Best products from r/SkyDiving

Here's my setup. I just removed the screw in the top, center of the visor, flipped it around, and replaced the nut with one of these. Then I used some Locktite (there are different strengths, you can get stronger than this one if you never plan on taking off the mount) to make sure it stays on.

Here are the steps to take off the visor:

1. Remove the padding in the helmet.
   
2. Remove the e-clips inside the helmet by your ears.The rods and padding that holds the visor will fall out, put those in a cup or something.
   
3. Gently pull the mouth of the visor away from the helmet. Now you can access the nut holding the top, center screw on. Use a socket driver or adjustable wrench and a phillips screwdriver to take that screw out.
   
4. Now the visor is off and you should be ready to install the mount.
   
   When you're done and have the visor reattached, gently slide the visor up and down on its rail. Mine got shifted and scratched the carbon fiber right next to the rail, so be gentle on your first go to make sure everything is properly aligned and won't damage the glossy finish.
   
   Feel free to PM me with questions.

I hate glowsticks. They're not bright enough, especially under canopy.

I don't like strobes, you have to see a couple of pulses in order to determine the direction and distance of another canopy, and it blends in in areas like Texas where there's lots of water towers/radio towers/etc that have white strobes.

Use something like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Bright-Led-Bike-Wheel-Light/dp/B019DUQFH4/ref=sr_1_20?ie=UTF8&qid=1500400729&sr=8-20&keywords=bike+led+lights

White, blue, green are typically the best colors. I started using them a few years ago after trying lots of different types of lights (EL wire, EL tape, the same stuff they used in the most recent Tron movie). These were pretty good and easy to get a hold of. I turn them on at the door, and they've worked well for both larger groups skydiving and under canpy. We used them for the night world record, which is important when you have 40 canopies trying to land at night.

My motto is: Light yourself up like a fucking christmas tree. One of those lights will do the trick, and they're the legal 3 miles for US night jumping.

I wrap them around my leg. typically, or around the leg strap. Use gaffers tape to attach (more expensive, but worth it) so it doesn't leave sticky shit all over your gear.

Mostly because they are free. My first were a clear pair of birdz.

http://www.amazon.com/Birdz-Eyewear-The-Wing-Micro-Fiber/dp/B0021ELWOG

super cheap.
I liked goggles more than glasses because they are not as likely to catch air and cause a distraction in the air. The less you are concerned about your eye-ware falling off the more you can be relaxed and focus on the skydive.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CS1A6M6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_frkCzbG7NZE4K

Super comfortable, two levels of protection and won't come out. I got them for tunnel use but now I take them to the sky as well. I keep the plug open so I can still hear if anyone were to yell during canopy flight. Keeping the plug open probably also helps with pressure while still providing adequate protection.

For the price, I'd recommend anyone try them and see how they feel about it.

It does happen to me. The reason is, Dekunu uses resistive touch screen that requires a soft membrane on top to register touches. They say it's to help people who wear gloves. I say it's to reduce costs. They could've went with matte capacitive touchscreen, but those are more expensive. I am hoping they will provide an upgrade one day.

I am thinking about ordering something like this and cut it to the size, to see if I can make it less shiny. Or invest into AON altimeter. I do happen to like cloud features though...

In the first episode of the podcast Jump Twenty Six they interview Brian Germain, the author of Transcending Fear. I think the interview starts at around 55 minutes into the podcast. I highly recommend that you listen to it, it helped me out. :)


For me this interview has been inspiring and put the nervousness I have as a student jumper in perspective: while it is still a little scary to jump out, I'm not afraid. I've even bought his book as it gives a cool insight into the psychology of fear, and he offers great methods of dealing with it.


You mention that having to remember your dive flow is contributing to your stress, which I can relate to, I had this too and have since realized how silly this actually was. What is so bad about making a mistake in your dive flow? This isn't the end of the world, right? Having to redo a level on your AFF sucks because it costs additional money, but is that such a big deal that you have to get stressed out? I've told myself that having to redo a level is a great opportunity to have additional practice, and I don't worry about this anymore.

SSG Gloves for horseback riding are awesome. They are made to be weather resistant and are very thin/close fitting. The fingers and palms are made to grip the reigns well. And unlike everything else for horse back riding , they are fairly inexpensive.
http://www.amazon.com/SSG-Weather-Gloves-Ladies-Universal/dp/B0002CENKE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1459441688&sr=8-1&keywords=ssg+riding+gloves

They have men's as well

Interesting, I might have to read just because of that, also off topic have you read Lone survivor or Lions of Kandahar?...Both great books.

Pretty well all things considered (as you probably noticed I wear a mirrored/tinted lens which is why the video quality is a bit wonky).

I got them mainly because they're cheap and I'm not all that experienced (B) so didn't want to deal with potential snag point issues.

Video quality isn't anywhere near a GoPro but it's a bit better in low light (and it was cheaper). You can change some of the settings in a text file it puts on the card and I like to film the 720p 60fps.

It works standalone, I just had it in my side pocket for this jump. You could also just use your phone, just make sure it's not going to be below your body. Here's the GPS I used. I also recently bought a 2XL wristmount for an ARES II altimeter (Edit: that one doesn't fit), so I can mount my logger away from my body to get a better signal (note I'm not sure how well it will fit yet, won't find out until Friday). The GPS can apparently log a couple of hours worth of gps recording, then can transfer the .kml files to your phone via bluetooth (and the Skypro app), or via USB.

A few years back I emailed Joes wife Sherry to see if he would be up for me sending a few things to autograph. She was great about it and Joe signed a helmet visor that I used for a 29300’ HALO jump on the 2010 anniversary of his jump, his autobiography ‘Come up and get me ’ , and this original 1960 life magazine that I found on eBay! I mailed everything down from Canada to Florida and he signed it and shipped it back for me!

Edit: added amazon link

There's a great book called 'The Parachute and it's Pilot' by a dude called Brian Germain which helped me grow through what you are learning now. The book solved all of my problems when it came to canopy flight and landings, hopefully it will help you too.

I think there are some free pdf files of it online but here's a link to the ebook version

https://www.amazon.com/Parachute-Its-Pilot-Ultimate-Ram-Air/dp/0977627721

Cheaper solution with the same functionality:

1. Buy a bluetooth gps receiver for $140 (less than the cost of a flysight)
   
   
2. Install BASEline Flight Computer app for free and connect it to the bluetooth GPS

I learned a lot about canopy piloting from this video and his excellent book The Parachute And Its Pilot.

Recently picked these up and they're awesome. They're 3/4 climbing shorts made to be worn with a harness on, so they're perfect for skydiving.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00W9CBPCO/ref=mp_s_a_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1469286458&sr=8-10&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=angel+cola+mens

Blue Skies!

Brian Germains book "The Parachute and its Pilot" is a really good book.

Here's a super cheap pair of goggles. They're what I use and I've seen others at the dz wearing them. Edit: FYI I like them. They're comfortable, dont fog up, and I've never once had to think about my goggles while jumping. You put them on and forget about them.

If all else fails get a helmet, but I wouldnt recommend that until your A license.