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Skydiving Gear and Equipment: Harness and Container Systems: Aerodyne Research Corporation : Icon Sport : Reviews: Pages: 1 2 [>] [>>]

has contributed 18 reviews

(Review ID:2155)

19 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

Great rig!

Rated by: linebckr83 on 2009-03-18 (user profile) (user reviews)

Review of: Icon Sport in Unknown Tag: 'cat_linked'

Pros: Fit, design, looks
Cons: none

I ordered my Icon right after couch freaks this last year. It arrived right on time. First off, there are a couple really cool design features to this rig. The most noticable is the mini force riser system. Alot of people think it is a fake but they have alot of literature on their website about it. It really does reduce cutaway forces. Also, lines catching the bottom of the reserve tray is a common factor in linetwists, so they sewed an extra piece of material down there to keep the lines from catching here. Lastly, the reserve freebag has elastic half-cylinder keepers for the line stows. The lines freely pull out but are much cleaner to pack. The rig is very solid and well-built. Also, I love being under canopy now. In my older Vector 2 I just hung there, but the Icon is designed to sit you in the harness. It is a very comfortable position and ais optimum for good canopy control. When I first received it, the yoke felt a little tight on me, but I think it is because my last rig was so loose. It really fits like a glove! It really is comfortable on the ground, in the plane, in freefall, and under canopy. I am extremely impressed with it. A lot of problems other people report in forums and reviews seem to be addressed and solved on my rig. Thanks Aerodyne for listening to customers and striving to make better products!

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(Review ID:2058)

11 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

You Get What You Pay For - and this thing is CHEAP!!

Rated by: surfbum5412 on 2008-09-07 (user profile) (user reviews)

Review of: Icon Sport in Unknown Tag: 'cat_linked'

Pros: price
Cons: non-durable fabric (cheap), leg straps slip

I was looking forward to trying out the ICON because I own an Aerodyne canopy (Pilot). I can only say one these products they make are worth buying...and I'm not talking about the canopies they make.

I was completely let down. First, when I was packing my canopy and placing the D-bag into the container, I immediately noticed how floppy and cheap the materials were. On my javelin, when I spead out the container at the bottom so I can place the D-bag in, the side walls down flop down. On the ICON, they do. That just says cheap to me.

Second, while I was under canopy, I looked down and noticed that the leg straps had loosened about an 1 1/2 inches or more! I didn't feel safe at all after knowing that the legs straps loosened!

Third, the reserve flap came open on me under free fall. When I got in the plane, that flap was completely stowed. I don't feel safe free flying knowing my reserve flap is open.

After my experience, I would definitely not buy an ICON. From what I here, these things start unraveling after about 100 jumps. I now have first hand experience. I would not buy one.

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(Review ID:1842)

14 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

Icon Sport, I5

Rated by: andym148 on 2007-07-21 (user profile) (user reviews)

Review of: Icon Sport in Unknown Tag: 'cat_linked'

Pros: Cheap, good options,
Cons: Finish, stitching quality

I've had my Icon for a little over 2 yrs, it is the second one that ive had. I finally got my rig just before xmas 05 with a look to jump it over the xmas boogie in Seville. Initally I was impressed with the rig, all looked good and I was quite happy. Over the first few jumps with it i noticed that there was a slight delay on openings, up to 4/5 seconds on some occasions.On getting the rig inspected by the rigger at seville we came to the conclusion that the pilot chute was at fault, so I payed for a new pilot chute to be made out of ZP, the original was made from F111. This cured the problem. My rig was one of three that me and some friends had made. While I was busy working through my problem in spain they were busy jumping in the uk. One container was fine but the other was having the same problem, and becuse of this delay it caused him to cut away when he got to around 6/7k on his count, and the bag was still firmly lodged on his back. The problem we found out was the pilot chute had been made too small and egg shaped (manufacturing fault). One of the Aerodyne guys came to see us in the uk over easter to look at the problem. They looked at the PC and agreed to send us new ones. This took at least 12 weeks to happen but when we got them we had new PC, bag and freefly pad, all for free so quite happy there. How ever I was still financally out of pocket due to paying for the new PC from spain.
Now the rigs have been jumped for a year or two, the stitching is coming away on all 3 rigs, and all in the same places. The mud cover on one of the rigs was put too high on one shoulder. This was replaced free of charge by Aerodyne with free shipping. Also my rig was made to measure but it moves around alot when im freeflying and back tracking/back flying and is not what you want happening. Could be cured by cut in latterals, maybe?
I leave it up to individuals to decide on what container to get, but im not going to get a third one when i order my new container. That should speak volumes!

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(Review ID:1817)

4 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

Icon Sport Harness

Rated by: vtskydivescott on 2007-06-08 (user profile) (user reviews)

Review of: Icon Sport in Unknown Tag: 'cat_linked'

Pros: Very comfortable, Price
Cons: None

I bought my brand new Icon over the winter of 2006 / 2007. I owned a new Mirage G4 before that and rented a Javelin before that and I have to say the Icon is the most comfortable out of all 3 rigs. I liked my Mirage too but if you wore it for any longer than 3 minutes waiting for the plane it would start to feel bulky and wear on my sholders a bit. When I got my Icon, I wore it for around 20 - 30 minutes around the house and I forgot I even had it on...Very nice!! I would certainly get another one above all the others. I love the pin protection in freefall. Works great for RW, Sit, Head down etc.. I paid $5000 for it and this included the hip rings (Standard) and added the chest rings and did custom colors etc... All for $5000.00 Compare the others where they ask for extra for hook knife, chest rings, hip rings etc...this is a good deal!!

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(Review ID:1684)

16 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

What a great container system

Rated by: freefallpaul on 2006-10-22 (user profile) (user reviews)

Review of: Icon Sport in Unknown Tag: 'cat_linked'

Pros: awesome looks, great construction, stainless hardware
Cons: none yet

I recieved and jumped my Icon and I am thrilled with it. Extra options I got were chest rings, RSL, hacky handle and narrow chest strap(free option). I was talking to one of the guys at the DZ that used to sew at one of the shops in FL that made what most people consider one of the top two containers. We got to talking about the entire container construction process and he showed me the way the harness was constructed and the methods used in the stitching. He was using a new container made by the company he used to sew for and the stitches didn't step off on the webbing on all the points and he showed me a few other minor issues that weren't like they were supposed to be. I highly recommend a lesson like that if you have someone knowledgeable around the DZ. I recieved my new Icon the next day and checked it over for the things he showed me and it was top notch. It may not be one of the BIG TWO, but I will take it over either. I had the money to buy what I wanted and if I needed another I would buy the Icon again. Great container and features, Good price

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(Review ID:1497)

44 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

A Great Rig

Rated by: nicknitro71 on 2006-03-08 (user profile) (user reviews)

Review of: Icon Sport in Unknown Tag: 'cat_linked'

Pros: Reserve System, Overall Quality
Cons: D-bag System, Riser Covers

I just finished assembling an band new I4 with a Smart 135 and Pilot 140. Even though everything is very stiff and slippery, all the components went in with no sweat to my surprise. I could definitely put a Smart 150 in but not anything bigger than that.

The reserve free bag is by far the best designed free bag I have ever worked with. It has an internal fabric channel between the grommets so the t-botkin is not needed. The lines pocket is a really neat design. It opens like a BASE canopy tail pocket and it has elastic (not rubber bands) line keepers. I really liked it. The lines are stowed nice and neatly. A really great feature.

I liked the reserve pilot chute, both the construction and the fact that it has a big opening so no .22 cleaning rod is needed to thread the pull up cord.

The AAD routing is also pretty neat and does not leave anything exposed into the pack tray like the older Icon.

The internal coating of the reserve tray is very thick and looks very durable.

Closing the reserve flaps was no sweat and the pack looked nice (sometimes a rare thing on the very first pack job.

I tried to stuff the bag evenly like you would do with a Vector rather that stuffing the ears as much as possible like a Javelin for instance. It seems it worked out quite well.

I'd give the reserve system an A, I really could not find anything that either it did not make much sense or I personally did not like.

The main risers are pretty cool too. The toggles seem a solid design and the front riser loop are the best I've seen thus far. Made from the same webbing as the rest of the risers, they are sewn in such that they are always open. They scream for "hook it!".

Of course the mini-force rings are pretty cool too. By the way all the hardware comes standard SS.

The cutaway handle has a hard stiffener in and it feels beefy, another nice touch.

The d-bag of the main canopy I did not like it much. First the stow are on the sides and not on the top flap like other designs, a minor thing, it takes me 10 minutes to add stows on top. The PC bridle is sewn into the container hence the d-bag-bridle-PC are one unit. I'm not too keen about his design. Also the kill line is embedded in the bridle inside the d-bag. This makes the bridle to accordion fold itself when the PC is cocked. I do not like this, it adds bulk and can spring back. So overall I did not like the d-bag system.

Another thing I found a bit annoying is the slot of the riser cover tuck tabs. It is directly underneath the reserve risers and makes closing the tabs a bit of a pain. If it was let's say 1/4" out it would be much easier to close the risers. I bet as everything softens up it'll be easier to close them up.

The internal riser covers I really did not like. Care must be taken in order to avoid folds and wrinkles. A solution would be just to get rid of them (I am not a big fan of internal covers) or make them much stiffer.

On the good side the I4 comes standard with cut-in laterals and the harness does fit like a glove. I like the leg strap design and webbing (I guess they changed the webbing construction to address some issues).

The hook knife is really neat (not the same .50 plastic knife) and it has its own internal pocket inside the mud flap.

All the stitching, reinforcements, bartacks are top notch.

Overall I am very impressed with the Icon. There are few things (no rig is perfect by the way!) that could be improved but this is a solid rig without any major flaws and loaded with features that come standard.

And it's the most rigger friendly rig I have ever worked with.

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(Review ID:1474)

4 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

Very good for novice jumpers

Rated by: lilchief on 2006-01-29 (user profile) (user reviews)

Review of: Icon Sport in Unknown Tag: 'cat_linked'

Pros: Good solutions, low price, A good deal!
Cons: not in design

If you're a stundent and want a new rig this would be a good frist rig. It's cheap, but has a lot of smart solutions and they are improving the icon all the time. It also includes some $350 in options that you have to pay for to get on other rigs.

I've had mine for 45 jumps and Ive got nothing to complain about on the rig.

However: When i ordered it, it was delivered 2 days after what I asked for(I came to the US(I live in Norway) to pick it up at a friend of mine in phoenix, and i had only 7 days there. I even specified it to my dealer). And when i got it it was the wrong color on the PC and with a narrow cheststrap( I ordered a wide). But that's nothing critical, just anoying. Then after only 5 jumps my bag started getting torn up on one of the sides where the "lid" on the bag is. I contated my dealer back in norway and he said he could do a temporarly fix on the bag, so I could jump while I waited for the new bag and right colored PC to arraive.

This was in june. Last week( mid january 06) i got the bag and the PC. Only to find out that the bag was one size smaller!!!!

As I've heard from others, these things can happen to any rig, but it still sucks. I don't want to wait another 9 months to get a new bag....

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(Review ID:1429)

7 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

Icon Sport I5

Rated by: cacrinklaw on 2005-11-14 (user profile) (user reviews)

Review of: Icon Sport in Unknown Tag: 'cat_linked'

Pros: looks great, packs easily, very comfortable
Cons: Internal riser covers bulge during packing, container main tray loosing up after 100 packs

Well constructed container. I have owned for almost a year and 100 jumps. Fit upon arrival was perfect. Harness is very comfortable before and after deployment. I opted for the chest rings(even tho Distributor said I did not need) This make it look even better and I feel it is more comfortable.

I feel there is a couple of issues with the container. I have a 100+ jumps and the riser covers (internal) seem to not stay put during packing and start to bulge (edges curl). I have also noticed that the main tray seems to have loosened up over the last 100 pack jobs. I have a airlocked 170 and it seems to pack looser in the main tray. I don't think it is my pack jobs getting better. All 4 closing flaps seem to be looser during closing. even after replacing the closing loop and shortning it.

Over all I do believe this is a very safe container and the value is great. I would recommond this to anyone looking.

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