Prism 2

[Tom Aiello]

Hey,

I've got some friends who (like me) were big fans of the original Prism. They've recently gotten a Prism 2 and really didn't like it.

Anyone else have any experience with this container?

[adamg]

What specifically do your friends dislike about the Prism 2?

I recently bought a Prism 2 and have found it to be superior to the original Prism. The main drawback to the Prism in my opinion was how tapered the container was. I feel that this issue has been duly addressed in the Prism 2's design, having a much squarer and flatter profile. The Prism 2 also does not look as though it will have the tendency to bow or sag toward the pin like the Prism, although only time will tell.

Less significantly, I feel the dynamic corners are also an advancement upon the Prism's fabrication. Whilst their advantages are perhaps minimal in situations where forward speed is not considerable, they are cerainly not detrimental alterations.

On a side note, I think the Prism 2 is also a much better looking container than the Prism, and even as aesthetically agreeable as a Vertex. Not a reason to buy one, but a good thing if you already have...

Just my opinion,
Adam George.

[Tom Aiello]

The main complaints I've heard have to do with closing order. Essentially, because you have to close the top flap first, you have to dress your multi (if you have one) and stow it, then pull the top flap down while the rest of the pack job can still wiggle around and "squish" out the sides. Has this been your experience?

They also thought that the side flaps ought to be gussetted (i.e. made of two pieces of material sewn together) and shaped to hold the pack job more cleanly together.

There was also some discussion of the advantages of adding a second pin, a bit higher, to flatten the top profile of the container (this was because the flap positioning makes the Prism--the only rig with a top flap covering down over the pins--ideal for a wingsuit rig). If you left the original pin in it's place, but added a second pin up higher, fixed to the pack tray, rather than a flap (like the WS Xtreme) you could close either with or without it, creating a "convertible" rig for either "standard" or "wingsuit" uses.

...even as aesthetically agreeable as a Vertex.

I guess I'm just weird, but I liked the way the Prism looked better than the Vertex.

[adamg]

I don't have very much experience with either container, but I think the closing sequence on the Prism 2 definately makes it more difficult to keep the pack job symmetrical than on the Prism. The simplicity of the Prism was one of its biggest advantages in my opinion (I have only done about 5 jumps on one), and has been somewhat lost in this respect, although I don't see it as that much of a problem.

I don't fully understand the complexities of gusseting, although Jason F explained to me that he thought it would be beneficial.

One other weakness of the design that I have noticed is the potential for the Nylatron plastic in the top flap to possibly become bent due to having to fold it under the pack tray to place the canopy in the container, and then needing to pull it from underneath the container to initiate the closing sequence. This does not seem to be that much of an issue, but over time it may need to be replaced.

[BASE_689]

> They also thought that the side flaps ought to be gussetted

> I don’t fully understand the complexities of gusseting, although Jason F explained to me that he thought it would beneficial

Sorry, I do not understand what you are talking about.
Prism 2 has got its side flaps "gussetted": in fact order form asks for: 1) Side gusset colour; 2) Side flaps/Riser covers colour. I need to change the order for a friend of mine's new Prism 2 because I used the order form of old Prism (where there was only one colour (and only one continuous manufacture) of side flaps: I had to specify one colour for side gusset and one colour for side flaps.
At least, this is so (side flaps of Prism 2 gussetted) for a Prism 2 that has just finished to be manufactured and is about to be shipped to a friend of mine beginning of next week (20 sep 2004).
Perhaps there was a very early version of Prism 2 that got its side flaps "continuous"?

[Tom Aiello]

The one that I saw (which was picked up within the last month), had what I might describe as "cosmetic" gussets. They were pretty much totally square, so they didn't really serve much functional purpose. If you made them triangular, you could shape the rig a bit more.

Let me see if I can email Jase and get him to chime in.