Making sense of container sizes?

[bigbearfng 18]

I've begun to seriously shop for a used rig; I'm still renting now.
In looking at different containers I've run across mwl #'s, but it seems that there must also be a width? Kinda like shoes!?
I know that actually trying it on is best, but I'd rather have a good idea if it's going to work before I ask someone to ship it to my rigger for an inspection.
Also if a container has been made custom-should there be an indication of what size body it would then fit somewhere on it?
Thanks for any info!

[mr2mk1g 10]

mlw = main lift webbing. its the bit of webbing that goes up your side and holds your cut away and reserve handle. its the part of the rig that changes most between different sizes

yes there are different widths. eg Javenlin has a letter then number system. eg I have a C19. The C is the width and the 19 is the MLW length.

virtually all Javs are Csomthing though. in practice manufacturors have found that this size fits most. small women are better off with a Bsomthing and big fuck blokes sometimes have a Dsomething. Good luck finding one second hand though... most are C's

I expect (but dont KNOW) that this will be mirrrored accross the other manufacturors as they are all selling to the same people

when you have a manufacturor in mind, it takes about 3 secs to go to their web site and look at their rig sizing charts. they all use different codes so get a little list together of what size rigs fit you from each of your fave manufacturors so you can see quickly if a second hand rig is going to fit.

[skybytch 273]

There are two sizes you need to worry about when buying a used container - harness size and container size.

Harness size is the MLW length - generally between 14 and 20 inches. Just to make things more confusing, different manufacturers measure MLW in different ways and the MLW you need can vary depending on if the harness has hip rings or not. You can get a rough idea of what MLW will fit you by plugging your measurements into the following -- height in inches minus inseam in inches minus 20 (ie I'm 5'8" - 68" - tall with a 33" inseam. 68 minus 33 minus 20 = 15... which is the MLW size that fits me best). Doesn't work perfectly for every body shape, but it's a good starting point.

A couple of other "sized" areas on the harness are the legstraps and the laterals. Legstraps can easily be shortened (they can also be lengthened but it's a more involved - ie expensive - process). Laterals are important if you have a larger than average waist or upper body - short laterals on someone with a big waist will be uncomfortable. Most "average" size people with "average" body shapes won't need to worry much about legstrap length or the laterals.

Container size is determined by the size canopies you'll be putting in it. Each manufacturer has their own "codes" for the sizes. Sunpath includes a yoke size (A, B, C, D); AFAIK they are the only manufacturer that does this. To determine what container size you need, take the canopy types and sizes you'll be using to the various manufacturers container sizing charts and see which will work.

You can also call or email the manufacturer and ask what harness and container size in their product line(s) will fit you and your canopies best.

[Remster 30]

Quote

mlw = medium lift webbing

I though it was main lift web/webbing?

Remster

[mr2mk1g 10]

your right - was a brain fart/typo or something. I knew that, one of those instances of the hands not doing what the brain thinks.

edited to correct.