Ain’t Nothing Like a Trap
This is an excellent example of “What happens if I push the bridle past the red line?” Although we tested this very rigging error many times during the testing of the Trap System™, this is the first time we’ve seen it done in the field. The Trap System™ obviously still worked, but since the reserve bridle was pinched around the elastic, the elastic was torn off.
Although we aren’t happy to see mis-rigging, we are pleased that the Trap System™ performed as designed and tested. This container will come in for repair and should be happily back at the DZ jumping with its owner soon!
During development we tested the Trap System™ with the bridle pushed in too far, way too far, and ridiculously too far, yet it still worked as designed. During breakaways with those configurations it tore the elastic as expected, but never failed to capture the bridle and extract the reserve. Our testing also found that even when the reserve bridle was pushed through the elastic all the way to the bottom of the Trap panel the reserve pilot chute had no trouble withdrawing the bridle from the elastic in the event the ripcord is pulled.
We designed the elastic to be the weak link in the system to ensure that the bridle escapes, even when mis-rigged. With either a Trap System™ deployment or a normal reserve pilot chute deployment our tests showed that the elastic will break easily if needed, as is shown in these images.
The bottom of the elastic is left open for a reason. We tested a “pocket” made by sewing the bottom edge of the elastic down, but it just made it difficult to get the bridle under the elastic neatly, and riggers tended to try to overstuff the bridle into the elastic. The open elastic is easier to pack, easier to inspect, and allows the bridle to be inserted the full width of the elastic.
The Trap System™ has been in the field for several years, has numerous deployments, and is generally considered to be very rigger friendly. So simple, in fact, that almost everything you need to know about properly packing the Trap System™ is shown in a diagram inside the cover.
Riggers… be sure to read the instructions to fully understand the assembly and rigging of the Trap System™. At the very least, please follow the diagram inside the cover. 
Trap System™ Full Packing Instructions :
https://miragesys.com/support/g4-owners-manual/#11980L
Trap System™ Full Demonstration Video :
Trap System™ Quick Intro Video :
Trap System™ Malfunction Scenarios Video :
https://miragesys.com/support/product-videos/
(Credit to Pete Swan for sending in the report)
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