Best steering line release toggles?

[Dwain]

>PS. No need to respond if you're sponsored by a gear
>manufacturer, as you're probably biased and we've seen a lot
>of those type of promo posts lately. It makes it hard to see
>what's the best gear when you've got jumpers promoting gear
>only because they get freebies everytime they praise the
>product.

Could you outline exactly which Manufacturers give freebies to jumpers who praise their products (because many of us will start throwing lots of praise their way!!!). ;)

Seriously though, the major Manufacturers I know are a little more ethical than to create a reward system such as you outlined. Typically they try to make the best gear possible and then if people wish to publicly praise it of their own accord, then great.

Manufacturers typically give extended loans of demo equipment (as opposed to "freebies") to jumpers who can provide detailed technical feedback on how to make their products better (this involves both praise and criticism - gear doesn't get better if you just have "yes" men testing your products).

Most of the "biased" feedback I've come across is by people who's significant experience comprises of using equipment made by the same manufacturer - hardly a good basis for making objective opinions - or by people that haven't really put enough jumps on a system to form a valid opinion.

Jason's original question is a good one. However, it should only be answered by those with significant experience using more than one type of "steering line release toggle" (the key word here is "using"). The same principal should apply for canopies, containers, p/c's, wingsuits etc.

We all would hope (and expect) that those people who received a pair for free, and have experience on different pairs, would give unbiased opinions. After all, technology is one of the critical components that saves our life when we jump. To consciously let economic influences or manufacturer loyalty shape the advice we give would be very, very wrong and could possibly be detrimental to the safety of others.

Note however that it's still OK to relate your experiences with a product if it's the only one of its type you have used, or if you only have a handful of jumps on it - as long as you clarify this when you give your opinion.

(Un-sponsored, but currently demo'ing BASE gear from five different manufacturers if anybody is wondering about my "bias").

[base428]

Now that many gear manufacturers have their version of the steering line release toggle that allows one to jettison the offending line to clear a line-over, which design do you like best?

I've been using a pair for the last year and a half, although I was pretty impressed with some other designs I saw at Bday 2002.

What do you have and which is the best?

PS. No need to respond if you're sponsored by a gear manufacturer, as you're probably biased and we've seen a lot of those type of promo posts lately. It makes it hard to see what's the best gear when you've got jumpers promoting gear only because they get freebies everytime they praise the product.

------------
Jason Bell (BASE428)
Email: jbell@vertical-visions.com
Web: www.vertical-visions.com or www.bridgeday.info

[base428]

Allow me to expand on my original question...

There are some toggles that allow for an easy single-hand release, others that are still single-handed, but require a little more intention to release, and then there are the two-handed versions. At least these are the three versions I've either used or viewed. While it may initially make sense to purchase the version that allows for a quick and easy release, one may find that accidental releases are more common. With the two-handed versions, accidental releases are nearly impossible, but you may not want to face a situation where you're running out of time and you can't reach the small pull tab on the opposite toggle.

After discussing this issue recently with other jumpers, I guess I would rather have a system that allows me to quickly and easily release the steering line during a line-over, rather than potentially struggle to release the two-handed versions. Time is critical. It all boils down to being able to successfully and quickly release that toggle. This may be more important than an occasional (if ever) accidental release of the same toggle system which can be landed via riser inputs.

And while we're on that subject, don't drop that other good toggle if you lose the first one!


------------
Jason Bell (BASE428)
Email: jbell@vertical-visions.com
Web: www.vertical-visions.com or www.bridgeday.info

[JJ]

>PS. No need to respond if you're sponsored by a gear manufacturer, as >you're probably biased and we've seen a lot of those type of promo >posts lately. It makes it hard to see what's the best gear when you've >got jumpers promoting gear only because they get freebies everytime >they praise the product.

Sure feels nice to be sponsored....and all I gotta say is something like...
"if you prevented the possibility of a line-over in the first place...."

:P