Spectre or Sabre2 for beginner

[SlashDog 0]

I am a student skydiver and I am researching some choices for a first canopy. I am 185 pounds which puts my exit weight at about 210. I am thinking that a 190 to 210 would be a good size for me to buy. I also think, from what I am reading, that the Spectre or Sabre2 would be a good choice of canopies. I will be trying to jump those models whenever I can. I would then get a 210 reserve as well. Any advice on this from you up-jumpers and riggers?

Also, what would be "too many jumps" on a used canopy if I were planning on putting maybe 200-500 more jumps on this canopy?

Thanks!

[phoenixlpr 0]

Use the search, Lemming!

[mnealtx 0]

Here's some reading for you... your instructors would be able to recommend to you, as well.

Safety Page / Gear Safety

I specifically recommend Lisa Briggs' "Choosing your Canopy" and "First Rig FAQs"... very good info in there.

Then come back and read, read, and read some more....

Mike
I love you, Shannon and Jim.
POPS 9708 , SCR 14706

[jakee 1,489]

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I also think, from what I am reading, that the Spectre or Sabre2 would be a good choice of canopies. I will be trying to jump those models whenever I can. I would then get a 210 reserve as well. Any advice on this from you up-jumpers and riggers?

Also, what would be "too many jumps" on a used canopy if I were planning on putting maybe 200-500 more jumps on this canopy?

Get whichever one you like best
Treated well ZP lasts for a long time. My canopy had around 1100 jumps when I bought it, I've added about 150-200 since then and its in excellent condition. Just remember to always get used kit inspected before you buy it.

Do you want to have an ideagasm?

[justinb138 0]

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Any advice on this from you up-jumpers and riggers?

Demo, demo, demo.

[SlashDog 0]

I did read those articles thanks. I will probably re-read them a few more times.

[SlashDog 0]

Thanks Bud

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[pilotdave 0]

Both are great canopies, but they have some differences. Only way to know which you like more is to try them both, in the same size, if you can. Getting a demo from PD is easy if you have a container to put it in.

I read the descriptions of both canopies and everything else I could find and decided the spectre sounded perfect for me. Demoed it, put 17 jumps on it, and nearly bought a used one. Then I demoed a sabre2 and only had the chance to jump it twice. But luckily it only took me those 2 jumps to know I preferred it over the spectre. My DZ is full of people that love spectres and hate sabre2s... it's all about what you like.

In my case, it was all about the landings. Spectre landed fine, sabre2 landed sooooo easily. MUCH more flare power in my opinion, but I get dirty looks when I say that at the DZ.

Dave

[SlashDog 0]

Thanks, I'll definitely try to get a demo. I have been wanting more flare on landings myself. I'll make sure I try first before I buy!

[Cloudi 0]

http://www.performancedesigns.com/demos.asp
I know someone there who can be of some help.

Kim
Watch as I attempt, with no slight of hand, to apply logic and reason.

[SlashDog 0]

Thanks Kim

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[MooseHunter 0]

Just bought my first rig, Sabre2 230. I love it. Hit the peas on the 3rd & 4th jump. Was able to try b4 buy. The guy offered to come to my DZ to let me try it. Be prepared for a big difference between student and expert gear. Even though I was coached, I came in much faster than I expected. The Sabre2 has great flare characteristics. Don't let the threat of end cell closure on opening dissuade you. Go to the PD web site and watch the video on end cell closure.

[tbrown 26]

Try them both out. You need to decide whether you like the steeper glide of a 7 cell or the flatter glide of a 9 cell. If you like the 9 cells you should also try to demo some of the competing brands, like the Pilot and Safire canopies. Personally, I didn't like the Sabre2 and got a Pilot. Have never jumped a Safire, but have heard many many good things about them.

As for age and condition, don't buy anything, ever, without a rigger's inspection, it's a few bucks well spent. A properly maintained zero-P canopy can last up to 2000 jumps, but not without being relined a bunch of times. The rigger's inspection will tell you what the line trim looks like, whether the steering lines are trimmed for correct length and whether or how soon the entire line set should be replaced.

You're going to find that gear maintenance in general is not going to be cheap, between reserve repacks, relinings, batteries and mandatory services for AADs, etc. It's almost as bad as owning a boat.

Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

[brianfry713 0]

Get a Sabre2. My openings are mostly off heading, but it could just be my crappy packing. It's a fun canopy.

Skydiving and gear isn't cheap, but owning a boat is much worse. My family had one that broke down most of the time we took it out, and couldn't use it without pumping hundreds of dollars into it most of the time we took it out. Our paddles and tow rope got more use than the wakeboard . It was definitely a hole in the water we poured money in to.

[SWATcop 0]

I just picked up a Sabre2 210 from PD today. I was hoping to demo it at Deland but apparently that is easier said than done. I guess the Skydiveing capital of the world didn't have a rental harness/container to fit me (6', 195). I am hoping I can get something to put it in at Skydive Space Center to demo it. Griffon Rigging is going to try and help me out but they say it may be difficult. If not I may just buy all my new gear and hope I like the canopy when it gets here.

Kevin

Muff Brother #4041
Team Dirty Sanchez #467

[pilotdave 0]

You could choose a canopy SIZE, buy a container that will fit that size canopy, then demo canopies in your own container. No need to buy it all at once.

Dave

[SWATcop 0]

True but then you have to wait another nine weeks for delivery. After the eight to ten weeks it takes for the container to be delivered. I would rather have a complete jumpable rig.

Kevin

Muff Brother #4041
Team Dirty Sanchez #467

[NoShitThereIWas 0]

If I were to guide a student into buying a first canopy I would look at what is important to them and take their skill and my exerience into consideration. Without knowing much about what you are looking for or who you are, my experience would tell me to recommend Spectre.

I am biased since my first canopy was a Spectre 150 and I put 475 jumps on it. What can I say about the Spectre? It was a dream canopy. I was bored with it after 475 jumps ... who wouldn't be after any canopy for that long, but it always opened so softly and on heading. It landed me safely and softly every time. I managed to slam myself ONCE in all that time and it was because I rushed the pack job completely and it was not a pretty sight.

My experience with the Sabre 2? Let me start off by saying I am not a fan of the Sabre 1 at all and would never own one because of the way they opened for me ... after the new model came out I decided to give it a try. My first impression of it was that it is a fun canopy to fly and a little more responsive than the Spectre. But after a few openings, I experienced some Mr. Toad's Wild Ride and the little bit of experience I do have under them left me under pretty significant end cell closure every time.

Like others say, demo them both and find out which one you like because everyone is different and no two canopies are exactly the same!

Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires."

Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."

[SlashDog 0]

That's exactly what it looks like I'm going to do. Thanks for the tip.

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[SlashDog 0]

I will definitely get a rigger to check it all out if I go with a used canopy. I'm going to demo both. Thanks for the advice!

[SlashDog 0]

Enjoy! Let me know how you like it!

[SlashDog 0]

Thanks Jen. I'll look forward to jumping the Spectre. It looks like the conservative choice of the two. That's not a bad thing in my mind.

[littleredfrog 0]

Im new and Ive only used a spectre... but I really like it.. its been good to me

MB# 4012

[Hambone 0]

My first canopy was a Sabre 1 210, great canopy, but it was time to change and I went straight to a Sabre 2 190, I didn't demo anything else. Of course I got a ridiculous deal on my 190 so that pretty much sealed the deal for me.

Yeah...You need to grow up. -Skymama

[NoShitThereIWas 0]

And as a beginner student I think it is a wise choice. And yes, conservative is REALLY GOOD when you are a beginner!

Nonetheless, don't think Spectre is a pussy little canopy. It is a ZP high performance wing. You can crash it if you want to. Back in the day they wouldn't have dreamed about flying the wings that novices are mastering today with under 100 jumps.

Let us know how you like it if you got one and remember the first couple jumps you put on it (especially if there is no wind) will seem kinda fast So don't forget to do some practice flares up high and give yourself plenty of room to run out your landing. (Speaking from the experience of guesstimating wrong with 22 jumps and missing a fence by a lucky foot or two at the most )

Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires."

Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."