BASE Packing

Posted onAuthorMatt Gerdes

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Flat Packing

Flat Packing a BASE canopy, step by step

Flat Packing

Of course you can’t learn to pack your life-saving parachute from a video, but they are a useful reference and background material. Practice makes perfect, it’s worth repeating to improve your efficiency, neatness and confidence.

  • Using weights and clamps
  • Keeping it neat
  • Tips
  • Line check
  • Setting brakes
  • Laying out the canopy
  • Flaking
  • Using clamps on tabs
  • Cleaning up the lines
  • Neatening the attachment points
  • Aligning seams in the tail
  • Attaching the tailgate
  • Stowing lines in the tail pocket
  • Reduction folds
  • Routing the bridle
  • Closing the container
  • Pin orientation
  • Packing the pilot chute
  • Accounting for your tools



Meet: Matt Gerdes

Matt has completed over 1200 safe BASE jumps to date (mostly wingsuit flights in the Alps, where he opened a few new lines). He is the author of the BASE Book. Matt podiumed at Red Bull Aces 2015, finished top five in 2016, was 2016 WOWS Distance champion, and 3rd in Speed. He is the co-founder of SQRL equipment (www.squirrel.ws) and has worked in the free-flight world for over 15 years with Ozone Paragliders (www.flyozone.com).

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Hey what's up. My mission here at SkydiveMag.com is to try and publish as much quality information on BASE jumping and Wingsuit flying technique as possible. I am enthusiastic about collaborating with other people in the Wingsuit flying and BASE worlds to bring modern, vetted, and reliable information to the jumping public. If you feel that you have something good to contribute, I strongly urge you to contact the editors here at SkydiveMag, or me, directly. Contributing quality articles, videos, and tips on safety technique to the community is the best way to give back to the sport that has made our lives so damn awesome. Together, we can help save the world from useless facebook comments! Thanks in advance for being rad, and making an effort. -Matt