Pat Works' altimeter mount

[mre 0]

What do you think about Pat Works' altimeter mount? It's a design where you mount your altimeter to a piece of plastic that clips under your mud-flap cover. It is supposedly superior in every respect to any other way of wearing an altimeter for all types of skydiving activities. Its main advantage is that the altimeter is always in view, while not moving around like a chest mount (and perhaps being less likely to sit in your burble too?)
Can you see any drawbacks with this setup? Any safety concerns such as lines snagging, the altimeter obstructing your view of the reserve handle, or even the whole thing coming loose and interfering with the three-ring system?
/ Martin

[SkydiveMonkey 0]

The alti will be sticking out in your rig bag, if you fall over on landing it could damage the alti etc.
I'm not crazy - I'm a Skydiver

[mre 0]

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The alti will be sticking out in your rig bag

I believe it is supposed to be removable. Of course this might also mean that it may decide to detach itself when you don't want to. From the instructions:
6. At the TOP of the Mud flap Mark the top of the cardboard with a line fold it over about .5 inch (This keeps the thingie on, but removable)
/ Martin

[Opie 0]

I use a version of it. I'm using digitudes on mine and instead of the clip (fold) you mention in post 3, I had a snap set in the plastic and mud flap. Have close to 700 jumps with them (have two rigs each with it's own altimeter) and no problems. I would not say they are better in every way for all types of skydiving though. As for the the gear bag question you can just remove it at the end of the day although I leave mine on all the time. Things I like about it---
1. Always on the rig,-one less thing to grab or keep track of.
2. Great location for sit, tracking, under canopy.
3. Digitude has a light for when the sunset load turns into the sunless load.
Drawbacks--
1. Yes it can partially restrict your view of the cutaway handle depending on how you bend the plastic when building it.
2. You pretty much have to build it yourself- not on the store shelf.
3. I don't do crew but think it would be a line snagger if I did, more so because of the shape of the digitude and not the mount itself.
If you decide to build one I can give you a few more pointers.
Opie
If your not on the edge, you can't enjoy the view!

[DZDale 0]

I like the idea of "Pats" Mount, since it is always visible during freefall, but as far as making it myself is concerned, I couldnt be asked. There is a similar mount called the wedge, which is made by a German company called lookma who also make other skydiving accesories such as weightbelts etc. Check out this page http://www.lookma.de/Starting_Page/Products/_The_Wedge_/_the_wedge_.html What do you think ?
Cheers
Dale
A man's dreams are an index to his greatness.
- Zadok Rabinwitz

[mre 0]

I would seem that the two are pretty much the same? Except perhaps for "the wedge" having a loop for holding it down to the chest strap, which might be an improvement. That and you don't get to/have to make it yourself. But I'm just guessing based on pictures on a web page...
/ Martin

[patworks 5]

INSTRUCTIONS: How to make your own Always-See Altimeter Mount
http://www.works-words.com/alti.htm
Takes .5 hr to make.
People REALLY like this altimeter mount. I got so many queries, I am posting the plans. It works way cool because it makes sense. Hands are a lousy altimeter mount because you need em for flying and hand jive. Why have to look at the back of your hand to check altitude? Chest-mount foam pads don't work well with small altimeters and just generally suck. There is a better way. No matter what kind of skydiving you do, you can always see your Alti. with this handy Altimeter Mount. Made of black poly-plastic, it clips under the mud-flap cover just above your chest strap (right below your 3-Rings). It can be easily seen even when you are in a track, headdown, sitting, belly flying, or whatever. No, I don't sell em.

Pat Works nee Madden Travis Works, Jr .B1575, C1798, D1813, Star Crest Solo#1, USPA#189,

[airtwardo 7]

http://www.lookma.de/Starting_Page/Products/_The_Wedge_/_the_wedge_.html



Looks like the same idea, different approach.

Personally....I don't look at my altimeter all that much anyway.

The planet is so much easier to see.

~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~

[mnealtx 0]

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http://www.lookma.de/Starting_Page/Products/_The_Wedge_/_the_wedge_.html



Looks like the same idea, different approach.

Personally....I don't look at my altimeter all that much anyway.

The planet is so much easier to see.

Bonehead makes an alti mount, too...they (on-rig hard mounts as opposed to chest strap pillows) seem to be getting more and more popular.

Mike
I love you, Shannon and Jim.
POPS 9708 , SCR 14706

[airtwardo 7]

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Bonehead makes an alti mount, too...they (on-rig hard mounts as opposed to chest strap pillows) seem to be getting more and more popular.

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I like that design...and the price makes it worth looking at, instead of trying to build one. Anyone have one they would like to give us a review on?

~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~

[MrBrant 0]

Hey these looks pretty cool.

I've always hated having a wrist-mount alti for under canopy. It's simply annoying to look at.
Might have to have a go at making one of these, or (if i'm feelin lazy) just buy the boner-head one.

However, during freefall, i really like my wrist-mount. (And, while we're talking about different mounts) I use the Cloudflyer alti mount.
Works much better than a conventional mount in the fact that it doesnt' bounce around in freefall.

[Ragnarok 0]

Bonehead alti mount is by far the best one I have seen. There is a guy at my DZ that jumps with one, very nice. I just need to get around to ordering one.....

_________________________________________
Twin Otter N203-Echo,29 July 2006
Cessna P206 N2537X, 19 April 2008
Blue Skies Forever