What equiment do skydivers use?

Answer 1

You will need a BASE jumping rig which has 1 parachute and 1 container to hold it in. You will also need a longer bridle and bigger pilot chute for extraction that you would with skydiving.

However if you want to get into this sport, take up skydiving first for a few years and get 500 skydives under your belt. This is an important prerequisite for safety.

Answer 2

Skydivers use a parachuting system which has:

• Container (which holds the parachutes and the harness)
• Main and reserve parachutes
• Helmet
• Jumpsuit
• Automatic Activation Device (AAD) for use in emergencies

Answer 3

Other than the obvious parachute, there are a whole list of equipment needed to make your skydiving experience repeatable:

• An airworthy aircraft.
• A reserve parachute in the case of a malfunction of the main one.
• Helmet, preferably a full-face one which gives jaw and face protection as well.
• Gloves in case you slide in on landing. This can protect against scuff marks. An additional benefit is the cold, especially in the UK where without them, your hands would become numb.
• A main parachute which is suitable for your experience level. Generally, the lower the number of jumps, the bigger the parachute you will need. Further, it is important to have a docile parachute to make openings and landing easier to handle.

Other than equipment, you also need the following skills:

• An FAI skydiving license.
• 3rd Party insurance - this usually comes from your national parachute association (UK is British Parachute Association).
• Currency. The longer you leave between jumps, the more likely it is that you will forget some of your knowledge. Being a current jumper, contributes a lot to your development and skill knowledge.
• A basic level of fitness. You do not have to be super slim or 18 years old to do well in skydiving. But a basic level of flexibility and fitness will help you. That being said, many people do a one-off tandem skydive with no fitness at all and some have jumped well into their 90's.