headoverheels

Skydiving is not about what's safest. If it were, we wouldn't have so many landing deaths and injuries, because we wouldn't have the canopies that make them more likely, and we'd be wearing something closer in protection level to a motorcycle helmet, rather than hardhats which have less padding for a larger head than for a smaller head, making up the size difference with thinner liners. Helmets didn't go from less effective to more effective. When I started skydiving, hard helmets were required, and that meant open faced motorcycle helmets for any experienced jumper. I seem to recall that students were put out in football helmets, with no faceguards. A few years later, when the hard hats were removed from the BSR's, people moved to hockey helmets, water polo helmets, later to Protecs, then to nothing or frap hats. The modern hard hats offer better head protection than the frap hats, and offer some face protection from moderate impacts, although all I've jumped restrict my downward vision. When we Protec-wearers first saw frap hats, we surely weren't gonna wear one of those dorky things! A year later, we all had them. I've had many hits to the head from feet, aircraft doors, ground, while wearing a frap hat, and there is no doubt that it is significantly better than wearing nothing.

Did the Paratec helmet ever make it to dealers in the US? Anyone have one?

Hi Andy, My guess is that you'll end up jumping with 10-12 pounds, more if you are with a fast-falling 4-way. I like a belt better than a vest, as the weight is more comfortable on my hips than on my neck/shoulders. The CG is noticably different, and I also prefer the weight lower, but either is readily accomodated after a few jumps to get used to the difference. Get a belt that holds more weight -- maybe 16 pounds or more capacity. I've been on jumps where I was stuffing lead in my jumpsuit pocket and pants pockets, since I couldn't get more than 12# in my vest. Another source of lead is your local SCUBA shop, where it'll proabably be a bit cheaper than at the DZ. They have moderately priced weight belts also, but the ones made for skydiving already have more appropriate connectors/buckles. You obviously want a fast-falling jumpsuit. Note that the fat "competition" grips create a fair amount of drag on your legs. I have them, but know I wouldn't need as much lead if I didn't. Gary