ParaSEXas

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  1. ParaSEXas

    Fire

    Note: long time user review of Fire and Fire2 I bought my 1st SWS Fire in 2016 and done bit over 1000 jumps on it. Probably best container i ever had (i owed Javelin, Icon, Next, PdF Atom, Mirage). My Fire was size 1-1, made for Op126 top and 120 and down bottom tray. I am 6ft (183cm) 86kg sized humanoid. Container was extremely comfortable, love the risers with pin toggles (if set corectly, no chance of toggle fire), very comfy dive loops and nicely factory added swoop rings. 3D spacer foam is must everywhere, however i would not go again with "standard 10cm" legpads. The narrow 8cm option is way more comfy! FF handles was a must for me, but main PC handle ended up pretty flat after about 600-700 jumps and i had to open it up, add some foam and stich it back together. I had black anodized hardware option (was extra $$$ back then, even more than SS) and it was rubish choise. NOTE the black hardware has changed since and it is same as UPT or VSE hardware now days, i call it black SS. My black hardware did scratch quite easy and smallest ring on 3 ring assembly was dangerously abrasive to the white loop. Factory has replaced my risers after 150 and 400 jumps. The 3rd set came in with "new black SS" type of rings and lasted forever. Reserve tray is probably best out there, with the spring that can kill an elephant, sized and shaped beautifuly. Half out reserve pop top is my favourite for reserve deployments combined with that killer spring is no-brainer for me. Unlike Vectors closed-in extractor and weaker spring under 8 flaps. The killer spring is very difficult to pack in and make it look very neat. I had a "pleasure" to repack quite a few shite looking reserve packjobs from other riggers. Im guessing a lot of them only pack for that 40 quid (english queens moneys) and don't take any pride in their job quality. I don't use winding torque tool and must admit it's hard to do it neat, but with winding tool it is very easy to damage gromets, back plate and pin. Cutaway and reserve pads are very easy to grip, i know, i tried it couple of times... Free bag is bright orange and easier to find. I personaly don't use RSL as i, time to time, take some "Man the F**k up" pills. However IMHO SWS DRD system is way superior MARD system compared to skyhook. Skyhook can fling off (or even break red lanyard) and fail to do it's job under an arsehole of a spining mal. DRD will stay conected when it needs to. It is a little bit more complicated to set it up when packing, but there is factory provided video on youtube for stupid ones. Main PC is made from ZP and will last easy 1000+ jumps. Personaly i'm not a fan of "push-pull" tuck tab on FF handle so ordered mine without it. BOC looks like its made from grandmas stockings, but it did last me around 1000 jumps before i replaced it. However your mileage may vary. Semi stowless D-bag was another must for me. Pouch for the lines could be 1cm wider either side, but it is more easy to pack compared to Jav or Vector semi stowless D-bags. Cut in laterals are comfy, riser covers stays closed if harness is sized correctly. IMPORTANT: When ordering new Fire pay much attention to the "A measurment", the one hip to hip over your shoulder. DO NOT MAKE IT TOO LONG!!! I got measured according to the factory guidelines online of 110cm (if i remember correct), i took 5cm off beacause my mates new Fire rig was fitting me like a glove with 100cm measurment. In the end it was still tiny bit too long and 1 of my shoulders was coming off in steap tracking possition and one riser cover was poping off time to time in HD due to lack of tension on shoulders. I would sudgest get into crouched tracking possision, measure again and see what's the difference. My other mate had same issue too. My girlfriend ordered new Fire as well, i've done the measuring, took little bit off from the "A measurment" and it fits superb. She's well happy and wouldn't change it. DON'T do that on Fire2 tho, it has different harness geometry!!! Fire2-could be the best rig out there but... It has all the good bits from original Fire like awesome risers, strong spring etc., but unfortunately SWS has changed the design of the container for the Fire2. It is not as pretty IMO, how ever stabilised laterals and magnet riser covers are welcomed updates. I have ordered it with narrow 8cm leg pads and it is much more comfy compared to my old ones. Same size 1-1 to take my OP126 top and JFX2 84 in the bottom tray. I used same technique with the "A measurment" and it came out a little too tight in legnth and would fit someone 1-2in shorter best. Now i've done about 150 jumps on it, harness has loosened up a bit and is better, but leg pads still don't meet by an inch. Fire2 container itself look very similar to Peregrine Glide container (could swear it's a copy). It is way shorter in lenght, bit wider and much fatter. Combined with different harness geometry (sits totaly different place on your back), small container size and being shorter by design, unfortunally it is not perfect combination for my 6ft height. The pull is way too high and is a massive reach for me. It is very comfy under the canopy and in freefall, but pull is a deal braker for me and will be looking into long options from UPT once i save the the crazy asking price for V316. Even if i get V316 i will be transferreing main risers over. UPT makes shite toggles and no swoop rings. I hope this will help you to make your decision. I highly recomend both Fire and Fire2, but if i would buy one again i would get original Fire. Stabilisers and magnets ain't worth the extra $200 and reach for the pull for taller peeps with small canopies. Fire PRO's: •PRICE •BUILD QUALITY •COMFORT •SUPERIOR MARD SYSTEM •STRONG RESERVE SPRING •AWESOME SWOOP RISERS CON's: •ARSEHOLE TO GET MEASURED CORRECT •NO USA TSO •HARDER TO MAKE RESERVE PACKJOB LOOK PRETTY •EVERYTHING IS OPTIONAL EXTRA Fire2 PRO's: •BUILD QUALITY •MAGNETIC RISER COVERS •STABILISED LATERALS •USA TSO CON's: •WAY TOO SHORT FOR TALLER PEOPLE IN SMALL CONTAINER SIZES •USA TSO IS EXTRA $600 (NOT WORTH IT) •NOT AS PRETTY •EXTRA $200 COMPARED TO ORIGINAL Fire
  2. best container i ever owed. before that i had icon, javelin, paratec next, PdF atom. best decision i ever made to buy new one from SWS. i also pack reserves and can tell that spring is killer, deffo better than anything else around (used reserve once) so far done about 1000 jumps on it and its wearing beautiful, i recon i will squeeze 3000 jumps out of it. considering i paid less than half price of new javelin or vector. i dont really look after it, its my work horse and if after 3k jumps i have to buy new- its fine cause ill use the other half of money that i didnt spent on jav or micron or what ever and will have brand new gear istead of 3000 jumps old expensive one i cant aford to replace. only down side is, it dont have TSO23d! so if you planing on working or even holiday in australia you wont be aloud to jump it. with USA if you are a visitor i believe u can, but locals are not aloud too (i might be wrong on that one tho) if you only jump around europe its best quality to buck ratio and deffo superb container Ot padara...
  3. Are you sure yours is 120EVS? According to charts it shouldn't even take OP126! Hence the question. Would you be able to email me some pics of how it looks and tso label for sizing confirmation? Ta Ot padara...
  4. Hey guys and gals. Has anybody packed in op126 in 120EVS Vortex? Im buying my woman 2nd hand rig and not sure what reserves it will take. Info on pack volumes is quite hard to find now days by the looks. I havent packed 120EVS personally so i cant figure out what do i get for her, op113 or op126?! Let me know what you squeezed in one of those pls. Only interested in optimums or speed 2000 tho. Blue skies J Ot padara...
  5. ParaSEXas

    Storm

    Ive done around 400 jumps on Storm 135 loading it at 1.65, before that i had Spectre 150 for 300+ jumps and in between i jumped Spectre 120 for 100 jumps and 135 for 10 jumps. I love my 7 cells and soft ish mostly on heading openings. I chose to stay on 7 cell so i don't chage the flight characteristics radicly between sky and base. So Storm against the Spectre. Storm is much softer openings at higher wing loading. 120 spectre pretty much every opening came out...id say pretty brisk. Storm how ever only spanked me once, very randomly. Storm's fronts is so much heavier compared to Spectre. The little 'swoop' distance is similar between storm 135 and spectre 120, speed how ever speed is greater on spectre. I just received brand new Storm 120 so i will be able to compare that soon. I load 120 at 1.86. Also both my stoms i got with casual CReW kit so it kinda pack nearly a size up from normal spectre but similar ish to 120 9cell. Opening heading is quite questionable. It's more like safire, it snivel snivel and then...randomly goes 90+ any direction. Not a biggie, but not as good as spectre by country mile. Softness, better than spectre and higher loadings. Line twist, had 2 in 400 jumps, 1 just random flat 360, not a big deal, one due to user error (don't even ask) ended up up in a lot of diving twists. Would it have been spectre most likely i could have fixed it, storm, no chance. Once it goes, it f@&in goes. Good job i do my ownn reserves! Fonts, very hard compared to spectre, but im not big swooper. Deffo a canopy for camera work. Great range, reliable and soft openings. Heading how ever is sometimes questionable... Stay tuned for 120 loading at 1.86 review... :)
  6. Hi, i sold my rez a month ago. Sorry. And im sure i removed addvert from dz.com. Thats why my email not working probably. Blue Skies dude...