On Thursday, January 16, 2020 at 7:25:47 PM UTC-8, Tony wrote:
Colten is 16, just passed his Private glider checkride in December. We have a rigger in our club who will check it out and repack on condition.

Oh dear, so lets see...

Which country are you in?

Uh jeez you are in Kansas. I hope you make it out to the United States some time. Tony keeps trying to escape with those long downwind dashes. But then he turns around and goes back. Nobody can work out why (and no, even when Leah also escapes in the crew car).

You just after any old parachute? No concern what type? No concern if it will fit your aircraft?

A SGS 1-34 should work with a fairly standard backpack style emergency parachute. Seat style or long flat packed chutes used in some other aircraft are probably not what you are after (still be careful if you are very tall or short--discuss with your packer what parachute model/type might help you.. and if here is a question you might want to try several on borrowed from other pilots).

Suit your weight?

Being a teenager you are not likely overweight. Likely athletic enough to even get out of a glider in distress. Heck you likely even have all your own hair and teeth. Emergency parachute canopies are typically rated in weight ranges. With say around around 220 lb being a typical upper weight for a standard canopy. Something you want to ask about for used chutes, the rigger will check is appropriate for you.

Are you concerned about brand? About claimed life limits?

Some rigs may (or may not) have life limits (lots of past debate on r.a.s. about that), and what matters to you is finding a rigger you trust and what they will advise you on and what they will sign off on a repack. Ask them what hard life limits they believe apply and the expected practical life you should expect. If you have a packer in your club have a chat them them about their recommendations and cautions (some may prefer not to deal with some makes). They will often be a great source of ideas about used cutes, may resell them or know other riggers who do. If you have already done that, great.

First time you rigger does an inspection or repack of your chute, try to take it there and have them demonstrate proper fitting and use and actually pull the handle yourself.

Be careful of parachutes that may have sat for years between the last repack, especially in hot conditions, the rubber bands bands might have turned to a mess and done dammage. I'd start as local as possible and try to have anything inspected (unpacked) before purchase. Some club parachutes just seem poorly looked after, let out in the sun, in damp glider trailers, abused in many ways, etc.

Hope you make it out of Kansas.