZ goggles - no complaints
pull and flare,
lisa
--
What would Scooby Doo?

[TALONSKY 0]

Talon container: made in 1996 I disliked the bridle showing from the right side flap to BOC. I had a mod done to fix this now I like everything about the container.
Safire 169: I do not like that Icarus sized them differently than other canopies i.e. a 169 Safire is comparable to a 150 PD Sabre or so. I called them before I bought one and they did tell me that. Other than that I love the canopy plus I got a great deal $550 with only 150 jumps on it.
Z1 helmet: They scratch way to easy or may be I need to stop bumping my head into everything. Other wise love it.
Pro-Track: They cost a lot but best skydiving toy made. LOVE IT
FireFly freefly jump suit: They took way too long to deliver it 9 weeks. I called every week to try and get it rushed. I love the suit and get complements on it weekly, I also love that it is a 2 piece suit.
Tonysuit Pit special RW: The white soaks up stains to easily. I only fell in the mud twice and I can’t get the stain totally out. Otherwise Love it.

[AndyMan 7]

Javelin J3 - Don't like the main cosing flap. They should really upgrade..
Stiletto 150. No complaints. Mind you I've only done two jumps.
Tempo 210. No complaints. One uneventful use.
Z1 brain bag. Lining comes out, lense falls off, paint chips off. See my review under the Gear Reviews.
Altimaster III - doesn't handle high altittude well. Stops climbing at 16.5 MSL. Do you REALLYneed an altimeter above 16.5 though?
ICQ: 5578907
MSN Messenger: andrewdmetcalfe at hotmail dot com
Yahoo IM: ametcalf_1999

[Snowflake 0]

Quote

Stiletto 150. No complaints. Mind you I've only done two jumps.
Tempo 210. No complaints. One uneventful use

A question here isn't that getting a bit large in the size difference between main and reserve?
JG

[freeflir29 0]

"A question here isn't that getting a bit large in the size difference between main and reserve?"
Nope.....The bigger the reserve the better IMHO
I have a Dolphin container and the chest strap is a little low....that's because I am the third owner. I'm sure if it had been custom fit for me that wouldn't be a problem.
"I only have 131 jumps, so I don't know shit..right?"-Clay

[PhreeZone 20]

No different then Windsor for rec.'s VX 99 and Raven 200 something..
Me personally?
J2 Javelin,a touch pricey for a decked out rig and not near as good of pin flaps as most other designs.
Cobalt 150 main - Love the canopy. It's iffy on the customer service from Atair, the 135 demo I had hurt my neck and back, and the lower stering lines are too short (for me) and need replaced to adjust unlike most canopies that are adjustible.
PD 160R reserve - Large pack volume, but better reinforcement then others.
Cypres - Thing is great, but does take volume in the reserve pack tray.
Political Correctness - At least one person at any one time will be offended by something

[Aviatrr 0]

Quote

A question here isn't that getting a bit large in the size difference between main and reserve?

By that same token, I should have a PD126R in my rig, but I have a PD160R.. I load my main at about 1.6......I will NOT load my reserve at 1.6.......therefore, a larger reserve is necessary.. I think these guys with sub 100 mains and 106, 113, etc reserves loaded at 1.8 and up are freakin' nuts.. If I KNEW, WITHOUT A DOUBT, that I would ALWAYS land on the DZ under reserve........hell, then I wouldn't have a problem with a 126R......but if I'm landing in a tight backyard, fences all over the place, and kids in the yard to dodge.........well, let's just say I'd like to survive..
Mike

[mountainman 0]

in regards to your jumpsuit and stains.....have you taken it to a good dry cleaners?? one of the AFF/TM guys at our DZ sez that the dry cleaners can get ANYTHING out. try it!!
JumpinDuo.com...come and sign the guestbook.

[skycat 0]

Last year at couch I actually saw where the large reserve with a small main was a problem. I don't know the sizes of the canopies, but the girl had 2 out, and it looked like a 150 reserve and about a 100 main. Give or take the sizes could have been bigger or smaller Well the whole time I was watching it the tiny main was dancing around the reserve, not really flying at all, just jumping and twisting around. At about 20-30 ft (I couldn't quite tell from my angle) the main decided it was done playing nice and wrapped it self around the reserve which up until this time was flying just fine, strait and level. She ended up with a main reserve entanglement and a ride in a ambulance pretty badly messed up.
I guess you can debate she should have cut away, or whatever, but the fact was she opted to stay with 2 out and due to the large difference in sizes of the canopys it didn't work out so well.

[AndyMan 7]

Quote

A question here isn't that getting a bit large in the size difference between main and reserve?

Yes. I don't imagine they would handle a two out situation. I imagine they will probably downplane rather quickly.
A new reserve may go on the shopping list when I have money. I haven't decided yet if I prefer the risk of downplane or the comfort of a big reserve.
_Am
ICQ: 5578907
MSN Messenger: andrewdmetcalfe at hotmail dot com
Yahoo IM: ametcalf_1999

[skymedic 0]

The ? is why did she have 2 out?
I want a much larger reserve for the reasons that Mike said...2 out is a much more unlikely scenario than a cutaway on a small Heavily loaded eliptical.....this will happen....2 out wont happen to most of us in this sport.....so i will go with a large reserve and smaller main....
marc
"...a mind stretched with new idea's will never regain its shape"

[nws01 0]

Kevin (Lawndart21),
I have a Mirage G3 Unisyn and I mine is a little too tight as well. I sent them an e-mail and they told me it would be $300 to make the corrections since it was made to the specifications that was ordered. Did you pay anything?
Answering your question now,
Other than that I do love it. It is still very comfrotable although it could fit a little better.
My main is a Spectre 170 loaded at 1.3 and I have a PD 160R with one ride. Packing error.
In my opinion you can not beat Mirage or PD.
Nathan

[pilotdave 0]

the color and the catapult on my reflex. Still havent made a decision about weather to keep the catapult or not. I like the idea, but too many experienced skydivers say to remove it. Other than those two things, I pretty much love it. Got some beer spilled on it at freeze fest but that doesnt hurt it's looks too much! Dave

[LawnDart21 0]

Re: Nathan, nope, Mirage didn't charge me for the changes. Basically I had ordered two identical rigs, one in Oct 2000, it was an M5, (the smallest main I coulld fit in it safely was a 170). I was downsizing canopies, so I ordered the same container with the same measurements in April 2001, this time I ordered an M1. (I figured I could still use the M5 for CReW.......) Anyways, the lift web stabilizer on the M1 is smaller on the M1 then on the M5, so that was the start of the problem. They also made the leg straps too small (circumfrence), which is a basic measurement. So, basically they ended up screwing up the whole rig, size wise. Nothing was made to the measurements. So, that, and the fact that I bought two rigs from them in seven months, they really took care of me. They took care of all the alterations, and the rig fits great now. I assume you emailed Bill in sales. He's who I worked with. He treated me great throughout the ordeal, they overnighted my rig to me so I wouldn;t miss Quincy. The rig arrived 30 minutes before I left for the airport. Sorry to hear you had a problem with them.
"I live to EFS"
Tom
ps- who's Kevin?

[rhino 0]

I have a Racer NOS made 2 years ago. It is VERY comfortable. Fast reserve "although I haven't had to use it yet". I also like the fact that it is fail safe "if there is a primary stitch failure anywhere on the rig the jumper will not come out". That and the reserve speed are the reasons I purchased my racer. I have a PD143 reserve. Am purchasing a new 2pin cypress this week. Hopefully it never gets used. And currently have a Diablo110 loaded at 1.65ish. I am replacing the Diablo with a Crossfire of the same size. The Diablo is a great canopy I just think I am loading it a bit more that it is made to be loaded. I have slinks on my main "love em". What I don't like about my older racer I have to send it in to get the new tuck flaps installed. $320 mod. But that's o.k. at least I won't have to deal with velcro any more.
Rhino
Blue Skies and Smooth Rides!!

[Jessica 0]

I love my Reflex, but I hate that every time I get the reserve repacked I have to give it back to the rigger a few weeks later to retighten the pop top.
My main is a PD 170 (F-111), and I don't know if it's just cause I suck, but I have a bitch of a time getting a flare out of it. I don't remember having this much trouble on the ZPs I rented before I bought gear. Otherwise, I like the canopy just fine.
No complaints about the rest of my gear, and all in all, I love every D-ring and scrap of webbing on it.

[skymama 37]

Old rig-
Infinity container- thought it was great, loved the tuck flaps and how nice and snug everything fit in it, it just didn't fit ME very well.
Hornet 190- no complaints at all, would recommend it.
PD 176 reserve-never saw it, thank goodness.
New rig-
Racer- I only have 2 jumps on it, but everyone tells me that I'm going to like the way that it will conform to my body. Didn't really like spending the extra $200 to modify my Cypres for it though.
Sabre2 170- I've landed all 6 jumps on my feet so far (had it hooked up to the other container for a bit), and am really enjoying the extra surf that it has. It's more responsive for me on turns, but I'm a little worried about that off heading opening that I had that whacked me, I hope it's not going to be a common occurance.
PD 160 reserve- I love the fact that it's there, and I hope I never see what color it is!
Andrea
The brave may not live forever, but the timid may not live at all.

[Kirils 1]

Vortex container: the absolute best well made container I have.
Mirage M2's: never did fit right.

My M3 is a perfect fit, looks good, almost as good as my Vortex.
Dolphin container was very confortable, but looked cheap and fell apart with only 100 jumps.
Reflex container: 4 chops in 70 jumps, won't sell it or jump it...it's jinxed.
Stiletto canopy: hate it in gusts. Quirky and not a first choice.
HeatWave: One of my favorite canopy's. Brake lines had to be shortened 4" to get a decent landing.
Diablo: Fastest turning canopy I have. Lousy surf, but hey, it's a 7 cell.
Chaos 21: it's the Bomb!!!
Raven reserve: it would make a decent main. I've had 3 rides on one!
Tempo reserve: it opened, I landed safe. the Raven flew better.
Cypress AAD: money down the drain, I feel I'm getting burned
on the batteries and maintenance. Why don't more people complain about this abuse??!! Boycot Cypress till prices and service is resonable!
Astra AAD: my choice for AAD's. Best bang for the buck.
FreeFly suit: Tad's works for me!
Helmet: my heads hard enough....
Skydiving is not a static excercise with discrete predictability...