Following assorted questions apply to parachutes up to 24", for LPR and small MPR, because that's what I fly.
I use coast-lock snap swivels to attach my parachute to my shock cord. I've seen coast-lock swivels specifically recommended many times here, so I use them, although I find the small ones to be devilish to snap and unsnap. Is there a trick? Also, are there any known-good brands? I need to order some more, and as usual am bewildered by the array available on Amazon, most with very high aggregate ratings but also with many highly rated reviews saying that they're garbage (a common problem trying to decipher Amazon reviews).
Next: I was watching @Flyfalcons 's excellent video on the Bullet Bobby kit and when he attached the parachute it just about blew my mind:
His method was:
The reason this blew my mind is because it is exactly opposite to what I've always done, which is:
Both methods allow for easy removal/swapping of parachutes. Ryan's method permanently attaches the swivel to the shock cord, which seems troublesome to me.
What is standard and/or best practice here?
I use coast-lock snap swivels to attach my parachute to my shock cord. I've seen coast-lock swivels specifically recommended many times here, so I use them, although I find the small ones to be devilish to snap and unsnap. Is there a trick? Also, are there any known-good brands? I need to order some more, and as usual am bewildered by the array available on Amazon, most with very high aggregate ratings but also with many highly rated reviews saying that they're garbage (a common problem trying to decipher Amazon reviews).
Next: I was watching @Flyfalcons 's excellent video on the Bullet Bobby kit and when he attached the parachute it just about blew my mind:
His method was:
- Attach the snap swivel ring to the shock cord
- Tied a loop at the end of the shroud lines
- Hooked the snap to the parachute shroud lines.
The reason this blew my mind is because it is exactly opposite to what I've always done, which is:
- Attach the parachute to ring in the swivel, using a cow hitch. I admit I find this to be troublesome, especially with the heavier shroud lines on nylon chutes, but it only has to be done once per parachute.
- Tie a loop into the shock cord (elastic, in my case; Ryan's was Kevlar)
- Attach the snap to the shock cord loop
Both methods allow for easy removal/swapping of parachutes. Ryan's method permanently attaches the swivel to the shock cord, which seems troublesome to me.
What is standard and/or best practice here?