Skydiving Experience

Skydiving seems to be a fairly uncomplicated sport. You have a parachute, and a reserve chute, and then you jump out of a plane. Although those are the basics, so that you can stay safe there’s far more gear that any skydiver will wish to have on them. Almost every single piece of equipment is created to keep the skydiver safe and prevent accidents.
Skydiving Experience
Size
Basic skydiving requires a minimum of equipment. With little much more than two parachutes and a plane, any skydiver is essentially ready to jump. Skydivers are limited in what they can take with them on a jump due to size restrictions. Anything they use must fit on their backs with the chutes, or be strapped somewhere to their bodies. Heavy objects alter how a skydiver falls, so weight is also a consideration. As a result, most of a skydiver’s gear is both compact and lightweight.

Features
There are a number of components to any skydiver’s gear. There are the parachutes, both a main and a reserve, without which a dive turns into a “bounce,” something every skydiver dreads. The chutes, along with the Automatic Activation Device (AAD), jumpsuit, goggles and a helmet go into skydiver’s backpack, also called “the container.” An altimeter is an essential part of any skydiver’s gear, and in addition to the chute and AAD, is one of the most important items to own. For added safety, many skydivers also carry hook knifes.

Function
Some equipment have obvious functions, such as the parachute. The main parachute is backed up by the reserve chute, used if there is a malfunction with the main chute. The altimeter tells the skydiver how far above the ground they are, as well as indicates when the chute must be deployed (before the red zone indicated on most altimeters). The AAD is a safety device designed to deploy the skydiver’s reserve chute in an emergency when the skydiver cannot. A hook knife is another safety device used to cut away the main canopy (parachute) if there is a problem when it deploys.

Considerations
Most of the gear mentioned above is not mandated by any guidelines in the United States. There is no law saying you have to wear a helmet or goggles, and novices who tandem jump often do so without a jumpsuit. Goggles are also not mandatory, but they make it much easier to see against the rushing wind. Helmets are also a safety item that the prudent skydiver should wear. Most solo skydivers invest in a jumpsuit, which, much like goggles, makes the jump much more comfortable for the diver

Warning
Skydiving can be a dangerous activity, and even experienced skydivers check their equipment before each and every jump. Laws in England mandate a hook knife for each dive; however, even without corresponding laws in the United States, many American jumpers include one in their gear. Knowing how to properly use the equipment is just as important as having it. Likewise, keeping equipment in good condition and checking it regularly ensure that the risks of skydiving are kept to a minimum.