Tips For First Time Rig Buyers
Buying a skydiving rig
Buying your first set of skydiving gear (or even your second or third) can be a daunting task. There are so many decisions to make. Should you buy a new or used skydiving rig? What brand of gear do you want? What comes “standard” with gear, and what’s up with all these options?
We understand that skydiving gear, particularly harness/container systems, are confusing. So, for the new rig buyer, we’ve laid out some of the gear buying basics to make it as easy as possible!
What does a rig consist of?
A complete rig is made up of several components:
- A main canopy
- A reserve canopy
- The harness/container system
- An AAD (optional, but recommended)
Here at Sun Path, we manufacture harness/containers (for ease, we’ll just refer to them as “containers” from here on out). We make several types of containers, but our flagship product the Javelin Odyssey is ideal for most skydivers. The Javelin Odyssey is recognized worldwide as one of the best skydiving containers on the market and is suitable for most sport jumpers, from beginners to world champions.
New v. Used Containers
Before looking on the used market, it’s important to understand that containers are sized to two different specifications:
- The size/model of your canopies; and
- The dimensions of your body.
On the used market you may find a container that fits one or the other, but it’s hard (not impossible, but hard) to find a container that fits both, especially if you are not an “average” sized male build.
The way a harness fits can make a significant difference to your comfort and safety while jumping, and even impact your skills progression. If the container is moving around on your body in freefall, it is certainly affecting the way you skydive. By purchasing a new container, you are guaranteeing the appropriate/safe fit for your canopies, and a comfortable harness fit that won’t get in the way of your skydiving.
However, if you decide to purchase a used container, we are more than happy to look up a serial number in our records to confirm the size of the container, harness, and any other applicable information. If you provide your measurements to us, we can also tell you what harness size to seek out, or if a certain serial number will/won’t fit you well. Knowledge is power when searching for used gear!
It is possible to make some harness adjustments if a used rig isn’t quite right. If you are interested in this option, get in touch with our Repairs department to discuss your specific situation further.
