What Skydiving Gear Should New Jumpers Buy? A Beginner’s Guide to Buying, Renting & Waiting

Key Takeaways 
Renting skydiving gear makes sense early on, but it gets expensive over time. Most skydivers invest in a mix of new and used gear. New jumpers should prioritize purchasing personal items like a helmet, altimeters, goggles, and a basic jumpsuit before committing to a full rig. Buy major components when you have more jumps and a better understanding of what fits your flying style and wing loading. When buying used skydiving equipment, always work with trusted riggers and instructors, verify history and condition, and pay attention to red flags.

Okay … you achieved your A License and now you have the daunting task of buying skydiving gear. How does that even work? Are there specific skydive shops? Yes, there are! 

Making big purchases in an unknown territory like skydiving can be intimidating. Don’t worry – we’ve got you covered in this all-encompassing guide of what, how, and when to buy skydiving equipment. 

How Much Does Full Skydiving Gear Cost? 

There is a big difference in the cost of custom, new parachute gear, and used parachute gear. For example, a skydiving parachute for sale that is brand new will run you around $3,000, but a used one could be anywhere from free to $3,000, it really just depends. The same rules apply to complete rigs, reserve canopies, helmets, and all the skydiving gadgets you can think of. 

New Gear

The price for new skydiving gear is based on what the manufacturer or gear store sets. Gear can last decades, and buying it new can be a fabulous investment to make at the right time. 

Used Gear

Used gear prices are generally set by the previous owner of the gear, or the gear store or individual that is selling it on their behalf. Used skydiving gear is the best investment for those new in the sport. Why? Downsizing for one. Downsizing is when skydivers transition to smaller parachutes as they progress from a novice to a more experienced skydiver. It takes time to decide which parachute is right for you.

In fact, many people never buy a custom setup and jump used gear throughout their time in the sport. Others wait to make the investment in something brand new when they’re at a stage they anticipate being at for a while. 

Rented Gear

Should you just keep renting gear? Depending on how often you skydive, the cost of renting gear will eventually catch up to you. Renting gear is a great tool to utilize when progressing rapidly as a student, but once your progression becomes more about dialing in specific skills, it’s important to have gear that you can be 100% accustomed to – new or used, but yours.  

What New Skydivers Should Buy First 

Let’s be real, learning to skydive is expensive. Like anything worthwhile, the upfront cost can be intimidating – but it significantly decreases from there. When you’re ready to buy your own kit, it’s important to think about the order of your purchases. Your rig – i.e. your parachutes, AAD, and container – can wait a bit, or, you can buy second-hand. 

Here’s the skydiving gear most newer skydivers purchase first:

• Helmet: A skydiving helmet can last for years! Helmets help to protect our heads throughout every jump, especially while in the aircraft and during landing. 

• Goggles: Many jumpers opt for a full-face helmet, making goggles unnecessary. However, if you go for the open-face helmet, goggles are a must-have! Skydiving goggles cost around $50. 

• Visual altimeter: Altimeters are one of the most common first purchases among new skydivers. Altimeters run about $200 to $600.  

• Audible altimeter: What is the point of having two altimeters? An audible altimeter is an extra safety measure, not an excuse to not look at your visual altimeter! Audibles are small devices that are placed snugly inside the helmet and produce loud beeps (or even a voice) when you reach certain altitudes. “Audibles” can be preset on the ground to customized altitudes. Audibles cost around $200 to $500. 

• Jumpsuit: Wondering what to wear when skydiving for the first time? We’ll give you a jumpsuit! As people progress through the sport, they may invest in specific types of jumpsuits for certain disciplines. For example, a jumpsuit created for Relative Work is much different than one that is crafted for speed or free-flying. That being said, having a jumpsuit that will make-do for any type of skydive is a solid investment.
  
  Jumpsuits can be bought used or new and cost anywhere from a couple hundred bucks to $1,000+. Jumpsuits help to protect clothing and skin, and control fall rate. A basic belly-flying suit is perfect for beginners!  

Skydivers are encouraged to purchase these items first, because they’re on the more affordable side of things and can be used throughout their lifetime in the sport.

Is It Okay To Wait To Buy? 

Absolutely! Gold State Gear at Skydive Perris is a treasure trove when it comes to trying out gear before purchasing. Committing to buying gear is big, and being comfortable and safe with the decision is key. Renting or borrowing gear is common, especially early-on in a skydiver’s progression. Skydivers generally opt to buy their own rig (container + 2 parachutes + AAD) when they have around 50 jumps. 

How To Buy Used Skydiving Gear 

Can you buy skydiving gear on Facebook? Yes, you can, and it’s pretty common! People buy used skydiving gear in three ways: directly from the previous owner, from a trusted gear store, or online. The third option, although the most common, generally holds the most risk. Although buying used helmets, altimeters, and jumpsuits comes with less hassle, it’s still important to purchase from trusted buyers. 

Purchasing second-hand rigs – containers, reserves, and mains – is a whole different ballgame. Here are some critical considerations when buying used skydiving gear: 

Keep it in escrow. 

Depending on what it is and how much it costs, this step may be unnecessary, but it’s a great option when needed. We strongly suggest asking a trusted rigger to hold your gear in escrow when purchasing a container, parachute, or parts of a parachute. This looks something like paying for the shipping and a small down payment of the gear, having it mailed to and inspected by your rigger, and paying the remainder if everything checks out. If a seller is unwilling to ship their gear to a rigger to be held in escrow, that’s a red flag. 

Discuss dates and jump numbers. 

The DOM – date of manufacture – is a big thing to look out for when buying a parachute or container. This determines when the gear was produced. Just as important as the DOM, it’s critical to ask how many jumps have been made on the system. A rig made 20 years ago, stored properly, with 50 jumps would generally be in better condition than one made 5 years ago, stored poorly, with 5,000 jumps. 

Tip: Ask if the lineset is original or if it was replaced, and, how many jumps are on the current lineset. 

How was it stored?

Ensure the gear was never kept in direct sunlight, extreme temperatures, or wet. If it was wet, was it properly dried? 

Where was it jumped? 

Parachutes jumped in desert climates wear out quicker than those jumped elsewhere. Sand and dust do a number on lines and nylon! 

The most important thing when buying used gear is to get help from trusted riggers and instructors, and to trust your gut. If a seller is giving you bad vibes, it’s a no-go. 

Skydive Perris instructors and Load Organizers are eager to help with fit, sizing, and recommendations when it comes to buying gear – new or used! When it comes to navigating the skydiving gear market, no question is stupid, so ask away! Blue skies!

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