Skydiving Gear Checks

A skydiving gear check is the process of thoroughly inspecting your gear prior to a jump. Gear for skydiving is complex and understanding what’s what helps build confidence – for first-timers, solo skydiving students, and experienced jumpers. 

What’s In A Skydive Gear Check? 

We’ll get into more detail later. First let’s take a look at what we check and what we’re checking for when we perform a skydiving gear check. In short:

• 3-rings. Are they routed properly? Are they free of filth? 
• RSL. Is the Reserve Static Line properly routed and connected? 
• Straps. Are the chest strap and leg straps routed through the metal friction adapter properly? Is there any wear and tear on them or the friction adapter? Is their excess cleanly stowed? 
• Handles. Are the cutaway and reserve handles seated correctly and securely? Are the cutaway cable and reserve cable able to move at will? 
• Reserve pin. Is the pin seated correctly and is it sealed by an FAA-certified rigger? 
• AAD. Is the AAD turned on, and was it turned on here, today? 
• Main pin and closing loop. Is the main pin placed properly through the closing loop, and does the closing loop have less than 10% wear? 
• Bridle. Is the bridle routing correct? 
• Pilot chute. Is the pilot chute able to be reached comfortably by the jumper? 
• Altimeter. Is the altimeter showing a reading of “zero” on the ground? And, is it set to the proper setting if it’s a digital altimeter? 
• Helmet. Do the helmet and goggles (if using an open-face helmet) fit well? 
• Shoes. Are shoes tied or otherwise secured to the jumper’s feet? 

What’s The Check of Threes? 

The Check of Threes is commonly used to remember critical components of parachute gear checks. 

• Three rings. The three-ring release system – created by the iconic Bill Booth – uses a series of large, medium, and small metal rings that loop through each other and are secured by the cutaway cable. This clever design spreads the effect of gravity on the skydiver and the forces of canopy flight across the rings, reducing the overall strain and demanding less force needed to cut away the main canopy.
  
  The RSL, which is connected to the main risers near the three-ring system, is also inspected at this point in the Check of Threes to ensure it’s properly routed and securely attached to the correct grommet. 

• Three attachment points. The harness of the skydiving rig has three straps – a chest strap and two leg straps. Each of these are routed through a metal friction adapter. When we’re checking the attachment points, we’re ensuring there isn’t wear on the straps or adapter, and that the strap is routed properly through the adapter. It’s common to see skydivers checking others’ straps by not only looking at them, but tugging on them. 

• Three handles. Skydiving rigs are equipped with three handles – the hacky on the pilot chute (which initiates deployment of the main parachute), the cutaway handle, and the reserve parachute handle. When we check these, we’re ensuring that they’re secure! They’re held in place by strong velcro – seriously! And yes, the velcro really withstands the speed of a skydive. 

The Nitty Gritty of Skydiving Gear Checks

With the basics behind us, let’s take a more in-depth look into the components we consider with each skydiving gear check:

• Main closing pin and loop. When we check these, we’re making sure they’re in good health and in the right spot! The main closing loop should have less than 10% wear. How do you measure 10%? A good rule of thumb is: if you’re debating, it’s time to change it! Closing loops that are too frayed can result in a premature deployment of the main canopy. 

• Reserve closing pin and loop. How much wear can a reserve closing loop show? Zero percent! Reserve parachutes have a sort of zero-tolerance policy – they need to be in pristine condition. This is one reason they’re unpacked, inspected, and repacked by an FAA-certified rigger every 180 days. Yes, this happens regardless of if you’ve used the reserve or not! 

• Automatic Activation Device. AADs are small computers situated in the container designed to deploy the reserve parachute in the event that the skydiver is unable to. They perform using a pressure and velocity system – if they determine the skydiver is falling too fast (velocity) and is too low (air pressure), they are designed to activate a small blade to cut the reserve cable, which deploys the reserve parachute. AADs save lives! 

• Altimeter. Altimeters show us how high we are – they’re pretty darn important in the skydiving world! When we check them prior to a jump, we’re making sure they’re displaying “zero” and are fastened snugly on the skydiver’s hand or wrist. 

Wondering how much full skydiving gear costs? It depends. Many people buy used gear, with the full setup costing a couple grand. Others (normally as they progress in the sport) might spend more than $10,000 on gear. It may sound like a lot, but you can’t put a price on something that will save your life and enable you to do something that brings you much joy! 

Do You Ever Check The Parachute? 

Although the parachute is inside the rig during a traditional gear check, it’s checked before every single jump when it’s packed! Every parachute packer – whether that’s you or someone you’ve hired – will consciously check the status of the risers, grommets, lines, canopy, pilot chute, deployment bag and bridle during every pack job. 

Pro tip: Take care of your parachute packer! They take a great deal of responsibility into their hands when they prepare your canopy for deployment and landing, i.e. their work saves your life! What are we hinting at? The answer to this frequently asked question: Do you tip your skydive parachute packer? You can! Tipping is never expected, but it’s always appreciated. Tipping isn’t always about money; packers work hard for long hours and save you the hassle of having to spend time sweating on the mat instead of grabbing a snack (if you’re at Skydive Perris, check out the Bombshelter Restaurant’s menu!) before your next jump. So, maybe bring them something too, like an electrolyte drink or a sandwich!

How Often Should You Gear Check? 

You should gear check so often that it becomes second nature. Gear checks are expected to be done by the jumper using the gear prior to putting it on and after putting it on. Before boarding the airplane, it’s customary to get a gear check from at least one other qualified skydiver – a second set of eyes could save your life! Many jumpers also check their own gear and others prior to leaving the aircraft. This is trickier to do in a crowded airplane, but it’s possible and common! Dan Brodsky-Chenfeld (a.k.a. Dan BC), one of the greatest skydivers in history and a fierce advocate of safety in skydiving, reminds jumpers regularly that they should always “expect everything that could go wrong to go wrong on every jump” 

What is the fatality rate of skydiving? According to the United States Parachute Association’s 2024 report, there were 0.23 skydiving fatalities for every 100,000 skydives made last year. To put this ratio into context, that’s approximately one fatality for every 434,783 jumps. This number represents the lowest number of annual skydiving deaths in recorded history – a statistic we have been able to achieve, in part, through diligent safety checks, individual accountability, and a commitment to keeping complacency at bay. We are acutely aware that skydiving is an inherently risky sport, which is why we are so meticulous about mitigating risk wherever possible.

Have questions about skydiving gear checks, or anything else related to our industry? Feel free to reach out to us! We’re here to support you and to responsibly advance the sport of skydiving. Blue skies!

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