Skydiving is a fun and exhilarating sport for those who love the rush of adrenaline. Just like any other potentially dangerous sport, quality equipment is of utmost importance and often is the deciding factor between life and death. Skydiving equipment purchased brand new can be quite expensive, but you can avail of quality used equipment at many shops.
If you are planning for your first jump ever and would like an idea on all the gear you will need to bring with you, then this is article is for you. Don’t go shopping for equipment right away. Ask your instructor for advice because these experienced professionals know just exactly what you need and where you can get it.
So here’s a list, as promised, of the equipment you will need to give you a general idea:
Parachute – obviously this is the most important piece of equipment and the best place you can purchase a parachute is from a skydiving shop. They inspect and certify the equipment to ensure it is free from any rips and tears before selling it. Any damage to your parachute can have grave consequences so be sure to buy only from trusted sellers.
Jumpsuit – a skydiving jumpsuit is a form of protective gear. You don’t want to go freefalling several thousand feet in your regular clothing. The jumpsuit is designed to protect you should you land somewhere unintended, like in an area with trees or shrubs.
Altimeter – this useful piece of equipment will tell you when to deploy your parachute. Pulling your chute too late could result in multiple broken bones, and even death.
Automatic Activation Device or AAD – you always have two parachutes when skydiving; one is the main, and the other is for backup should anything go wrong. The automatic activation is a crucial piece of equipment that detects how fast you are falling. This device will automatically launch your main parachute at a certain altitude even if you do not pull the ripcord. If the speed of your descent indicates that your main parachute did not deploy it, the AAD will then release your backup chute.
Protective Gear – this list includes equipment like helmets, knee and elbow padding and spine protector. These will help prevent injury should anything go wrong on your jump.
Now that you know all the basic gear you will need for your jump, it is time to pay a visit to the nearest skydiving school in your area. Ask your instructors for advice on where to get the best affordable equipment.