Apart from regular repacking and inspections, pay special attention to the following:
- Do not leave the reserve out in the sun (UV radiation) unnecessarily.
- A wet or damp reserve should be completely unpacked and allowed to dry inside at room temperature, or outside in the shade.
- Do not expose a packed reserve to large temperature changes, and make sure it gets enough air circulation in cars and buildings so that condensation does not form.
- Deal with the reserve carefully on the ground after an opening, or during SIV training.
- After contact with seawater the reserve must be thoroughly rinsed with fresh water.
- Only clean the reserve with fresh water, and a little neutral soap if required. Never use solvents. Chemicals, cleaning agents, insects, and stains can affect the strength of the parts as much as physical abuse.
Most manufacturers recommend replacing a reserve parachute after 10 years, so its value on the second-hand market decreases steadily towards that point. We won't sell reserves older than the manufacturer's recommended lifetime, and if you are considering such a reserve, be sure it first has a full inspection by us.
High Adventure certifies their Beamer 3 for 14 years assuming it has inspections every 12 months, but warns that life depends very much on the style of use and quality of care (deployments can significantly reduce a reserve's life).