tbrown 26 #1 July 19, 2003 Been looking at the low end of the price spectrum at some pretty nice rigs, Infinities and Wings. Have run into a few people who are quite happy with the most affordable of them all, the Dolphin, though one of the happy campers also says it's a "Volkswagen" rig. Any opinions from present/former Dolphin owners ? Riggers ? Anybody got one on order ? I'm looking around and would hate to rule out a good functional rig just because it's not as sexy as the spendier stuff, some of which is frankly overpriced. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity ! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #2 July 19, 2003 You do reach a point when looking at the lower-cost rigs that you do get exactly what you pay for. The Dolphin is one of those. If you can afford a better rig, the go with it. The Dolphin is still a functional rig and very airworthy, but...ummm, you do get what you pay for. Besides the obvious differences in design, etc, one of the major annoyances I have with Dolphins is that their freebags and reserve PCs are black. Sure, you try to find that after a cut-away...Wing's freebags are neon green/yellow, for example.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChileRelleno 0 #3 July 19, 2003 I'm with Dave, for a few dollars more you can have a much friendlier and nicer looking H/C i.e. Infinity or Wings ( both are great H/C's). My motto when making a major purchase has always been "You get what you pay for.". Kinda like the difference between a pair of Rustler jeans and a pair of Levis when it comes to most H/C's... Which is to say not much but $$$$, but the Dolphin is a Kmart blue light special brand you never heard of. ChileRelleno-Rodriguez Bro#414 Hellfish#511,MuffBro#3532,AnvilBro#9, D24868 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
parachutist 2 #4 July 19, 2003 QuoteI'm with Dave, for a few dollars more you can have a much friendlier and nicer looking H/C i.e. Infinity or Wings ( both are great H/C's). edit: Had my prices off a bit... I still think the Dolphins are a good bit cheaper when you add up the typcial options that go with a wings or infinity rig Chris Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dropoutdave 0 #5 July 19, 2003 For price v quality I would say the Vortex II, I paid £1300 for the container, ZP-exe and a Decelerator reserve and I cannot fault it, and it's sexy. The only thing is Chute Shop are not renound for their great service....see link http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=565441;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed;;page=unread#unread ------------------------------------------------------ May Contain Nut traces...... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tbrown 26 #6 July 19, 2003 Thanks one & all. I do believe you get what you pay for, and also believe some rigs are overpriced - I can only laugh at the $1800 prices I see for one or two brand names, but people still buy them too. I'm still looking along lines of an Infinity or Wings and haven't heard a bad thing about either, and plenty of praise for both. But asking around, like dirt dives, is free, so thanks again. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity ! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
okalb 104 #7 July 20, 2003 Another thing to think about when buying any equipment is, how long are you planning on keeping it. If you are not planning on jumping it forever, then resale value should play a part in your thinking. From what I have seen, over the past few years the resale value on the dolphin is extremely low. I have nothing against the rig, but it is something to consider. -OKTime flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pd190 0 #8 July 21, 2003 I am a current owner and operator of a Dolphin container and just like everyone stated, "You get what you pay for." However, you must also consider what and how you are going to be jumping it. Let me first start by saying that I am very please with my Dolphin. I do mostly RW and the rig fits good and is comfortable. If you are going to be free flyin' with it, you really have to have a tight pop top. any play what-so-ever will result in material snaking it's way out from underneath the pop top. I've seen alot of dolphins with 1 -4 inches of material exposed (something to watch out for.) I've had mine for about 5 years. I first bought it before they had the riser covers and velcro systems, It was a snap closure, but I have since had it modified by Altico. if you are buying an older used container, immediatley get those snaps replaced. I had real problems with those snaps actually pulling through the material on the pack tray for the reserve. All in all, I think that the Dolphin container systems is a decent system with the budget minded skydiver in mind. However, before you purchase a new one, look at what you are thinking about doing with it just not price alone. Like stated previously, think about resale as well. I bought a Dolphin in 2000 that was still in the original factory plastic (for a back up rig) for $300. Thoughts to consider. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dcridler 0 #9 July 23, 2003 *** If you see huge gaps between the pilot chute and the reserve flap it is a rigger problem (lazy or unskilled). I have packed hundreds of dolphins and javelins and have no problem making them look good. If your rigger cannot then you are asking him to pack a 10 lb. bowling ball into a 1 lb. bag (he should tell you no.) or he is not taking the time to do the job right that he should be. Blue Skies, Dave C. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Unstable 9 #10 July 23, 2003 I currently and jumping a Dolphin, and i have placed around 110 jumps on the system. My .02 => I don't necessarily Buy into the idea of "you get what you pay for." People who I see using this phrase liberally are only taking into account a few, not all, aspects of what makes a good rig or a good manufacturer. (I've had many debates about this: PM me if you want the long and emotional version ) My Dolphin has been a gem to me. For Starters - I believe the Basic Design of the dolphin to be competitive with other major designs. Note that the Dolphin itself is the brainchild of Mike Furry - one of the pioneers of rig designs for our time. He designed the Dolphin to be almost Identical to the Javelin. Was this a low budget clone? Absolutly Not!!! Mike Furry, while under contract of Sunpath Intl., also designed, tested, and continually improved the Javelin. When his contract expired and he Started Altico in 1994 (I think), he used the same technology that he had created for Sunpath on his Dolphin. Another reason that I favour the Dolphin is it's straightforward, basic design. This rig is half as complicated as most rigs on the market today - simple, proven technology. (Maybe it's just a turn-on to me ) I don't fancy myself as a vein person. Personally, one or two skydivers i see at our DZ are probably the most vein, egotistical people in the world. having a "cool" rig, matching colors, newest design, hottest trends - This Isn't important to me. Having a Black rig with a Blue pop-top is just fine, thank you very much. A strong point of Altico's operations is their customer service. For Example, when i sent my Dolphin in for full tuck-tabs, extra briddle protection, and a little extra padding along the yoke, I was greatly impressed. I had my rig FedExed, it arrived on Friday afternoon, and Monday morning it was on it's return trip. During those short two days, i visited with Mike Furry about 4 times, where he explained to me his design, his ideas of functionality and safety, what was going through his head as he created the dolphin, and about everything else you could imagine. I know i've written probably more than you wanted to hear. My point of this response is not to prove to you that the Dolphin is a superior rig; i know very well that it can't compete against the upper scale designs. I just think that people should think twice in re the dolphin when they say "you get what you pay for" Blue Skies,=========Shaun ========== Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bwilling 0 #11 July 23, 2003 QuoteIf you are not planning on jumping it forever, then resale value should play a part in your thinking. And I'm going to give you an example of this! I've been talking to a guy about a used Jav, DOM 12-00, about 150 jumps on it... said he paid almost $1500 when he purchased new. He's asking $1000, and I'm pretty sure if I offered him $850-$900, he'd take it. He's gonna be out $600-$650 bucks. I bought a new Dolphin in 2000, in fact I think it's the same DOM as his JAV, 12-00... I paid $722 with shipping (and I got some colored flaps, so my Dolphin is pimp )... I'd need to sell it to buy the Jav, and I figure I could get maybe $400 bucks for it, but even if If I only got $350, I'm still out only $322-$372. Now, how did I get screwed by resale value in this deal? Honestly, I bought the Dolphin because at 6'3" and 230lbs, I couldn't find a good used H&C when I needed it, and the Dolphin was seriously affordable... it fits me pretty well, is reasonably comfortable, and is safe for the kind of flying that I do with it. At this point I'm liable to keep it, and just have the tuck tab mods done to make it as FF as possible... haven't decided yet for sure. But in the mean time, it's beats the hell out of jumping rental gear! "If all you ever do is all you ever did, then all you'll ever get is all you ever got." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
okalb 104 #12 July 23, 2003 Quote*** Now, how did I get screwed by resale value in this deal? The problem I have seen over the years is that even though the Dolphin may be worth $400, good luck trying to sell it. There is not a big market for a used dolphin. Why should a pay you $400 for a used one when I can buy a new one for not much more. I know several people who have old dolphins in the closet that they gave up trying to sell. Granted if it was cheap enough to begin with and you put a fair number of jumps on it, who cares if you never get a buyer. It was still worth the money I guess. -OKTime flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bwilling 0 #13 July 23, 2003 QuoteWhy should a pay you $400 for a used one when I can buy a new one for not much more. Rigs & Things has the best price I found on a new one now, and it's $790.40 (before options), and will be more than double the $400 bucks with options. That's 'not much more'? Pricing being what is right now though, if I were buying new, I'd probably spend the extra $110 bucks and get the Wings, which is $900.00 (before options) from the same dealer, and more FF friendly. A later model used Dolphin (and I think that's the key, I don't like the earlier ones either and wouldn't have bought one) is a great option for somebody looking for gear on a tight budget... Quote A strong point of Altico's operations is their customer service. edited to add... I agree! Mike Furry rocks! "If all you ever do is all you ever did, then all you'll ever get is all you ever got." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nicknitro71 0 #14 July 23, 2003 QuoteI know several people who have old dolphins in the closet that they gave up trying to sell. If you really do send me a PM with their e-mails. I'm looking for a D4 with medium or medium large harness and I CANNOT find one. BTW, everything Unstable said is right on. I own one and do everything with it. It's ugly, that's it. And about the PC fabric popping out, just have it closed like a javelin... CoolMemento Audere Semper 903 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rehmwa 2 #15 July 23, 2003 $$$$ are important, but in the end don't let it drive your decision. I'd rather just buy used now and when it's time to go custom, then get EXACTLY what you want. If the Odyssey/Mirage/Vector rigs are the ones you really like, wait for it and get the one you want. It's almost always a mistake to settle for something now that will just be annoying later. ... Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skycop 0 #16 July 24, 2003 I've jumped a Dolphin for several years. I'm very satisfied with it. I'm not interested in keeping up with the Jones's, or setting up all my gear up to be color coordinated beautiful. Everything goes with black! Dolphins are a good no frills values..IMHO Blue Skies "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MJH 0 #17 December 7, 2004 I have about 60 jumps on my Dolphin, and I can't think of one bad thing to say about it. Granted, all of those jumps have been RW, so I can't attest to how the Dolphin does in FF. And this is the only rig I've owned, so it's not as though I have much of a standard of comparison. That said, I can't imagine that I would have been any more satisfied had I bought a more expensive container. I have never regretted buying the Dolphin. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
