How to Store Your Skydiving Gear for Winter

Key Takeaways
Proper winter storage is one of the most important parts of skydiving gear maintenance, directly affecting safety, performance, and longevity when jump season returns. With seasonal shutdowns, winter is the ideal time to inspect, clean, repair, and properly store your rig. This guide covers how to store your skydiving gear for winter, what maintenance matters most during the off-season, and how to prevent damage caused by moisture, humidity, UV exposure, and temperature changes. 

How Cold Is Too Cold for Skydiving?

How cold is too cold for skydiving? Skydiving can be uncomfortable when temperatures get extremely cold, but there’s no single cutoff. In general, most dropzones pause jumping when temperatures at altitude drop below freezing or when the combination of cold air and strong winds creates unsafe conditions. In our neck of the woods, the skydiving season runs May through October – you’ll have to head south if you’re set on winter skydiving.

For those who stay put, this is the most important time of year to take care of your gear. Skydiving gear maintenance can feel overwhelming or just plain boring. But think of winter as your rig’s annual tune-up. A little effort now goes a long way when warmer temps return. 

In this guide, we’ll cover how to store skydiving gear for winter, what to watch for during the off-season, and how to get everything dialed in for the start of the next jumping season.

Clean & Inspect Before You Store

You should always keep an eye on your skydiving gear throughout the season, but before it sits untouched for months, it deserves a proper top-to-bottom inspection.

• Main Canopy: Look closely over the fabric for wear or damage. Check inside the canopy as well as all the cross ports for unusual wear. Run through all the lines, risers, toggles, and inspect the slider, grommets, and stitching. Check the deployment bag, pilot chute, bridle, and kill line for signs of wear. We suggest removing rubber bands if you plan to have your main sitting for a long period of time, as they can disintegrate or become gummy over time. This is especially true if the rig is stored in a non-temperature-controlled environment. If you choose to leave the rubber bands on, plan to replace them before the start of the next season.

• Container: Inspect all hardware, webbing, stitching, flaps, grommets, velcro, and handles. Make sure your BOC pouch still has good stretch and securely holds the pilot chute.

• Cables: This is also a great time to have your cutaway cables removed, cleaned, and lubricated. Cables can be cleaned with an approved silicone spray, and your local rigger can help you source the proper product if needed.

Ensure your rig is clean before storing it away. If your rig has dirt or mud on it, let it fully dry before attempting to clean it. Brushing wet mud just pushes it deeper into the fabric. Once it’s dry, a stiff nylon brush will usually remove surface dirt. If it’s too dirty for just brushing, consider having your rigger wash it – there really isn’t a better time for this than a winter off-season. Your rigger can also perform a full inspection of your gear and take a thorough look at all the items listed above.  

Handle Maintenance You’ve Been Putting Off

Winter is the ideal time to take care of maintenance that’s easy to delay during the busy season. This includes worn binding tape, tired velcro, flap repairs, or small hardware concerns. Addressing small issues when they present can save money long-term and keep your rig in better overall condition. 

If your AAD is due for service, the off-season is the best time to send it in. That way you’re not grounded once jump season starts back up.

If your rig truly needs a full wash, this should be done by a certified rigger. Only specific detergents are safe for parachute fabric, and improper products can weaken materials. Your rig also needs to be fully air-dried before storage; even small amounts of trapped moisture can lead to significant damage.

Store Your Rig the Right Way

There’s more than one way to store your main canopy, and the right choice depends on your space and setup.

Some jumpers prefer to unpack their main for long-term storage. If you go this route, untwist your brake lines, neatly daisy-chain your lines, and store the canopy in a clean, protected space, ideally off the ground. Keep in mind this does increase the risk of snags, dust, or curious hands and paws, so only do this if you have a safe storage area.

If you choose to leave your main packed, it’s not a problem. However, we suggest a fresh repack before your first jump in the spring. Always inspect and replace worn or brittle rubber bands during your next pack job.

How you store skydiving gear in Canada matters – our long winters and cold temperatures can take a real toll on equipment. Keep these storage tips in mind:  

• Store your rig in a cool, dry, temperature-controlled place.
  If you have a gear bag, this is a great place to store it. Remove the pilot chute from the BOC during storage to prevent unnecessary stretching.
  
• Store it off the ground to help keep it away from potential moisture and other items.
  Storing it on a shelf or hanging it on a rack is fine. Never stack heavy items on top of your rig. 
  
• Avoid storage areas prone to humidity, insects or rodents, and salt exposure.
  Humidity can lead to mold and fabric breakdown. If your gear ever comes into contact with salt water, it must be rinsed and inspected immediately. Salt is extremely corrosive and starts damaging equipment as soon as it dries.
  
• Keep your rig out of direct sunlight.
  UV exposure weakens fabric and webbing over time.
  
• Never store your rig in your car. 
  Temperature swings, moisture, and UV make vehicles one of the worst places for long-term storage.
  
• Keep gear away from kids and pets.
  Nuff said.

How Long Does Skydiving Gear Last?

We know the cost of skydiving gear can add up quickly, but it’s built to last when cared for correctly. Here’s what you can expect from each major component with proper maintenance.

• Main Canopy: The approximate lifespan of a main is 1,000 to 1,500 jumps, sometimes more with excellent care. A well-maintained main can last many years for recreational jumpers.

• Container: With a typical lifespan of 15 to 20 years, containers often outlast canopies since they experience less direct stress. Longevity, of course, depends on care and use. Riggers will retire a container earlier if stitching, webbing, or hardware shows degradation.

• Cables: Cables can last a long time – typically 5 to 10 years – if routed correctly and kept clean, but should be replaced at the first sign of wear, kinks, or corrosion.

Getting Ready for Next Season

Before that first spring jump weekend rolls around, give yourself a little lead time to get everything dialed back in.

• Make sure your reserve and AAD are both in date.
• If your main stayed packed all winter, unpack and repack it before jumping
• Replace rubber bands as needed.
• Inspect elastic keepers and replace any that are stretched out.
• Address any worn parts or deferred maintenance before they turn into bigger problems.

Schedule your rigger appointment early. Spring is one of the busiest times of year, and you don’t want to delay having your gear ready on opening day!

Blue Skies Await

Taking care of your skydiving gear during the off-season is one of the easiest ways to protect both your safety and your investment. A clean, properly stored, well-maintained rig not only lasts longer, but also performs better and helps prevent avoidable issues in the air.

The Parachute Ottawa gear loft is staffed by FAA Master and Senior Riggers who are ready to help you maintain your gear the way it deserves – don’t delay on submitting your work order! Have questions? Get in touch! We’re here to help.