Choosing a Reliable Rig for New Skydivers
- Set off
- Length
- 2 min read
- Number
- 9
Buying a first rig marks the moment a student jumper starts to think of the sport as their own. Until then, school gear has done the job. Owning equipment brings freedom, but it also brings decisions that affect comfort and safety every time you leave the aircraft. Taking those decisions slowly, with good advice, is part of becoming a confident skydiver.
What you are actually buying
A complete rig is a system of parts that have to work together. Understanding each one makes conversations with instructors and sellers much easier.
| Component | Role |
|---|---|
| Container and harness | Holds the canopies and attaches the system to your body |
| Main canopy | The parachute you fly on almost every jump |
| Reserve canopy | The backup, packed and inspected by a qualified rigger |
| AAD | An automatic activation device designed to open the reserve automatically under specific conditions |
Fit comes before fashion
Modern containers come in many colours and styles, and it is tempting to choose with the eyes. Fit matters far more. The harness should sit snugly at the shoulders and legs without pinching, and the container should match your torso length so the handles are where your hands expect them. Many manufacturers build to measurements, and a well-fitted harness spreads opening forces more comfortably than a borrowed one ever will.
Sizing the canopy sensibly
New jumpers are usually advised to choose a forgiving main canopy, one that is docile in the air and gentle on landing, rather than a smaller, faster model they might grow into later. The right size depends on your weight with gear, your experience and the conditions where you jump, so this is a conversation to have with your instructors rather than a number to pick from a chart. Container size follows from the canopies you choose, which is why the order of decisions matters.
New, used or package?
Used gear can be good value, but it needs careful checking: the age of the reserve and AAD, the condition of the webbing and the history of the system all matter. Complete packages take some of that guesswork away by matching components that are designed to work together. Retailers that let you buy skydiving rig packages make it easier to compare combinations of container, canopies and AAD side by side, which is helpful when you are still learning what each choice means.
Check these points first
- Has an instructor at your drop zone reviewed the canopy size for your current skill level?
- Does the container fit your measurements, or can it be built to them?
- When were the reserve and AAD last inspected, and what are their service limits?
- Will a qualified rigger at your drop zone assemble and check the system before your first jump on it?
Skydiving carries real risks, and no piece of equipment removes them. Good gear, proper training and honest advice from experienced people at your drop zone are what make the sport safer and more enjoyable. A first rig chosen with that mindset will serve you well through many jumps and many lessons in the sky.
Keeping lists useful
How to make a checklist you will actually use
A list only helps if it is short enough to read and close enough to grab.
Keep it near the job
Tape the ride check inside the garage door and the movie list beside the remote.
Fewer lines
If a list runs past a dozen items, split it into two smaller ones.
Verbs first
Start each line with an action, such as squeeze, test or pack, so it reads as a task.
Review each season
Lights matter more in winter and sunscreen more in summer, so update the list when the clocks change.
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