Building the perfect rig begins with choosing your harness/container system. How do you decide which one is right for you? Spending some time researching, trying on and jumping the many different rigs on the market will make your choice simpler.
Preliminary research can be done right at your home computer and DZ. Talk to as many skydivers as you can about their gear choices. Ask why they bought what they did, what they like and don't like about it and if they would buy another one. Go through skydiving magazines and look closely at the containers you see in ads and pictures. Check out each manufacturer's website for detailed info.
Your primary consideration in selecting your rig should be safety - as defined by YOU. The harness/container system holds both you and your life saving devices; you need it to be reliable and secure. Today's harness/container systems rarely fail and such "failure" can usually be traced back to improper or careless maintainence, repair or fitting. Every container design on the US market must pass a tough testing procedure and earn TSO (Technical Standard Order) certification before it can be sold or jumped here.
Container manufacturers offer different philosophies on reserve deployment, harness construction, RSL's and other items. Deciding which one is safest is up to you.
Your next consideration is comfort. An uncomfortable harness can make you dread the canopy ride. The best part about ordering a custom rig is that the harness is made to your measurements and should be the most comfortable thing you have ever jumped. This makes measuring the most important part of the oder form! Always have someone else measure you with a cloth measuring tape and follow the manufacturer's instructions for the best fit.
Every skydiver defines harness comfort differently and all harnesses don't fit the same. The best way to see if a particular harness is comfortable on you is to jump it. If you can't jump what you are interested in ask other jumpers close in size to you if you can try on their rigs.
Harness size affects both comfort and safety. Main lift webs, laterals and legstraps sized to your body will keep you securely in the harness and make "harness hickies" a thing of the past.
Most manufacturers now offer a choice of standard or "articulated" (ringed) harnesses and some offer a choice of two or four rings. The articulated harnesses are more expensive but most people find them extremely comfortable and much less restrictive than the standard harness.
The size of your container is dictated by the size of the canopies you intend to put in it, not by your body size. A gear dealer or the manufacturer can help you determine what size container you need. Don't make the mistake of ordering a specific container size without being sure that your canopies will fit.
Like harnesses, containers fit people differently. Jumping your selections will tell you the most. If you only get to try them on, snug up the legstraps and chest strap and move around. Sit, stand, squat, arch hard, stand on your head; do everything you'll do on a skydive. A container that fits you well will not obviously interfere with anything you do.
After looking at, trying on and jumping several systems you'll probably have narrowed your choices down to two or three that fit you comfortably and meet your safety standards. Now pick which one you like look of best. If you like the looks and fit of them all you can choose based on price, delivery time or even what your friends jump.
Container system prices vary widely from a "no-frills" Genera or Dolphin (usually under $800) to a fully optioned Vector III (can top $2000). Options can drive the "base price" of your rig up consideraby, but some may be worth the extra cost.
Anyone who jumps a ringed harness will advise you to pay the extra money for the comfort alone. If you do or plan to do any type of skydiving that demands harness flexibility (freestyle, freeflying, skysurfing, competition RW) or if you do CRW and spend a lot of time under canopy rings are necessary.
Delivery times vary widely; a fully custom rig can be delivered by some manufacturues in 4 weeks or less, while others take up to 16. A few manufacturers will accept a limited number of "rush" orders for an extra charge, some delivering in as fast as 7 to 10 days.
Always remember that skydiving is a dangerous sport! You can be injured or killed regardless of which harness/container system you buy, even when it is packed and maintained properly.
This article is from my soon to be published book! If you have any comments or suggestions, please feel free to email me.
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