Skydive Equipment Basics

As you enter this new world of skydiving, there are so many exciting things to take in – the environment, the etiquette, and the equipment to name a few. As we welcome you to our sport, we’ll uncover parts of your experience so you can be fully prepared for your special day. So, let’s go over the most essential part of your skydive – the skydiving gear and equipment!

What Equipment Do I Need For Skydiving?

As a first-time skydiver, all equipment is included with your tandem jump so you won’t need to bring any additional gear-related items with you. All you’ll need to bring is a valid, government-issued photo ID and some form of payment (if necessary), and wear the appropriate skydive-friendly clothing – weather-appropriate, athletic wear that is easy to move in is best along with lace-up sneakers.

Tandem Skydiving Equipment List

While you won’t need to worry about purchasing your own skydiving equipment, you may want to be aware of the skydiving gear you’ll see and/or use during your experience. Here’s a thorough tandem skydiving equipment list:

Goggles

Skydiving goggles keep your eyes safe from the wind and any debris flying through the air at 120 mph. That’s not all they are good for though – they are your window to the sky. Goggles ensure crystal-clear visibility, allowing you to fully take in the breathtaking views during freefall – even for those with less than 20/20 vision. Our special goggles can fit perfectly over top of your glasses, ensuring you don’t miss a thing!

Jumpsuit

Skydiving jumpsuits protect from the cold or wind during freefall and from grass stains on landing. When you become a licensed skydiver, jumpsuits get a little more fancy with different designs to fit a slew of flying styles and enhance overall performance. 

Altimeter

The skydiving altimeter is a nifty gadget that most skydivers wear on their wrists. It tracks your altitude using barometric pressure as you descend from the skies. Your instructor will use the altimeter to determine when it is time to pull the parachute and initiate different turns while making the very important landing pattern back to the dropzone.

Tandem Harness

The adjustable tandem harness does more than keep you as safe as possible while on your jump, it’s designed with your comfort in mind. By securely connecting you to your instructor, it allows you to fully focus on the exhilaration of the jump without worrying too much about the mechanics of deploying and operating the parachute.

The tandem harness fits most height-and-weight proportionate bodies as long as the weight remains below the gear manufacturer’s weight limit. This is why the weight limit at Skydive Orange is 220 lbs. We do, however, make special accommodations for those weighing up to 240 lbs on a case-by-case basis with an additional $35 fee for every 10 lbs over 220 lbs.

Tandem Skydiving Rig

Tandem skydiving rigs include a two-parachute system with a main parachute and a reserve parachute. The main parachute, or canopy, is your primary skydiving parachute; its job is to get you back to solid ground. 

The reserve canopy is a backup parachute should anything go wrong with the main. Reserves are meticulously inspected and repacked every 180 days – whether they were used or not – by an FAA-certified parachute rigger. 

Drogue

Some might even say tandem skydiving rigs have three parachutes because of the drogue. It’s a mini parachute that is deployed as a way to slow the rate of descent of two humans in freefall under one parachute. Without the drogue, you might experience what is called a “hard opening,” where the parachute opens so quickly that it almost snaps you back into last week! Ouch.

RSL

The Reserve Static Line (RSL) helps to automatically deploy the reserve parachute in emergency situations. The RSL is basically a lanyard that connects one or both of the main parachute risers to the reserve ripcord. This gives you easy access to releasing the reserve parachute after the main parachute is released, so it can be deployed as quickly as possible.

AAD

Within every tandem skydiving rig lies an Automatic Activation Device (AAD). The AAD is a microprocessing computer that is used to automatically initiate the reserve opening sequence. It is triggered when a skydiver reaches a certain altitude and speed – signaling to the AAD that you are falling too quickly at unsafe altitudes. The AAD is usually used in a case where the skydiver was unable to deploy their parachute for whatever reason.

How Much Does Skydiving Gear Cost?

Life-saving gear costs a pretty penny, which contributes to making skydiving an expensive hobby – at least until you’re licensed and kitted out. A full skydiving setup can cost anywhere from $6,000 to $11,000 depending on if you buy new or used gear, which manufacturer you buy from, and any customizations you want. Luckily, Skydive Orange has a fully-stocked gear store right on site for you to peruse, try on, and price out those items you’ve been eyeing. 

We hope our guide to skydiving gear helps you build an even stronger sense of trust and understanding in your tandem skydiving experience. Luckily, you don’t have to worry too much about how the gear works or how to work the gear yourself. What do you really need to skydive at Skydive Orange? An open mind, a smile, and guts!! 

Think you’ve got what it takes? Book a skydive with Virginia’s premier dropzone right outside of Washington D.C.! Blue skies.