Southern_Man 0 #1 December 1, 2009 What is the smallest a person could be and still fit safely into a tandem harness? I asked around my drop zone and the smallest anybody had take a tandem passenger was ~4'10" and maybe 90 lbs or so. I'm not sure if there is a manufacturer recommendation. Just curious if people have taken people smaller than this (both height and weight)."What if there were no hypothetical questions?" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
catfishhunter 1 #2 December 1, 2009 I am sure the folks from South Africa have taken smaller people as there is no age limit as long as they can fit in the harness. At least that is what I understand. Lots of 5 year olds have made tandems there. I keep telling my sons mom I am going to take him there for his 5th birthday :) MAKE EVERY DAY COUNT Life is Short and we never know how long we are going to have. We must live life to the fullest EVERY DAY. Everything we do should have a greater purpose. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JerryBaumchen 1,047 #3 December 1, 2009 Hi Southern, I seem to remember the German (?) couple who ran a tanden-only dz in the Florida Keys taking their x-months old child on a jump. Some folks like to comment on how he enjoyed it but the only photo I saw looked more like fear. Just my thoughts . . . JerryBaumchen Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Southern_Man 0 #4 December 1, 2009 They would have different harness systems, though, right? I am curious in an American context and how small the harnesses will adjust down to. Also, this would be an adult, not a child (and esp. not an infant, my goodness)."What if there were no hypothetical questions?" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wolfriverjoe 1,340 #5 December 1, 2009 Not a TI so take it for what it's worth. We had a girl come out and do a tandem that was about 4'6", maybe 75lbs or so. She had had some developmental issues when she was young. The TI spent a few extra minutes making sure the harness was adjusted correctly, but it fit her properly. The TI had said he wasn't sure it would fit ok, and wouldn't take her if it hadn't. One of the more interesting sights was watching the TI (6' 200lbs) walking aroung with the rig on his back and the girl hanging off his chest. Her feet were just below his knees."There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy "~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dorbie 0 #6 December 2, 2009 QuoteI am sure the folks from South Africa have taken smaller people as there is no age limit as long as they can fit in the harness. At least that is what I understand. Lots of 5 year olds have made tandems there. I keep telling my sons mom I am going to take him there for his 5th birthday :) You could also take him for a tandem paraglider flight here in the USA. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Southern_Man 0 #7 December 2, 2009 QuoteNot a TI so take it for what it's worth. We had a girl come out and do a tandem that was about 4'6", maybe 75lbs or so. She had had some developmental issues when she was young. The TI spent a few extra minutes making sure the harness was adjusted correctly, but it fit her properly. The TI had said he wasn't sure it would fit ok, and wouldn't take her if it hadn't. One of the more interesting sights was watching the TI (6' 200lbs) walking aroung with the rig on his back and the girl hanging off his chest. Her feet were just below his knees. Thanks, that's little, smaller than I am thinking about, although not by much. Do you know what system they used?"What if there were no hypothetical questions?" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wolfriverjoe 1,340 #8 December 2, 2009 Strong Dual Hawk. Just to emphasize - The TI wasn't sure it would work, spent extra time making sure the fit was correct and had the student bend and twist around while he was yanking various directions on the harness to make sure it would stay on."There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy "~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tkhayes 124 #9 December 2, 2009 I took up Dave The Dwarf here years ago. 4' something and about 70 pounds, he actually fit the harness just fine, Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dragon2 0 #10 December 2, 2009 We take kids up over here, youngest was 5 I think (dropzone kid), most are 8-9yrs or older. We do have one special kids harness we use for these, not sure of the specifics but that harness seems to have less back stuff. Somewhat older kids like these or this or this one can go into a regular harness. This one looks like the kid harness. ciel bleu, Saskia Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 558 #11 December 2, 2009 QuoteWhat is the smallest a person could be and still fit safely into a tandem harness? I asked around my drop zone and the smallest anybody had take a tandem passenger was ~4'10" and maybe 90 lbs or so. .................................................................................................... That sounds like the lower limit. A long time ago, at a DZ far, far away I took a 13 year old girl about 4' 10" and less than 100 pounds. She was scared stiff the entire jump! At pull time, she had a dead grip on my left thumb. Hint, this was shortly after they started installing drogues on Vectors, but before they started installing a second drogue release and many years before Cypres was invented. Sometimes I am amazed at all the dumb things I survived when I was young?????????????? I have never jumped with a minor since then!!!!! Manufacturers frown on taking minors because they cannot sign (binding) waivers, nor can their parents sign away their right to sue when they turn 18. The legal risk is simply too great. Rob Warner Strong Tandem Examiner Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Southern_Man 0 #12 December 2, 2009 Just to clarify, because people have been posting stuff about minors, this is not a minor, just a very small adult. I know when we went Rock climbing she had to use a children's size harness."What if there were no hypothetical questions?" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites JohnMitchell 14 #13 December 2, 2009 I took a 4'11", 85 pound adult woman the other day. The Sigma harness fit just fine. On the plane, when she sat on my lap for the hookup, she apologized for squishing me.Women seem to be very self conscious about their weight. I've never had the 250 pound guy worry about squishing me. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites amstalder 0 #14 December 2, 2009 Quote I took a 4'11", 85 pound adult woman the other day. The Sigma harness fit just fine. On the plane, when she sat on my lap for the hookup, she apologized for squishing me.Women seem to be very self conscious about their weight. I've never had the 250 pound guy worry about squishing me. I was about 85-90lbs when I started jumping last year, and I remember apologizing to my TI in the plane too Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites JohnMitchell 14 #15 December 3, 2009 Quote I was about 85-90lbs when I started jumping last year, and I remember apologizing to my TI in the plane too See, so way true, isn't it? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites amstalder 0 #16 December 3, 2009 Quote Quote I was about 85-90lbs when I started jumping last year, and I remember apologizing to my TI in the plane too See, so way true, isn't it? Oh, Im certain it is haha. I know you guys prefer the big ole boys to us little girls Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites jumpwally 0 #17 December 3, 2009 How about the tallest ? any Pro basketballers..?smile, be nice, enjoy life FB # - 1083 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites TaylorC 0 #18 December 3, 2009 Took a 4'6" guy once he weighed about 100 pounds roughly. Tallest i have taken was 6'8" 200 pounds. Tall guy was fun on landing haha. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites timmyfitz 0 #19 December 4, 2009 Quote How about the tallest ? any Pro basketballers..? Not super tall but I took someone that was 6' 7" once. I am only 5' 6" . I was his little back pack. He had a perfect arch and it was one of the easiest skydives I have ever done. The landing was a different story. I think he landed a minute before I did. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites packing_jarrett 0 #20 December 4, 2009 in Hawaii its not unusual to take a sub 100lbs student. My smallest was an 80lbs 4'5'' Japanese woman. Harness fit just fine. the only problem is that on the island it gets really windy and weighing only 120lbs myself the landings can get a little tricky.Na' Cho' Cheese Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Southern_Man 0 #21 December 4, 2009 Great, thanks for all who posted. Gotten enough feedback that I know it can be done and the harness will fit."What if there were no hypothetical questions?" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites hairymango 0 #22 December 4, 2009 I took a 6 year old kid, dont know what he weighed but he was tiny. We just doubled the leg straps. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites OnYourBack 0 #23 December 15, 2009 I don't remember how tall this little person was but he wasn't four feet. He could walk in the 206 without bending over. Easiest exit ever! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Join the conversation You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. Reply to this topic... × Pasted as rich text. Paste as plain text instead Only 75 emoji are allowed. × Your link has been automatically embedded. Display as a link instead × Your previous content has been restored. Clear editor × You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL. Insert image from URL × Desktop Tablet Phone Submit Reply 0
Southern_Man 0 #12 December 2, 2009 Just to clarify, because people have been posting stuff about minors, this is not a minor, just a very small adult. I know when we went Rock climbing she had to use a children's size harness."What if there were no hypothetical questions?" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnMitchell 14 #13 December 2, 2009 I took a 4'11", 85 pound adult woman the other day. The Sigma harness fit just fine. On the plane, when she sat on my lap for the hookup, she apologized for squishing me.Women seem to be very self conscious about their weight. I've never had the 250 pound guy worry about squishing me. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
amstalder 0 #14 December 2, 2009 Quote I took a 4'11", 85 pound adult woman the other day. The Sigma harness fit just fine. On the plane, when she sat on my lap for the hookup, she apologized for squishing me.Women seem to be very self conscious about their weight. I've never had the 250 pound guy worry about squishing me. I was about 85-90lbs when I started jumping last year, and I remember apologizing to my TI in the plane too Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnMitchell 14 #15 December 3, 2009 Quote I was about 85-90lbs when I started jumping last year, and I remember apologizing to my TI in the plane too See, so way true, isn't it? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
amstalder 0 #16 December 3, 2009 Quote Quote I was about 85-90lbs when I started jumping last year, and I remember apologizing to my TI in the plane too See, so way true, isn't it? Oh, Im certain it is haha. I know you guys prefer the big ole boys to us little girls Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jumpwally 0 #17 December 3, 2009 How about the tallest ? any Pro basketballers..?smile, be nice, enjoy life FB # - 1083 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TaylorC 0 #18 December 3, 2009 Took a 4'6" guy once he weighed about 100 pounds roughly. Tallest i have taken was 6'8" 200 pounds. Tall guy was fun on landing haha. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
timmyfitz 0 #19 December 4, 2009 Quote How about the tallest ? any Pro basketballers..? Not super tall but I took someone that was 6' 7" once. I am only 5' 6" . I was his little back pack. He had a perfect arch and it was one of the easiest skydives I have ever done. The landing was a different story. I think he landed a minute before I did. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
packing_jarrett 0 #20 December 4, 2009 in Hawaii its not unusual to take a sub 100lbs student. My smallest was an 80lbs 4'5'' Japanese woman. Harness fit just fine. the only problem is that on the island it gets really windy and weighing only 120lbs myself the landings can get a little tricky.Na' Cho' Cheese Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Southern_Man 0 #21 December 4, 2009 Great, thanks for all who posted. Gotten enough feedback that I know it can be done and the harness will fit."What if there were no hypothetical questions?" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hairymango 0 #22 December 4, 2009 I took a 6 year old kid, dont know what he weighed but he was tiny. We just doubled the leg straps. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OnYourBack 0 #23 December 15, 2009 I don't remember how tall this little person was but he wasn't four feet. He could walk in the 206 without bending over. Easiest exit ever! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
