General information
- In this chapter, we will describe the methods, procedures and practices used to pack or re-pack your SQR reserve.
- Alternatively you can watch our online packing video: https://youtu.be/f6M1KMbGZ70.
In the following video, the necessary checks, steps and practices are shown to repack your reserve safely. From the chapter "Folding" onwards, there are two alternative packing methods available, up to this point both packing methods are the same. There we link the videos of both methods again for you so that you can make/change your selection there.
Video Tutorials
Sorting the lines, preparing the canopy
Airing 24 Hours
Pull or shake the lines apart and shake out the canopy so it lies open and loose. It’s best if the canopy is allowed to air for 24 hours before being repacked (see Fig 5).
Checking the lines
The lines should be checked for twists, loop-throughs or line-overs and these corrected. The lines should run straight from the canopy edge to the bridle with no looping through.
Arranging the canopy
Arrange the canopy so that the separated red panel is on top. The axis of symmetry for folding runs down the centre of this panel and its opposite white corner.
Find the blue, numbered packing loops near the top of the upper surface of the canopy.
Packing aids
Before continuing, check that you have all the accessories you will need to pack the reserve: means of securing the bridle, packing line for the loops, inner container, line holder, weights, clamps, etc. When the packing is finished it is important to check that all these assisting items are accounted for, with none left inside the packed reserve (use an accessory checklist).
The list depends on the individual packer and experience, skill, technique etc., but new elastic bands in two different sizes will be required for securing lines and container.
Use of packing loops
Thread a packing line through the blue packing loops in their number order. The first loop is above the red panel (see Fig 6).
Check that all the packing loops have been threaded in the correct order: 1 to 8 (SQR 100, SQR 120) or 1 to 12 (SQR 140, SQR 160, SQR 220). Pull up the line and fasten in a loop; do not tension the line yet.
Verifying the layout
Secure the end of the bridle to a fixed object. Take the suspension lines, red left, green right in the corresponding hands, and walk them up to the canopy, keeping them under some tension and separating them as you go. Run the lines through your fingers to check for knots, damage or foreign objects.
Give the canopy a shake when you reach it. The result should look like Fig 8. The red suspension lines at the canopy seams should be on the left, the green suspension lines should be on the right. Between your hands you now have two Air Jet panels – red on top, white underneath. The centre lines must go to the middle of the canopy, between the suspension lines and the two Air Jet panels.
Arrange the canopy as shown in Fig 9 with the red panels at the top, and lay it on a clean, flat packing surface; a long packing table is perfect. When laid out correctly for packing the suspension lines will run parallel from the bridle. The red line attachment tape lies at the top of the red lines; and the opposite green attachment tape on the canopy edge will be at the bottom of the green lines.
Without disturbing this layout the suspension lines can now go in the respective left and right slots of a line holder (the centre lines go in the middle).
Take the packing loop line, and attach the end to another fixed object. This packing line should be lightly tensioned to keep the whole canopy/line system straight and in order. A load of 1 to 2 kg is enough.
If you have to pack outdoors, a large sheet (as used by skydivers and base jumpers) will prevent packing dust, grass and grit into your reserve.
The use of packing aids such as a line holder, packing clamps, packing rods (for straight folds) and/or packing weights can make packing safer, faster, easier and neater, but they are not essential.
Sorting the canopy
First, fold all panels from the right side over, on top of the left ones. The routine described here begins with right over left. You can reverse the direction protocol if you wish – but keep to the sequence.
Check that the green line attachment tape is at the bottom of the stack; this is now the starting point.
Start with the white, divided small panel which is on top. Fold it back to its own side (Fig 10). Follow with two large orange panels, then two short white ones, another two orange and finally the first (right) side of the short red panel (Fig 11).
Folding the canopy
In this chapter we introduce two certified folding methods for the SQR reserve systems:
Method A - The simple S-folding method
Due to variations in container widths, folding habits and packing experience, we have introduced this folding method which makes packing a little easier.
Method B - The triple S-folding method
This folding method was developed when the first SQR products were introduced. It is a reliable folding method that has proven itself over the years.
The difference between the methods is in the initial folding of the side panels and the main S-folding process when matching up with the inner container width.
Folding method A – The simple S-folding method
Here you will find the packing video with the matching packing method:
Video Tutorial
When you lay each panel out make sure the lines stay in the centre (line holder) and that the folded panels are pulled flat. First lay out the bottom white layer (Air Jet) to full length, and then pull out the first orange layer neatly. Grab the top layer around the middle with one hand (Point A on Fig 12), and grab the panel midpoint at the end with the other hand (Point B on Fig 12).
Pull in the midpoint of the panel (B) to the lines between the layers and fold the top half onto the bottom half of the panel, effectively folding the whole panel in the middle.
Repeat the process for all the orange panels on this side.
The first half of the canopy is finished when one red panel (Air Jet) lies flat on top. Make sure the panels lie neatly one on the other, and that the bottom edges make a straight line.
Repeat the same procedure for the other side, without disturbing the prepared side underneath. To hold the prepared side together, you can use packing weights or packing clamps.
The gathered canopy apex makes a square pocket between the centre lines. Sometimes this bulges out of the centre during the folding process (Fig 18). This pocket should be pushed back between the centre lines towards the packing loops, at the top-centre of the canopy (Fig 19).
The length/tension of the centre line is carefully set for each model, taking into account construction, ageing, opening behaviour and packing characteristics.
The centre line attachment points should lie alongside the middle of the canopy. If a centre line has been pulled to the side – between panels – move it back to the middle by holding the centre lines together at the canopy edge and/or through the Air Jet opening (Fig 40).
Matching the inner container width
Check that the bottom edges of the canopy form a straight line. Divide the edge into three sections for folding points, where the middle section is the width of your container.
Start with the side that will go underneath. On the right side grab all the layers at the first folding point and fold the canopy under itself. The folding should look like Fig 44. Bear in mind that the central width is now our reference – not the canopy centre-line.
Now fold the remaining side on top. Grab all the layers at the folding point and fold the canopy over itself. The final shape of the canopy now should look like Fig 48.
Matching the inner container length
The canopy is now ready to go into the container. Measure the S-fold length required from the canopy edge upwards (Fig 26).
Start at the lowest fold and lift the same length of bundle over, sliding the remaining canopy towards you. Do this carefully, so as not to ruin your previous work. Packing clamps or weights at the fold lines will help (Fig 26). Remove the packing line from the packing loops. Fig 27 shows the final result. Check that all your packing equipment is present. Do not leave anything inside the canopy (refer to your accessory checklist).
Putting the folded reserve into the inner container
Flip the inner container and place it on the top of the folded reserve, upside down. Then flip the whole package and pull up the container flaps to make a neat and firm package. Hold the folded canopy edge while doing this, to keep it in shape. Keep the correct sequence when closing the flaps (see label/manual). You can use a suitable object for holding the container flaps temporarily closed. The edges and the lines will be on top of the bundle.
Folding method B – The triple S-folding method
When you lay each panel out make sure the lines stay in the centre (line holder) and that the folded panels are pulled flat. Make sure the panels lie neatly one on the other, and that the bottom edges make a straight line. We recommend that you first hold a bottom corner of each panel in position (1.), then pull out the top corner (2.) for a flat result (Fig 29).
If you hold the bottom corners (Fig 29/1) of the already flattened panels with the fingers from one hand, you can avoid mixing up the panel order and will get a neater, ordered bottom edge (Fig 30).
Repeat the same procedure for the other side, without disturbing the prepared side underneath.
To hold the prepared side together, you can use packing weights or packing clamps.
The gathered canopy apex makes a square pocket between the centre lines. Sometimes this bulges out of the centre during the folding process (Fig 32). This pocket should be pushed back between the centre lines towards the packing loops, at the top-centre of the canopy (Fig 33).
The length/tension of the centre line is carefully set for each model, taking into account construction, ageing, opening behaviour and packing characteristics.
The centre line attachment points should lie alongside the middle of the canopy. If a centre line has been pulled to the side – between panels – move it back to the middle by holding the centre lines together at the canopy edge and/or through the Air Jet opening (Fig 33).
Matching the inner container width
Check that the bottom edges of the canopy form a straight line. The width of the prepared canopy should be symmetrically divided by the width of the container, starting from the central width as a basis. With the 22cm wide SQR container there will be 7 container widths (3 container widths either side of a middle width). The central width will remain in place, while 3 S-folds below and 3 S-folds over the central width, to make a vertical concertina shape that fits the width of the inner container.
We start with the side that will be on the bottom when the S-folds are finished. First fold the entire right side over the left (again) disturbing it as little as possible, bearing in mind that the central width is now our reference – not the canopy centre-line.
If folded as shown in Fig 36, the right side will end up underneath, but you can do it the other way around as long as the end result is symmetrically correct. The next step is easier if you have a helper or clamps/weights or you have enough practice.
(Fig 36): S-fold the right side on top of the central width, then rotate and slide this section underneath the central width, keeping it in shape (Fig 37). Watch the online packing video to help with this step: https://youtu.be/f6M1KMbGZ70.
The diagram below shows the result (3 S-folds under): the red dot is the position of the reserve centre-line. It should look as shown in Fig 38.
Now fold the remaining side on top – 3 S-folds as shown in Fig 39 and below.
Matching the inner container length
The canopy is now ready to go into the container. Measure the S-fold length required from the canopy edge upwards (Fig 40).
Start at the lowest fold and lift the same length of bundle over, sliding the remaining canopy towards you. Do this carefully, so as not to ruin your previous work. Packing clamps or weights at the fold lines will help (Fig 40). Remove the packing line from the packing loops. Fig 41 shows the final result. Check that all your packing equipment is present. Do not leave anything inside the canopy (refer to your accessory checklist).
Putting the folded reserve into the inner container
Lay the folded canopy into the container (Fig 25). Pull up the flaps to make a neat and firm package. Hold the folded canopy edge while doing this, to keep it in shape. Keep the correct sequence when closing the flaps (see label/manual). You can use a suitable object for holding the container flaps temporarily closed.
Stowing the lines
Release the bridle tension.
To stow the suspension lines it is easiest to use a board with correctly spaced pins/posts. The pins should be set at a lateral distance equivalent to the width of the inner container, e.g. approximately 20 cm for the SQR inner container (see Fig 26).
Wind the lines around the pins in a simple figure-of-eight fashion as shown above. Fig 26 shows a right turn around the right-hand post first, followed by a left turn around the next point. The initial direction is your choice, but a consistent figure of eight pattern (Fig 27) should be followed.
Closing the inner container
When the bundles have been stowed you should have around 90 cm of lines remaining, for closing the SQR inner container. If you have to use a different inner container, follow the instructions provided by its manufacturer. The same reserve folding principles apply, but the dimensions may have to be adjusted, and the closure line length required may be different.
To continue: lay the line bundles on top of the folded canopy (Fig. 28).
Close the last container flap and secure it with a line loop through the red bungee (elastic rope) (Fig 29).
Arrange the line bundles under the container flaps. They should lay neatly inside the container. The closure line loop in the red bungee should have a length of 5-6 cm / 2-3 finger widths.
Close the cover of the SQR inner container using two line loops of the same size (5-6 cm / 2-3 finger widths) as the final one inside (Fig 31). Different elastic bands are used for this, and they are first pulled through the eyelets on the cover. Other containers may have a different closure system – follow the instructions in the corresponding user manual. They may require different closure line lengths.
Your SQR reserve has now been repacked, and is ready to go in the harness (Fig 32).
For the installation procedure see chapter 6. If you disconnected the reserve for packing, don't forget to reconnect it.
Enter the date (online) in your pack and inspection record.