Skydiving Gear Makes Jumping Safer, More Attractive

A lot has changed in the way of skydiving gear since it was first used by the military in World War I, with new advances in technology and parachute design making it one of the most popular recreational extreme sports in the country. The experience of free falling at speeds that can exceed 120 miles per hour is a great experience to some, while others find it to be a terrifying thought.

One of the most visible changes in skydiving gear is the parachute design. Originally, it as a round nylon cloth in the shape of half of a ball with a hole in the center to allow air to flow through. Today’s parachutes resemble wings and offer greater control of the glide direction and speed. The fall rate of 120 miles per hour can quickly drop to about 12 miles per hour once the parachute is deployed. Additional skydiving gear for safety is an altimeter worn by the jumper, telling them when to open the chute, as opposed to the original jumpers who made the determination by visually calculating their distance to the ground.

Possibly one of the most important pieces of skydiving gear, other than the parachute and reserve chute, is the altimeter. Knowing how far a jumper is from the ground tells them when to open their chute, giving the chute sufficient time to fully deploy deploy before hitting the ground. Some of the older, mechanical altimeters often gave false readings if the jumper was inverted, but newer skydiving gear, include those that are accurate regardless of the position.

Chute Design Varies With Activity

When buying a parachute, its shape and size will be determined by the type of jumping a person is going to be doing. Wing design, arrowhead shape or the old standard round parachutes are some the skydiving gear for which jumpers are looking. Helmets are another major part of skydiving gear that must meet safety standards. Not that a helmet will be much good if the chute fails to open, but if the jumper falls upon landing, the helmet can provide protection if their head hits the ground.

Parachutists closely examine their skydiving gear frequently, looking for signs of wear and weakness in the chute materiel, the cords and the backpack, as well as the harness straps that keep them attached to the parachute. The clothing they wear as part of their skydiving gear is also closely examined for tears that could affect their direction of travel on their way back to terra firma.