Slinks

[guest]

Any BASE Jumpers using them ?

[guest]

Is this a troll? No one uses soft links (slinks) for base nor should they. The strength of the soft link is inherently reliant on the installer putting it together properly. This means that it could never be as reliable as a steel rapid link even though the slink is rated for a slightly higher overall strength IF PROPOERLY INSTALLED.

Not to mention you can't add or remove a slider with slinks. Don't mess with what works, especially when there is no compelling reason to do so.

Be safe,

Tree

[guest]

I would like to hear from some of the manufacturers on this. The slinks that PD puts out are of very high quality & can be removed and reused quite easily. They are also easy to install and very secure once they are. I am concindering using the slinks for reserves on my new rig, but of course I'll talk with Adam & others before I do.

Buddman

[guest]

Last year I assembled a set of PD Slink (type SR-1, the PD Slink rated for tandem mains and reserves) on my Fox 245, assembled on my Javelin J4 and with such a configuration I did something like 10 skydives.

They worked great. Furthermore, I think they are pretty safe, and, to some extent, they are stronger than the standard ss connector links. In fact, according to Performance Designs web, they state:
In our tests, the Performance Design's Slink® survived at loadings beyond the suspension lines and/or riser! In our testing, the failure point of the system was repeatedly the suspension lines or the webbing attaching the three rings to the riser. In comparison tests, the PD reserve soft link survived tests that caused failures and/or severe damage to #4 and #5 stainless steel links! The PD Soft links not only survived these tests, but showed no signs of damage.

Then, when I started BASE jumping, I assembled my Fox 245 on my Prism through 4 standard ss connector links.

Why? Maybe because I dont trust the PD Slinks? Not at all. ;-)

I preferred (and prefer) to use standard ss connector links because, due the frequent assembling and disassembling of connector link due the very frequent change of configuration that we all undergo passing from slider on (and up) to slider off (and viceversa), after 10 times you disassemble and assemble the PD Slinks, they would tear off completely!!! And then again, to disassemble and assemble ss connector link, with a wrench it takes you few seconds of work (being very careful about the routing of the lines&!). To disassemble and assemble the PD Slinks, it takes you a while, along the fact that you are scared about damaging them trying to open them&! To continuously be opening and closing PD Slink, it is a real pain in the axx. :-(
It really scares you to treat the dacron of PD Slinks so badly (even if with your fingers and your nails) to open them. :-(
PD Slinks are perfect for skydiving, where, once you have set them up, you forget about them for a couple of years.
So, to end the post, in my very humble opinion, to use ss connector links give you a much longer life to your connectors (compared with the use of PD Slinks) mainly because of the infinite number of disassembling/assembling operations that a BASE rig will undergo in its life.
Blue skies :D
Andrea

[guest]

Thank you. Just wanted to have an Idea ! Again thank you.