badlock 0 #1 July 13, 2003 Hi guys, I'm new in the sport and in the forum and I want to purchase my own first rig. I haven't found any good second hand system deals, so I have purchased a second hand canopy and now I need a container/harness system for it. My first descision was a Wings because my rigger said it were ok. Then a friend of mine said that a friend of him (3500+ jumps) told him, that he would only trust in a Vector 3 because of the reserve container: He said that Vectors are the only container/harness systems which has the best sewn reserve container. It would open like a flower so that the freebag could start better if the main parachute POD is still in the container (during total malfunction like pilot chute in tow, for example). He called this situation a "cold reserve deployment". What is true?? I want to buy the safest what I can get and I didn't want to be the one millionst jumper who has a double malfunction caused by a bad build container. As a beginner I'm may not experienced enough to pull my reserve under all circumstances belly to the globe, so the construction of my container should let the freebag start under all of these circumstances. I'm not a idiot, but I want a idiot proof equipment . Best regards and blue sky!! Don't be a Lutz! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
andy2 0 #2 July 13, 2003 Two things to do: search the forums for posts about the containers you mentioned, also try searching for the "skyhook", which is a product Relative Workshop (the makers of the Vector 3) produce. Read all you can. Call/email questions to the manufacturers and keep posting relavent questions on this board. Hopefully someone will come back with some good replies for you, sorry I don't have enough experience. But I've found if you really search for it, the answers are already there. Good luck and blue skies. --------------------------------------------- let my inspiration flow, in token rhyme suggesting rhythm... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wmw999 2,439 #3 July 13, 2003 Andy's right. Do your research, and talk to a number of people. All of the rigs currently on the market open. There are reviews for all of them here on dz.com, as well as personal opinions here in the forums. Everyone has preferences and most have superticions. If you talk to only one or two people, you inherit their preferences and supersticions as well as their knowledge. 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) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 643 #4 July 13, 2003 ... he would only trust in a Vector 3 because of the reserve container ... What is true?? >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Hee! Hee! Opinions are like arm pits. Every skydiver has them, but some of them stink! Truth is, if you buy a container from any of the top dozen manufacturers, it will open. And it will open in a variety of positions and airspeeds. There is no junk still in production. Much of your confusion arises from the fact that if you ask any skydiver, he will tell you that the best gear on the market is the one he currently owns. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sducoach 0 #5 July 13, 2003 sniff, sniff................. How true!!!! On the Mark Rob!!! Blues, J.E.James 4:8 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
badlock 0 #6 July 14, 2003 @ wmw999 & andy 2: I agree - I should read the rest of the threads first - and, I've done it, but I'm confused now. I've found the threads about Skyhook and some about the Wings. But I've found also these threads: http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=542700 and: http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=416386 Now I'm more confused than before @ riggerrob: I'm confused. In other threads (see above) you say, you agree with some manufacurers that their design are safer and now you say, that all top manufacturers are ok. The problem is, that a beginner like me has no experience. So I have to ask people who have the experience. The problem is, that many of the experienced jumpers have opinions which sounds very plausibly for me. Tell me one reason why I - the greenhorn(!) - should ignore the opinion from a jumper who has 3500+ jumps? Or with other words: Should I buy a cheaper rig, or should I buy the Vector with the Skyhook? What would you do, riggerrob? Blue Sky! Don't be a Lutz! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wmw999 2,439 #7 July 14, 2003 They're all TSO'd, they all open. That said, the Skyhook is new (which can mean that all the kinks aren't worked out, but doesn't necessarily), and seems to be an awesome idea. If you have the money to put towards one, it looks like a great idea. It will open your reserve faster, suppressing spins. If you think you might end up doing canopy relative work, it's not such a hot idea. I don't know about camera -- I do know that camera jumpers commonly don't jump RSL's. You should listen to him. Just listen to others, too. He won't be the only person with that opinion. However, the evidence of there never (as far as I know) having been a jumper who went in because their bag stayed in the pack tray because of a seam is pretty compelling. That weakens that data point as a be-all and end-all, but it still is a data point. 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) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 643 #8 July 14, 2003 My first choice would be a Wings, because it is cheaper. However, if I had the (US$10,000) spare cash, I would buy a Sigma (tandem version of Vector 3) tomorrow. Hint, most of my jumps are with tandem students these days. The Skyhook looks to be the best Reserve Static-Line on market. Remember that a Skyhook is easily dis-connected if you want to do CReW or jump camera. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
