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Relative Workshop, manufacturer of the Vector and Sigma container systems, recently announced its RSL reserve pins can bend in “heavily loaded” rigs. This is not new information for most riggers, as Relative Workshop’s RSL pins have shown to bend easier than standard ripcord pins. The company is offering free replacement of any bent or deformed pins on its rigs. The new pins are constructed from a heavier gauge of stainless-steel wire. Still, the company insists bent RSL pins is not a widespread problem and is caused almost exclusively from riggers using a “mechanical-advantage tool,” according to the March issue of Parachutist. Relative Workshop claims bent RSL pins without the use of such tools are “extremely rare.” The riggers of Chuting Star Rigging Loft beg to differ as our experience shows some of these pins bend no matter how loose or tight the reserve pack job. Most of the riggers in the loft do not use a mechanical-advantage tool and we have found bent pins on several Sigma and Vector rigs in the past. Slight bends in pins have been straightened or replaced. We look forward to seeing how the stronger pins hold up. Many of the pins in use now develop not so much as a bend, but more of a dip where the closing loop sits across the pin. According to Parachutist, Relative Workshop’s representative for military sales first brought attention to the problem after noticing bent pins in “heavily loaded military rigs.” But testing by the company has shown that its inventory of pins were “within specifications.” Yet there must have remained a concern due to the announcement and release of the stronger RSL pins. Dennis Corgan of Relative Workshop told a rigger at Chuting Star Rigging Loft that slightly bent RSL pins do not increase the pull force, but should be replaced anyway. For more information, Relative Workshop can be contacted at 386-736-7589 or on the web at www.relativeworkshop.com.

Last year several instructors from Skydive Illinois took up residence in Atlanta and made Atlanta Skydiving Center their new home. An influx of new staff of course brings new ideas, skills, attitudes, and even gadgets. And the one gadget that is starting to catch on is the Suunto watch with altimeter. Suunto does not advertise in the skydiving industry, but the altimeter function of its watch is easy to read and operate. It also keeps up with the change of altitude in real time as fast as any other digital altimeter I have ever used. After tiring of taking my altimeter on and off after every work jump, I decided to give the Vector model by Suunto a try. For the last month I have used this altimeter on every tandem and AFF jump. It has worked flawlessly. The watch comes standard with a plastic wrist band, but I soon upgraded to the elastic wristband that slips over my jumpsuit with ease. Suunto has several different versions of its sport watches, but the least expensive version that contains the altimeter is the Vector. The watch retails online for approximately $200 with shipping and the elastic wristband is about $15. The watch has four modes: Time, Altimeter, Barometer and Compass. There is also a stopwatch and log book feature. For skydiving, the altimeter screen shows the altitude, climb rate (up to 1,000 feet a minute) and time. The button that changes the mode is on the upper right side of the watch and my glove has changed the mode while under canopy. With the elastic wristband, the problem was solved by moving the watch a few inches further up my arm. As far as battery life, the jumpers from Chicago say they haven’t had to replace their battery yet and they’ve had their watches for more than a year. The watch seems durable and is lightweight. Sunnto’s web site is at www.suunto.com. The watch retails online at www.nicheretail.com.