Todd began skydiving in 1984, started rigging 2 years later, then
"jumped" into B.A.S.E. in 1987. By the end of that year he earned BASE #169,
became an FAA rigger and was awarded his first instructional rating. Along
with his brother Troy he founded T&T Rigging and began manufacturing the
first BASE specific harness/container systems and accessories.


Marta moved to the US from Brazil at age 20. After only 30 skydives she
discovered BASE while it was still in it's infancy. There was no BASE
specific gear, and in 1988 she began building BASE gear, relying on her
skydiving gear and BASE jumping knowledge and experience to make appropriate
gear for the sport, and Vertigo was born. 

                                        CANOPIES AND OPTIONS

                                                     FLiK

Description:

If your looking for BASE specific performance, then look no further.  The FLiK parachute (introduced to June 2002) has consistent openings, reliable heading control, perfect glide, with incredible flare and landing performance. The FLiK is available in 11 sizes ranging from 182 square feet to 354 square feet. FLiK options include variable Vtec, Multi, HTS and custom colors.The FLiK, with an aspect ration of 2.08/1, was designed to provide better glide and flare performance over its predecessor the FOX.  The FLiK's performance has proven itself around the world.  The FLiK is well suited for a wide range and types of BASE jumping.  Slider up the openings are positive and consistent.  Slider removed (or down) the openings are brisk and reliable.  The FLiK is constructed with spanwise reinforcement at the B, C, and D lines.  The bridle attachment is designed to handle the harsh treatment imposed by over sized BASE pilot chutes.
The FLiK can be outfitted with Vtec (bottom surface vent).

Another option is HTS (Hybrid Top Surface).  This option places ZP fabric on the forward 1/3 of the top surface.  HTS provides better lift, most noticeable during a flare.

Multi (multiple bridle attachment) is yet one more option.  The Multi provides the best lift capabilities of any bridle attachment.  The Multi use a total of 4 or 2 (new modified Multi) lifting points instead of just 1 bridle attachment.  The Multi reduces center cell strip a common issue with Tail Pocket deployed square parachutes.

The FLiK comes standard with a Tail Gate (anti line-over device) , mesh slider (large hole or small hole), stainless steel connector links, Tail Pocket, Tail Gate Friendly Lines (colored to help set the Tail Gate), and custom colors.

ORDER FORM                      MANUAL
 
                                                   

                                                         FOX

Description:

The FOX BASE parachute is the first BASE specific parachute ever built. Its reputation, in the past 15 + years, as a reliable and consistant parachute has kept it in high demand and a part of the Apex BASE flight line. BASE jumpers from around the world have, and continue to trust the FOX.

Product Details:The FOX canopies are designed with specific BASE performance specifications in mind. The low aspect ratio, seven cell ram air parachute utilizing I-beam construction with spanwise reinforcement. These design characteristics result in consistent opening performance, durability, and reliable flair.  FOX options include variable Vtec, Multi and HTS. For those jumper focusing in the "Ultra Low" the FOX xs is available. For those wanting the FOX performance without all the weight and bulk, consider the FOX Lite.

The recommended suspended weight is a mid-range figure of about a .7 wing loading.
- Sizes  185  205  225  245  265  285  315-
- Seven Cells -
- 1.1 Oz  0-3 CFM or Zero Porosity Fabric -
- Low Aspect Ratio -
- Low Profile Stabilizers -
- Triple Cross porting -
- Reinforced Bridle Attachment -

-Black Suspension Lines-
- Red Tail Gate Lines -
- Tail Gate Installed -
- # 5 Stainless Steel Connector Links -

The FOX is known worldwide for integrity and performance. 

Canopy only: includes stainless steel connector links, link covers, black lines, red Tail Gate Friendly lines, dual brake settings, large hole mesh slider, tail pocket and tail gate. 

ORDER FORM                      MANUAL

                                              FLiK/FOX Lite

Description:                                                  Do you want a canopy that FLIES GREAT and is LESS FILLING? Those features and more are found in the FLiK Lite and FOX Lite BASE parachute.
The FLiK Lite and FOX Lite BASE canopies use the same traditional fabric (0-3 cfm aka F-111) but the reinforcement scheme has been redesigned to reduce bulk without sacrficing performance. The original FOX and FLIK BASE parachutes were over built using readily available reinforcment tapes.

The Lite canopies use a lighter tape (commonly found in skydiving reserves) to provide most of the interior reinforcement on the load bearing ribs and bottom surface spanwise.  All leading edge (nose) tape remain unchanged to provide durability where it is needed. Tape was removed in areas the original canopies where overbuilt including the D-line spanwise, stabilizers and two locations on the top surface. Bulk has also been reduced in the lines. The Lite uses 400 pound Dacron line (instead of the 525). All of these changes create a BASE parachute that packs about 10% smaller and weighs about 8% less.

What’s the  Lite canopy all about?
To understand the Lite feature we need to explain the standard FLiK or FOX.
Apex built the FOX and FLiK originally with little or no regard to the bulk of the parachute. We over built them both. This was evident in several areas including the bridle attachment and the spanwise reinforcement. Since the FOX was the first BASE specific parachute, if anything, we wanted it to be over built. We knew these parachutes would be used for hundreds of jumps in a single parachute system.
Now fast forward 15 + years. The sport has changed and customers now request lighter and smaller parachutes. Apex  overbuilt the canopy and  had room to re-engineer the type and the amount of reinforcement that was used in these two parachutes.

In the Lite canopy Apex changed the following:
* All spanwise reinforcement (B and C) was changed to a lighter nylon tape. This tape is more expensive and commonly used in skydiving reserves.
* All internal Load Bearing rib tape was changed to the same lighter weight tape used in the span wise reinforcement.
* Apex reduced the width of the tape, from 1/2” to 3/8” that is rolled into the tail seam.
* Apex changed the suspension line from 525 lb. Dacron to a 400 lb Dacron line.
* The tail pocket material was also changed to a lighter weight fabric.
No change was made to any of the leading edge tapes. Apex continue to use Type III tape because of the durability and strength.

In the Lite canopy we removed the following:
* Spanwise reinforcement on the bottom surface at the D-line.
* The top line of reinforcement tape on the stabilizer.
* The bridle attachment reinforcement on the top surface cells 3 and 5.

All these changes have yielded a parachute that packs about 10% smaller and weighs 5% less.

Those are the details. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.
FLiK Lite FOX Lite they still Fly Great but are now Less Filling.

Neither of these parachutes use the reduced bulk fabric. Stay tuned for the new FLiK UltraLite and FOX UltraLite parachute from Apex BASE that uses the new low bulk fabric.

ORDER FORM                      MANUAL

                       FLiK / FOX UltraLite
Same great canopy platforms but with an incredible reduction in both weight and volume.  Our studies have shown that this fabric, combined with our tried-and-true BASE specific canopy designs, is suitable for both slider-up and slider-off jumping.  Our Ultralite fabric meets or exceeds traditional 0-3 (F-111) standards in all strength test.

                        Rock Dragon                                    The Rock Dragon was developed to open fast and do nice deep brake approaches.  Designed and tested for the low cliffs, and technical landings, of Moab, UT. Canopy only: includes stainless steel connector links, link covers, black lines, red Tail Gate Friendly lines, dual brake settings, large hole mesh slider, tail pocket and tail gate.

ORDER FORM                      MANUAL


 
In addition, there're the next canopy options:

Hybrid Top Skin

HTS places ZP fabric on the top surface leading edge (about 30% of the chord).

Vtec (Vent/Valve Technology)

The Vtec option is the only way to go for rapid pressurization of the canopy.

Fifth Brake Line Attachment

This option adds an additional brake line to the standard 4 upper brake line attachments. It is attached on the next half cell inboard from the standard 4th brake line placement.

Multiple Bridle Attachment (MULTI)

The Multi is a 4 point attachment system for the bridle to lift the canopy out of the container by the center 3 cells instead of just the single center cell attachment point. Click on the picture for more details.