Side folds

[pringles]

I have seen many different variations as to how to fold the side folds . The most common thing that I have seen is to fold them in half once. While at bridge day this year I was watching someone pack. One thing I saw that he did different was when he was doing these folds he folded them over in half. Then he folded them over in half again, greatly reducing the width of the pack job. At this point the canopy looked much easier to manage than the traditional pack job I am used to. I have been considering tring this method. Has anyone else seen this or have any expirience doing this?

Any comments welcome.

Matt

[imported_Tom Aiello]

>The most common thing that I have seen is to fold the stablizers in half once.

I'm a bit confused here. Are we talking about the stabilizers at the bottom (toward the container) of the pack job, or the entire side fold of fabric (on either side of the line groups)?

Are you seeing people fold the stabilizer up toward the body of the pack job? I usually either don't fold it at all, or fold it in at a 45 degree angle.

>Then he folded them over in half again, greatly reducing
>the width of the pack job.

This makes me think you are talking about the side folds of the canopy (between the line groups), rather than the stabilizers.

>I have been considering trying this method.

I have seen and tried a couple of different methods of folding in the sides of the pack job. I usually just fold the whole thing in half, which appears to be what you are most commonly seeing.

I have tried tri-folding the fabric, quadruple folding it (I think that's what you're thinking about trying), and also rolling it. I honestly haven't noticed any difference in the openings on these four methods. I've never really had trouble getting it into the pack tray, though, and I can see how this might help there.

I suspect that the more folds you make in the canopy, the longer (very slightly longer, but still longer) it will take to inflate. That's just a guess, though, based on the principle that every fold you put in has to come out at some point. So, while I don't think it would make much of a difference, I'd probably go with a single fold if opening speed were really critical (low pull or sub 200' freefall, for example).

Did I understand what you were saying correctly?

--Tom Aiello
tbaiello@mac.com

[pringles]

Im sorry. I was talking about the side fold. Not the stablizer at the bottom. I can see how what I had written could be mistaken for micro reefing. Thanks for your input Tom.

Matt
pringles@basejumper.net

[Neil UK]

Matt

I have double folded the A-B, B-C folds for all of my jumps as this is how I was taught to pack. I have freefalled 260 ft with this style of packjob and didn't notice my openings to be any lower than my buddies who pack "text book". I know of a few other people who use this method and have done so for many jumps (200-300) including freefall as low as 200ft. So I guess you could say it works! :+

Be safe, be low

Neil

[goodvibesjumper]

Hey Matt,

I have about 100 pack jobs on the canopy I'm currently jumping. It's an ACE 240, using a gargoyle container. the first 70 pack jobs or so, I would take the material between the A-B line groups and the B-C line groups and fold them inwards twice (1/3, then 1/3 again). Then I would just take the material between C-D line group and the material between each break line and kinda scrunch them in. This worked great. I decided to switch the way I folded the A-B and B-C folds. What I do now, is instead of folding inward and folding inwards again (creating almost a roll type thingie). I do an S-Fold that way the material is not folded into itself, and is therefore less likely to have that extra resistance on opening.
Now here's what I did a couple jumps ago: I decided to do a little experimenting with my pack job (ok people, don't flame me for this please). I decided to roll that same material (A-B and B-C). Then I also rolled the material between C-D. I had a snivel on that job. Well, not a full on snivel, but it was definitely enough to notice. I don’t' think what you saw is a problem, after all I've jumped that type of pack job about 70 times, but I've adapted the S-Fold method, and I think I'll stick with that for now.

Soft Landings,

Crash

[bps]

Hi Matt --

Sorry for the really short reply -- I'm enroute to a 10 day trip to Southern California and will lose reception in a matter of minutes. (speaking of which -- anyone up to a Turkey Rub-a-Dub load?)

For the last 200 jumps or so, I have folded my stabilizers half way in, and then folded that part in from there. Essentially, you have 3 sections, all equal in width. (hope this makes sense)

I found what you speculated -- smaller width made for a cleaner pack job when closing the pack tray. I have not noticed longer opening times. I think that in theory, more folds equals longer opening times, but only when measured in small scientific measurements. In real world application, I'm of the opinion that it makes no difference at all. But keep in mind that this is just my opinion and not matter of fact.

Good question and have fun jumping!

Bryan