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sunburnedbuns

Im new and need equipment advice

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Hello all im joining the zoo!! I made my first tandem on 11/22 and plan on taking my AFF soon. I would like advice on where to get the best canopy's, altimeters, flight suits etc for a decent price. I am 5'1 and 130Lbs.

Ive gotten other advice but maybe theres a girl out there somewhere that is my size and found exactly what works for her.

thanks...and blue skies!!

Andrea:$

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Best answer, wait until you get through training. All these answers will be best coming from the instructors that work with you. Best suit will depend on your fall rate, best canopy will depend on your weight and how well you fly the student canopy... etc

Oh, yeah, welcome to the addiction B|

Kirk
He's dead Jim

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Hi Andrea,

Congrats on the tandem! I am pretty new and I was in your position less than a year ago. TheCaptain gave you some great advice. Wait on buying gear until you have been in the sport for a bit. A few reasons:

1. You'll have more money to complete AFF sooner.
2. Once you're finished with AFF, you can rent/borrow experience-appropriate gear and learn what you like/dislike. Buying gear is like buying a car - you have to test drive to know if you really like it.
3. There are things about equipment you wouldn't even know to ask about yet, but that are significant in selecting gear. These things, you will learn with experience.
4. No single combination of equipment is the 'perfect' combination. "Which is better:...?" is a trick question when it comes to gear.

If you are really itching to get your hands on some gear, maybe look into getting a good open-face helmet and some goggles, or perhaps an altimeter (analog, not digital). the 'Gear' section at the top of the page is a good place to start.

Last piece of advice - when you're ready to begin seriously shopping for gear, talk to your instructors or the local rigger. They can help you select the gear that is the best choice for you AND probably get you the hookup. When I bought my rig, my DZO found me exactly what I was looking for in almost brand new condition for $3500. The same rig brand new would have cost me over $7000! Thats a LOT of jump tickets...! ;-)

Welcome to the blue skies! -Shepp
Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterward.

Accidents don't just happen. They must be carelessly planned.

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Why analog rather than digital altimeter? Simple - no batteries. Digitals are better for some purposes, but for just plain skydiving, not having to replace batteries in the middle of the week-end is a big selling point for me.
You don't have to outrun the bear.

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jumpsuit, altimeter (analog), helmet, goggles, gear bag, closing pin necklace, logbook and logbook cover

only thing left is a rig and parachutes - your instructors can help with that after your skills are evaluated

analog - because it is good to learn to read an altimeter, most folks wear them and reading the altimeter on your jump buddies is a good skill to have
Give one city to the thugs so they can all live together. I vote for Chicago where they have strict gun laws.

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If you wanna go balls out get an Alti-track. They are expensive but they have the advantage of having most of the benefits of a digital altimeter but have an analog face. I love having the analog face yet the logging abilities of a digital.

Hold off on everything else, except the closing pin necklace. The open face vs. full face helmet will probably depend on whether you want to continue belly flying after AFF or if you want to get into freeflying. Jump suit will depend on the same thing. Container and canopy you really need to talk to your instructors about.

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Always talk with your intructors but exercise your judgment too since some instructors are quite of the macho type and overprotective as well. Do not forget to check with a rigger about equipment. They are supposed to be the specialists.
Learn from others mistakes, you will never live long enough to make them all.

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If you are really itching to get your hands on some gear, maybe look into getting a good open-face helmet and some goggles, or perhaps an altimeter (analog, not digital).



WHY open faced and not closed ?
WHY Not a digital Alti ?



K.I.S.S.

For a student there is no need for a digital altimeter. For instance what happens when the battery goes dead in freefall?
There is no need for a full face helmet. The view to the handles will most likely be obstructed.

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If you are really itching to get your hands on some gear, maybe look into getting a good open-face helmet and some goggles, or perhaps an altimeter (analog, not digital).



WHY open faced and not closed ?
WHY Not a digital Alti ?



K.I.S.S.

For a student there is no need for a digital altimeter. For instance what happens when the battery goes dead in freefall?
There is no need for a full face helmet. The view to the handles will most likely be obstructed.



you are the only one who provided a reason for a open face helmet. And I understand it's a twitchy topic, but the blank statement of handles being obstructed is foolish at best. A newbie is much more likely to faceplant or get kicked when jumping with other newbies, and full face/chin protection will come in very handy. I made first 200 jumps with a Z1/Oxygn and they were not a problem. Also very nice when jumping in winter conditions. I still keep one around for zoo-style jumps and for the winter. I don't feel that they inhibit my handle locating abilities.

What I am trying to say is that advising somebody to go with an open face helmet based on an assumption is foolish. Let them try it on and make the decision for themselves.

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How much would peripheral vision be affected on a full-face? I can't imagine you'd be able to see better than with an open face. And for a student, I think being able to see everything, is important. They have enough to worry about without tunnel-vision.



try a few different ones on and see for yourself. This way you dont have to make a choice based on what other people ASSume.

It' hard to argue that a full face gives you as much FOV as an open face. However, seeing your toes and the sides of your container is a bonus rather than a requirement. Again, based on my experience and that of a few of my friends, I think that one should at least TRY a fullface before discounting one as an option.

Giving absolute advice to a stranger based on what you THINK is fairly narrow minded.

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It' hard to argue that a full face gives you as much FOV as an open face. However, seeing your toes and the sides of your container is a bonus rather than a requirement. Again, based on my experience and that of a few of my friends, I think that one should at least TRY a fullface before discounting one as an option.

Giving absolute advice to a stranger based on what you THINK is fairly narrow minded.



+1

To the OP, can't remember if it's been said, but some student programs may not let you wear a full-face helmet to begin with. Just an FYI.

For now, as some have said, the student program will provide all necessary gear. You won't need to show up with anything, to start. So you might want to just save your money and wait until you know a little more about what sort of equipment YOU want than listening to what us crazy folks on the internet SAY you need. ;) Good luck!
Signatures are the new black.

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