How Much Do Parachutes Cost?
Parachutes, commonly referred to as a canopy, are usually made out of a light, strong cloth and used to slow the motion of an object in the atmosphere by creating a drag. A parachute must slow an object’s terminal velocity by a minimum of 75% to be considered a parachute. Parachutes are used in different ways and situations such as unloading people, food, equipment, space capsules, and even bombs.
Meaning the difference between life and death, a parachute, when skydiving, can also make the world of a difference when it comes down to a smooth ride down back to earth.
How much do parachutes cost?
With a parachute, you’re going to need to need four things to successfully jump: the deployment pack, the main chute, a reserve and an automatic deployment system in case you’re unable to deploy the chute. For just a parachute, the price can be anywhere from $1,400 to $3,000. All four, however, which includes the main parachute, reserve, harness system and automatic deployment device, can total $7,000 to $10,000.
The Sky Dive Store, for example, offers a handful of skydiving parachutes that retail for $2,000 to $2,500.
What are the extra costs?
For those who are going to go skydiving, a reserve parachute is going to be necessary to ensure that you’re safe on your free fall. A reserve canopy will often be larger since the goal is to slow down the descent speeds as much as possible. As a general rule of thumb, the reserve should be one size larger than the main canopy.
A parachute harness/container will be needed and worn to store the parachute and the reserve. A used container can cost as little as $150, while a new one can cost $2,000 or more.
Higher tech parachutes can come equipped with a deployment system that will automatically deploy at a certain altitude. While optional, this feature alone can add $2,000 to the parachute price.
On average, parachutes can last up to 15 or years, but maintenance may be required through its years.
Tips to know
Some common parachutes you will see on the market include the 7-cell, 9-cell, hybrid, square, semi-elliptical, air locked and cross braced.
How can I save money?
To save money, try to compare prices from at least three to five retailers. Talk to a local skydiving company to see what kind of parachutes they recommend as well as ask where you can purchase one for a fair price.
If starting out with something such as skydiving, most are going to recommend that you do 15 to 30 jumps before buying equipment. When jumping for the first time, all companies are going to equip you will all the necessary equipment, including the parachutes. By doing this, you will know that your investment will be worth it once purchased.
Buying a parachute bundle with everything included can often be the best way to go. Often referred to as a skydiving gear package, this will include everything you will need to start skydiving such as the container, parachute and the reserve. Some, depending on the brand, may also include additional accessories.
Buying used could be an option as long as you’re diligent with your research. Drop Zone recommends buying used if it’s your first set of gear and if possible, always purchase the main parachute new. If buying a main chute used, you should be able to tell how often it has been used by examining the lines.
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Average Reported Cost: $2000
How much did you spend?
- tom (LA, California) paid $2000 and said:
i have interesting in the quotation about the parachute range 2000-3000 dollars
Was it worth it? Yes
