Dolphin

Name: Dolphin
Brand: altico
Rating: 4.5 (31 reviews)

fireflyer1988 · October 22, 2016

I bought a 1995 Dolphin D3 in 2009 from a skydiving school that had gone out of business, unknown on the amount of jumps it had on it before I bought it. Sent it to Mike Furry about a year later to have it modernized with the tuck tab reserve pin and riser covers as well as a few hardware updates. He had it done and back in my hands within the week. Excellent customer service. With adequate pin, riser and bridle protection, I put about 1,000 jumps on it in the last 8 years I've been in the sport, and just stopped jumping this rig this last summer. This rig has served me well for the last 8 years, bringing me through a variety of skydiving disciplines from belly work to free flying to Wingsuiting.

Lunduna · February 4, 2013

(PRE UPDATING BY MANUFACTURER) First rig after obtaining my A-license. Purchased my 96 DOLPHIN D4 used just over a year ago. My first 50 jumps were all made on "adjustable" rental equipment (mainly Javelins). This last 50 jumps were all made on the DOLPHIN. I'm 5' 9" 190lbs and my XL sized harness fits better than any of the rental rigs I flew. The DOLPHIN is not as "solid/stiff/rigid" as the Javelin, but that suits my body shape better (long body - short legs). The DOLPHIN seems to flex a lot better because it doesn't have so much material built into the containers.

It is way more comfortable on the ground and on the ride to altitude it comforms nicely, even in a jam-packed caravan. In freefall the harness allows me to move freely and the containers have enough flexibility to make it seem like I'm not wearing a rig at all.

The lack of buckles and rolled-up/excess webbing (that was always present on the rental rigs) just makes my DOLPHIN fit way more snugly, but not too tight. All handles are easily reached, and because the harness fits so nicely and the containers are less "bulky", I can actually reach round a "feel" my own closing pin under the main closing flap before departing the aircraft.

Under canopy my D4 feels non-existent. Don't get me wrong. I feel totally secure in the harness, but at the same time I "don't" because it is so darn comfortable!!! It literally feels like I'm not wearing a rig.

The only negative thing I can say about my DOLPHIN (mine had the "snaps" on the riser keepers) was that before I sent it in for modifications, the main risers would fall over the side of my shoulders "occasionally" (on the ride to altitude) if I didn't stow the risers tight enough in the container when packing. I would get numerous comments from fellow divers that my rig was definitely "NOT" freefly friendly. Also, a small amount of pilot chute bridle would be exposed to the relative wind.

Because of these issue (the exposed risers and bridle) I never flew anything but belly, and decided to look for a way of rectifying the limiting factors of my harness/container

(POST Manufacturer updates):

I have a new rig. Not literally, but darn close to it!

I contacted ALTICO to see if there was anything to be done about my "concerns". I received an email back, from the Company Owner himself, Mike Furry, detailing the numerous updates that could be made and some other modifications that would be made at no charge to me. Simply put - my updated DOLPHIN is absolutely beautiful. It is even more comfortable than before AND is now completely freefly friendly. And I don't know how this is possible, but it feels even more secure than before ... it's wonderful.

New velcro-less tuck-tab reserve pin cover.
New over-the-shoulder tuck-tab main riser covers.
New main closing loop anchor point (with no grommet exposed).
New longer/sleeker BOC pouch.
Updates to stiffeners/grommets in main container closing flaps.
New bottom flap on main container which incorporates a channel that conceals main PC bridle.
New wrap-around laterals.
New Cypres closing loop/washer for reserve.
New/extra stitching in leg straps, chest strap junctions.
New RSL.

$360 Shipping Included.

Am I happy with my DOLPHIN? I LOVE IT!!!

captain1976 · February 3, 2011

They make a great rig. Love the velcro riser covers. Tuck tabs are a real problem as they age. Got 500 jumps on mine and have no complaints. Tore up a panel on a crash and burn, sent it in and they fixed it in 1 day. Great company, great support.

jasonbalog · September 7, 2008

I bought mine used. Its the 1996 Dolphin. All black with a grey dolphin on reserve flap. Very comfortable. Lots of padding for the thighs. Its my first rig and its a big improvement over student gear. Plan on keeping it for many years. One thing, I wish the riser covers were not velcroed. Tuck tabs would have been much nicer.

krabberkris · January 9, 2008

Everyone at my home DZ knew I had ordered a Dolphin from Altico last summer , and when I arrived at the DZ with my new rig for the first time early that Saturday morning along with a case of Bass Ale , people gathered around to give my new rig a look over. It was immediately compared to a couple of older Dolphin containers that were on the for sale rack in the hangar , and the changes made to the design versus the earlier models were clearly visible .In particular were the tuck tab riser covers and the routing of the bridle leaving none of it exposed and securely stowed. The leg straps have significantly more padding and are very comfortable.

The Dolphin made it's debut at the time head down flying was rapidly gaining popularity , and the container received it's fair share of criticism in this discipline. That was then , this is now. There is no comparing the earlier design to the modern one. The Dolphin is now all grown up !

In addition , Altico has added many more color options to the container and Mike Furry goes out of his way to ensure your satisfaction with his product.

I may also add that I own another container / harness from a national leader in container / harness manufacturing , and can honestly say that my new Dolphin is just as comfortable and reliable.

If you are looking for a very good rig at a fair and reasonable price made by a company that will not stop short in ensuring your satisfaction , then don't hesitate to look at the all new Dolphin. It delivers !

I now have close to 70 jumps on it and LOVE it.

coldsteel · July 5, 2007

The Dolphin does it's job well in a simple unobtrusive fashion. It packs up easily, fits most bodies comfortably and holds up against abuse. The rig comes in one basic color... black... goes with everything. What more do you need?

Other reviewers have mentioned that Altico updated the Dolphin to modern standards including: full bridle coverage and the reserve and main flaps are securely closed so freeflyers can keep everything securely stowed in vertical flight. No-velcro brake keepers, and no-velcro risor covers are pretty much standard as well. Those qualities make it a very solid choice for those transitioning from AFF/student gear into their own rig.

True, you can't get hip and chest rings but my Dolphin fits just fine without them. The Dolphin is just comfortable as the Javelin(s), Wings and Icon rigs I've owned over the past several years. I would say the quality of the Altico product is similar those other rigs...very good.

I talked to Mike Furry on the phone before I bought the rig, he build my rig
specifically for me, it fit great, and he got the rig to my door in less than 2 weeks!

I don't think there is a better value on the market!

2shay · May 29, 2007

Its a javelin knock off, and have seen quite a few premature openings on this system. There are plenty of better rigs out there to start with. The company needs to really improve quality and fuctionality of rig.

CptRanger · April 11, 2007

This rig might not have all the bells and whistles that other more popular containers, but it is a comfortable rig, reliable and compared to other rigs, a real bargain (at least when I bought my two containers).

If you don't mind the black container with a minimum of color (I chose a simple blue dolphin and the rest black) I really don't think you can beat it.

Jeth · October 12, 2006

A great beginners rig! This was my first rig and it served me well for 2 seasons. The Dolphin is a safe, functional, affordable rig. Also, the service you get from Altico is absolutely outstanding! When I wanted it updated, I called and talked to Mike Fury personally. A super nice guy who really wants to keep his customers happy. He had my rig completely updated and back to me within a week and he even shipped it for free! If you ever have something that's not working for you, even if it's something trivial, don't hesitate to call Mike about it. He will do whatever it takes to keep you happy and flying in your Dolphin.

When I got the rig, it had never been jumped, but it was from 1996. In the beginning I had some issues with the riser covers and reserve flap coming open in a sit (the new Dolphins don't have this problem). I called up Mike and he told me there were many updates that could be done to it. He put full riser covers on, all around tuck-tabs on the reserve flap, and I also got a bridle cover and velcro-less toggles. The updates were a major improvement and made the rig much more secure! (Again, newer Dolphins already have all these features.) The costs were very afforable to have all these updates, and he had it back to me in no time.

Even though it is a simple rig, the Dolphin is very comfortable. I could do 6 jumps in a day in my Dolphin and it never bothered me. Nobody believed me that it was so comfy, but it was. (Mike even put in extra legs pad for me for free!) I demoed a Mirage and borrowed a friend's Javelin and I definitely was more comfy in my Dolphin.

This is not a flashy rig, but it is comfortable, safe, and gets the job done. It's great for someone starting out in the sport, or anyone who is on a budget. My only complaint is that with the velcroed main flap, it makes pin checks in a crowded plane a little harder. (Especially for people not familiar with the Dolphin.) But I think thats a minor concession because the flap does stay closed very securely!
All in all my Dolphin was solid, comfy and dependable. A great rig.

cherokee · September 5, 2006

I really like my D-4, although I'm wondering if Mike has thought about modifying the reserve flap so it could tuck into the bottom reserve flap like the majority of the other rigs, so the corners don't show. Although I like the container so much for it's dependability and reliability I'm going to purchase another one with more colors soon. Cheers to the pioneers like Mike who kept our sport rockin, with containers like this.

ScottyE · August 5, 2006

Just recieved my Dolphin . It is a great container Ignore the reviews of the old Dolphins There is no comparison, The new tuck tabs are very secure and go all the way over the shoulders the velcro is gone from the reserve pin cover and it's now secured on all three wind exposed sides very secure.

The bridle has no exposure to the wind and is hidden all the way to the mouth of the main pilot chute pouch .

The only velcro left is the small bit for the bridle over the main pin and where thw main pin cover flap tucks under and velcro's in I dont see how it could come open in free fall as it tucks under and velcro's very nice!

There is padding everywhere the backpad the shoulder straps, leg pads all comfy and Altico will size to fit just give them your measurments and you have a custom rig at a fraction of the price of some of the other containers out there.

Then theres delivery time I had my Dolphin delivered to my door in SIX DAYS top that!

jumpsouthe · July 16, 2006

for the price, the rig is great and also has the exposed pilot chute. totally logical.

fmmobley · December 19, 2005

I bought my first rig 3 months ago. I now have about 60 jumps on my Dolphin and am very happy with it.

It is very affordable and extremely comfortable.

The only problem I ever had was when I started freeflying. The reserve flap on needed to be made more freefly friendly. I called the manufacturer (Altico) and found myself speaking to Mike Fury himself.

He couldn't have been more helpful. There was an upgrade available that he provided for free that totally solved my problem.

namgrunt · September 23, 2004

it is a real pleasure doing business with this manufacturer.

how often do you call and get to talk with the owner. he was patient and actually concurned that we get the correct size,

all this as IVAN was aimed for his location.

these folks are a class act

theswoopdawg · August 23, 2004

I bought a dolphin as my first rig ever. Just off of student status and as a college student with a tight budget, I didn't have a healthy income to work with. This rig has been exceptional. I have had it since 1997 and it is still as good as the day I bought it. Of course, I've taken extra cautious care of it. I highly recommend this rig to those who are looking for a SAFE AFFORDABLE RIG.

asaptrades3 · July 9, 2004

I have one these containers and use it when I can not use my vector . It is not as cool and groovy as my vector but safe as . This rig now has all tuck tabs, no velcro. I meet Mike in 2001 and was impressed by the price compared to others . I along with other dolphin owners encouraged him to make the velcro be replaced with tuck tabs. You can also buy this rig with stainless steel hardware, colored leg harness, velcroless toggles, colored risers, and now no velcro and his standard variety of flap colors. He has even improved the bridle cover on the main to the standard on his old creation the Javelin. Thats right, Mike was the first designer of the Javelin. So rest assured you will always be safe in freeflight as well as Rw when flying this rig. My only complaint is the container is not as stealthy looking as the Vector. But I will continue to own my dolphin before I ever think about buying a Javelin or a Mirage. So it you're looking for another rig this one is a well priced gem.

boinky · June 3, 2004

In this day and age, it's human nature to tell everything and everyone about a bad experience, but not about a good one. I want to tell a good one for a change.

A very good friend of mine suggested that I look into buying a Dolphin. He told me that they were fast, affordable and easy to re-sell. To my pleasant surprise, they don't just come in black anymore. In addition to the colored dolphin and a colored cutaway handle, you can actually order up to four flaps in various color options.

It's not hard to acquire the phone number to the company, which happens to be Altico. Mike Furry has to be the kindest man alive. I explained all of the issues I had with my current container. We discussed my height, weight, canopy sizes and seeing as I do CRW, what I required the new container to do/not do for me. He made suggestions on what to order and how to do it. How many owners of a company will personally spend time talking to a prospective customer? Mr. Furry also told me that if I was not happy, they would do everything they could to fix my issues and if nothing worked, they would agree to return my purchase price. This man really cares about his product and customer satisfaction.

There are a couple of great new features offered on this container. There is a pocket that stores your pilot chute bridle and velcros shut. This is great for freeflyers and reduces the chance of a premature opening from something getting pulled by the wind. The tuck tabs are now a free option. Secure fitting, wide and keep the risers completely covered and safe.

Only nine days after I faxed in my order, I received my new container, drop shipped to me. I can't guarantee everyone will get theirs in the same short time, but they do advertise 2-3 weeks in most cases.

Before you spend thousands of dollars and wait up to six months on a container, consider a Dolphin. It's fast, friendly and affordable.

Nina Tharp

Unstable · February 8, 2004

After putting just over 200 Jumps on my 1997 Altico Dolphin - I feel that I can write a review from a skydivers (I am not a rigger) perspective.

The Dolphin is a rather Unique rig in it's design & appeal. Not offering many options seen on the more expensive harness/containers, Altico has offered a simple & Functionable system. For those who are getting into the sport or even those who just put functionality first.

I am not a rigger, but comparing a Dolphin back to back with a Javelin reveals very minimal differences. The Designer, Mike Furry, worked with SunPath on the Javelin and applied those concepts to his Dolphin. Many Riggers will even Pack the Reserve flaps covering the bottom of the pop-top, as the Javelin is packed.

My dolphin was extrodinarily comfortable. Non-articulated, the rig flexed and bended with the natural movement of my body, having an articulated harness would not have made much of a difference with comfort or fit in my case. I have jumped many rigs, including the Javelin Odyssey, Mirage G3, Talon, Racer 2K3, and Wings - the Dolphin can compare directly with these rigs in comfort.
As for Customer Service, this is where I believe the Dolphin Shines. After I put about 50 jumps on my rig, I sent it into Mike Furry at Altico to have my rig modified with Full Tuck-tabs, Bridle Protection, and extra Padding along the Yoke. All of this work was done and my rig was back in my hands within one week. Mike worked with me on a personal Level to give me the best from my rig. When I went to invest in my second rig when I downsized, I must say that this is not commonplace.

Once My Dolphin was modified with the Tucktabs & bridle cover - it was very freefly friendly. I never had a risercover come undone. I would strongly urge those jumping a Dolphin with the older design riser covers (Snaps, velcro, small tirangular tucktabs) to get this update before attemption freeflying.

I have nothing but good things to say about the Dolphin from Altico. Do not be hesitant to jump this Harness/container because of it's price - you get a lot more than you will pay for.

Shaun Smith
C-33893

muffmuffmuff · October 10, 2003

I belly fly, stand up & heads down.

My stand up max is 267 mpn.

My heads down max is 320 mph.

I find the container to be comfortable, well designed & value priced....

Just my 2 cents worth.

muffbrother · August 5, 2003

Bought my '96? barely used, and cheap. It looks great (I have simple tastes)-even after multiple bad landings. It is lightweight and comfortable. I did plenty of RW and freefly and I thought I could trust it regardless of the warnings. Sure enough, premature deployment while freeflying at Quincy 2000. Luckily at 3000 ft, not 23000 ft. They said closing loop. Ok, my bad; new (tighter)loop. 2months later, another premature deployment freeflying in Daytona(again 3000 ft!) Coincidence? Do you want to trust it? Maybe the new model is better.

screwbag · May 21, 2003

I have been jumping my dolphin for over 2 years now, with no problems. I can freefly in it comfortably, and the ease of packing (main or reserve) can't be beat. In my gear store I reccomend it to people as a fir-- well initial rig, simply because it's the best value in the sport.

nubain1 · March 12, 2003

I have a 2002 Dolphin D-4.It's my 1st container(Don't say it).and I love it.It's comfortable and to me allows a good range of motion with your arms.Only down side I have is the plainness of the container.If you don't care about trying to impress everybody at the dz then this is a great rig.I would reccomend it to anybody and I will keep it till I can't downsize the main into it anymore.

chutingstar · October 28, 2002

I have jumped Dolphin container systems for the past three years and have been more than happy with the comfort, quality and great customer service. With the 2000 Dolphin model, Altico has added main riser tuck flaps, full main bridle protection and the tightest, most secure BOC pouch on the market. Most of my jumps are relative work "team" jumps, but I also freefly in this rig when I'm not jumping with my team.

The warnings of Dolphins not being "freefly friendly" apply to older Dolphins, just as it applies to older Mirages, Javelins, Vectors, etc. The new Dolphin containers are safe for all types of skydiving.

As a rigger, I like the simplicity of the reserve container. It is very easy to make a Dolphin's reserve container look good by recessing the pop top with a short closing loop.

I currently have two mini-Ds with 120 reserves. One has a 119 Safire main, the other a 89 Icarus FX main. All canopies fit well.

I recommend the Dolphin container for those seeking a high-quality, comfortable container at a low price. It is not the coolest looking container on the market, but it looks good and serves its purpose. And if you ever have any questions, problems or the need for spare parts, Altico has the best customer service in skydiving.

luisvar · June 25, 2002

For those who want to try freefling on a Dolphin, BE CAREFUL!!, and have a rigger customize it and make sure it is safe to freefly. It is a nice "first time" RW rig, but certainly not made for freefly. I just had a premature opening on a standfly..thank God I had a Cobalt!.
Luis
C31955

FreeFallJunkie · November 15, 2001

I'm a fairly new COLLEGE age skydiver and had no luck buying a used rig that fit me, so I ordered a Dolphin because it fit my budget. It took a few weeks to get in, but that's because I had the NEW tuck-tab model made for me. I have the tabs covering my risers and there is a flap and velcro to contain my bridle. I have done plenty of RW in it, and learned all I know of freefly wearing it - since I'm new, you can imagine the body positions I've put this rig through - and NEVER had a problem. Dispite the hesitation some people seem to have about it, I'm happy with the Dolphin I have, I'm not concerned with changing containers any time soon!

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cherokee 0

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fmmobley 0

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namgrunt 0

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theswoopdawg 0

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boinky 0

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Unstable 9

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muffmuffmuff 0

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muffbrother 0

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