Saber 1 Mixed Reviws

[aprwvu 0]

Would you fly one?

[monkycndo 0]

I currently own 4 of them.

Have made about 700 jumps between them.

So, yes.

50 donations so far. Give it a try.

You know you want to spank it
Jump an Infinity

[dragon2 2]

Yes.
I wouldn't get a sabre 1 for camerajumping however if you're looking for a cheaper intermediate canopy or for a wingsuit canopy, they're great.
Sabre 1's have a reputation for opening brisk but not all do, so first off you want to jump any sabre 1 you're thinking of buying. If it does open too hard for your taste there are ways to slow it down using packing methods and/or a different slider.

ciel bleu,
Saskia

[captain_stan 0]

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Sabre 1's have a reputation for opening brisk but not all do, so first off you want to jump any sabre 1 you're thinking of buying. If it does open too hard for your taste there are ways to slow it down using packing methods and/or a different slider.

Exactly--the only real drawback, which can indeed be managed or improved. Any old-timer who's jumped one can help with packing tips, or a forum search will provide these. I make my own sliders, so adding a pocket is a no-brainer for me.

Although they turn somewhat sluggishly, they flare very well. I put about 100 jumps a Sabre 120 loaded at 1.5 and was pleased with the landing. The square planform is suitable for wingsuiting, and the short, forgiving recovery arc is suitable for a novice who wants to start using front risers on final.

[councilman24 37]

I jumped a Sabre II for the first time two weeks ago. It sniveled but then slammed open. Just as hard as my normal canopy an original sabre. Didn't have much chance to compare flight but I still jump an original Sabre, actually two, and would buy a new one. But I want a canopy that opens quickly for low exits.

I'm old for my age.
Terry Urban
D-8631
FAA DPRE

[virgin-burner 1]

in about 200 jumps mine never slammed me; but i was pretty meticulous when packing it. the bigger they are, the more they have a tendency to open hard is said.. mine was a 150.

“Some may never live, but the crazy never die.”
-Hunter S. Thompson
"No. Try not. Do... or do not. There is no try."
-Yoda

[mchamp 1]

More suitable for wing suits from what I've heard but if I was newer and poorer jumper it definitely wouldn't bother me if I bought one or jumped one.

I own a sabreII now though and love it

For info regarding lift ticket prices all around the world check out
http://www.jumpticketprices.com/dropzones.asp

[likestojump 3]

I have owned two (210 and 190) throughout my downsizing/transitions. No problems. They had the latest large slider.

I have jumped over a dozen other ones, all with larger collapsible sliders and no problems.

so yes, I would jump one, as long as it has a large size slider and a good lineset.

[firstime 0]

great canopy if you like brisk openings (good if you go low) good flare... but after 300 jumps on it I would pitch and grit my teeth because it was going to spank me. It gets tough as you get older.. 50's therefore went to the spectre, it's like falling into a cotton ball

[captain_stan 0]

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I would pitch and grit my teeth because it was going to spank me.

Let me guess--you never rolled the left and right halves of the nose and stuffed them into the center cell? This old man will still jump one if I can pack it myself.

[Martini 0]

Horrible canopy, most wretched thing ever flown. That's why I sold mine. Now I only own four of them.

Sometimes you eat the bear..............

[stayhigh 2]

opens like brick and flys like one.
it will save you life from free fall.
and that is about it.

Bernie Sanders for President 2016

[Krip 2]

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Would you fly one?

Had about 300 jumps on a 170. Only got slammed twice. Packing errors.

Would still be using it if I was still jumping. But I still have my rig so who knows.
R

[DrewEckhardt 0]

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Would you fly one?

Sure, although with a canopy budget over $500 there are choices which open softer, are more fun to fly, and stall at a slower speed.

[billvon 2,990]

>Would you fly one?

If I had to, sure. But there are much better canopies out there nowadays.

[jakee 1,489]

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in about 200 jumps mine never slammed me; but i was pretty meticulous when packing it. the bigger they are, the more they have a tendency to open hard is said.. mine was a 150.

I had a 190 with double brake lines (obviously fixing some kind of design flaw?) and it opened like a pig. Had a 150, no mods, and it was fine. No problems at all.

TBH though, the next generation of canopies have been around for so long now that there shouldn't be much problem finding cheap Sabre2's and equivalents.

Do you want to have an ideagasm?

[sebcat 0]

I had one for a while, I liked it. A 135 @ 1.3. I did about 150 jumps on it.

Quick, on heading openings. Never had a slammer with it. I folded the outer cells toward the middle without burying them or having them inside the center cell, I exposed the center cell and I quartered the slider neatly.

As with a lot of older canopies, inspecting the lines is important when buying. If it's out of trim, it's gonna open funny.

Mine flew OK, it was in a good condition for its age. If you can fly a canopy you can have fun with it. You can stay up for a long time if you want to and ride the winds back to the LZ. It handled turbulence well. I landed out a couple of times with it, no worries there. I had no problems flying in wake turbulence with it. Pretty high front riser pressure but you could still put it in a dive. Pretty short recovery arc. It would shut down easy at landing, with a bit less flare power toward the end of the stroke than e.g. the sabre 2.

They're cheap, they work and if they're in a good condition they're very reliable. You're still the pilot and the packer, so how you will feel about it is up to you.

[diablopilot 2]

Yep.

----------------------------------------------
You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

[muff528 3]

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Would you fly one?

If I resumed jumping I would not hesitate using my 135 at all. Nice, but brisk, on-heading openings, fun to fly (conservative), nice flare. (I might, however, seriously consider replacing my Swift 5-cell reserve and moving my PC from ROL to BOC. Maybe add a Cypres, too. I would still use my original Barigo alti. And I still fit into my original and only jumpsuit ...if I don't use the weight belt. Maybe get a hardhat, too.) My point is that the Sabre, in good condition, is still serviceable for a conservative flyer and still provides a sporty ride if desired ...if you don't try to compare it to the current hot-rods. It seems that canopies are now, more than ever, tailored to specific disciplines and the Sabre had more "all-around" utility.

[lekstrom10k 0]

I have 3500 on Sabre I's and 1500 on Sabres II's. Enough said. Packing tips on request.

[pchapman 279]

I knew someone who was jumping a Sabre 1 107 at 1.9 wing loading at 350 jumps.

That doesn't say much about the canopy overall, but shows it could be landed quite successfully at loadings well above recommended.

[TheCaptain 2]

If you shop around you can pick one up really cheap and for not much money add a pocket slider or a domed slider to tame the opennings. The Sabre 1 is a great canopy if you tame the openings, it is not a swooping machine but that was not what it was designed for either. Last year I bought one with 300 jumps for $285 and added a domed slider for $60 now it takes about 800 feet to open and flys very nice.

Kirk
He's dead Jim

[matt91078 0]

I would fly one again only if it had just been inspected by PD. My first canopy was a Sabre 170. I had a lot of really hard openings despite any changes to packing technique. I sent it to PD and it turns out that the slider was almost 120 square inches too small, the lines were way out of tolerance, and the d-bag attachmanet point and the line attachment points needed to be reinforced. It became a water training rig canopy since the estimate to fix it was almost $600. I picked up a Sabre 2 170 for $800 and had it relined- still jump that one to date.

[dninness 4]

Sabre 1 170 here, almost 300 jumps on it, bought it from one of our packers who was this skinny little beanpole who complained it beat the crap out of him.

I packed it and jumped it 3-4 times, said "yeah, I'll buy it.." Few jumps later, he packed for me and *bam* I got a hell of a slammer. I chalked it up to bad body position or random chance. My openings, while not like "buttah" were nice and quick, smooth, on heading and sans the sudden stop at the end.

Dozen jumps later, he packed it for me again. *blammo* like hitting a Mack truck at 2k.

I walked into the hangar and said "Bobby, FYI, its not the canopy. Its you."

About 3 months ago, I was doing a bunch of AFF one day and I dropped it in the hangar. One of our newer jumper/packers said he'd get to it. Later, I picked up my rig, did a once over and jumped it. Mack truck slammer.

As is my custom, I don't blame the packers for crazy openings (minus the obvious 'The @#$% packer packed me a line-over', of course) but I do let them know when I get a slammer so they can modify/adjust their technique. Strictly feedback, not bitching at them or anything.

"Mike, that fucker slammed the shit out of me. What did you do to it?"

"Oh, uhhh, I got a little backed up and Bobby packed it."

I wagged my finger at him and went for the ibuprofen.

The bottom line, however, is that at the right wing loading and in good shape, a Sabre 1 can be a fine canopy.

NIN
D-19617, AFF-I '19

[trigger 0]

My wife put 1000+ on her 2nd hand 135, loved it even though by her admission was a bit of a "tea bag" becoming porous. Great canopy in her opinion.

.CHOP WOOD COLLECT WATER.