muz 1 #1 Posted February 6, 2020 Looking for a canopy for the new season. I currently have a Spectre 135, which I love the openings of, but not the handling or the landings particularly. Before that I was on a Stiletto 150 for many years and I loved it, but I moved to the Spectre for the openings as my neck couldn't take the occasional spanker from the Stiletto (which i kept in trim). Question is: any recommendation for a fun 9 cell that reliably opens soft? I don't care about speed. Will load at 1.3 / 1.4. I haven't been deep in the forums in the last couple years so new canopies might have escaped my attention. Fanks!! 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
anomie168 16 #2 February 6, 2020 6 hours ago, muz said: Looking for a canopy for the new season. I currently have a Spectre 135, which I love the openings of, but not the handling or the landings particularly. Before that I was on a Stiletto 150 for many years and I loved it, but I moved to the Spectre for the openings as my neck couldn't take the occasional spanker from the Stiletto (which i kept in trim). Question is: any recommendation for a fun 9 cell that reliably opens soft? I don't care about speed. Will load at 1.3 / 1.4. I haven't been deep in the forums in the last couple years so new canopies might have escaped my attention. Fanks!! Pilots and Saf's (NZA) have always been kind to me on openings. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
betzilla 56 #3 February 6, 2020 (edited) I've had several Crossfire2s, all of which have opened like butter (except that one time I rushed through literally the first pack job on one of them - that one was literally the hardest opening I've ever had. Still no ice-pack needed). Worth noting that they are not the most on-heading openings I've ever had, but in about a thousand jumps on them, I could count the jumps on which I've had line-twists on the fingers of one hand Edited February 6, 2020 by betzilla 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BIGUN 1,297 #4 February 7, 2020 17 hours ago, betzilla said: I've had several Crossfire2s, all of which have opened like butter ^Ditto Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
3331 137 #5 February 7, 2020 Firebolt main from Parachute Labs in DeLand Florida. It's the softest opening canopy I've ever jumped. Call them (386)734-JUMP (5867). 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Unstable 9 #6 February 7, 2020 10 minutes ago, 3331 said: Firebolt main from Parachute Labs in DeLand Florida. It's the softest opening canopy I've ever jumped. Call them (386)734-JUMP (5867). I'm not even that old and I like my Firebolt Openings. Better openings than a Pilot of Sabre2, but I can't speak for the Icarus products.. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
faulknerwn 38 #7 February 9, 2020 On 2/7/2020 at 5:20 PM, Unstable said: I'm not even that old and I like my Firebolt Openings. Better openings than a Pilot of Sabre2, but I can't speak for the Icarus products.. I ditto the firebolt. They have amazing openings.. 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NewGuy2005 53 #8 February 10, 2020 21 hours ago, faulknerwn said: I ditto the firebolt. They have amazing openings.. How long is the snivel? Much altitude lost? 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Unstable 9 #9 February 11, 2020 23 hours ago, NewGuy2005 said: How long is the snivel? Much altitude lost? For me, I get a nice 800-1000 snivel, similar to a Stiletto, although not nearly as twitchy on the heading. Very smooth through all stages of the opening sequence. When I pull right at 3500, by 2200 I have finished stowing my slider and ready to enter the pattern. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NewGuy2005 53 #10 February 22, 2020 (edited) Is that average for a modern canopy? Long? It's been 11 years since I've jumped, so I've forgotten what is typical. Edited February 22, 2020 by NewGuy2005 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gowlerk 2,190 #11 February 22, 2020 3 minutes ago, NewGuy2005 said: Is that average for a modern canopy? Long? It's been 11 years since I've jumped, so I've forgotten what is typical. That might be slightly longer than average, but in the ball park. There are several reasons people tend to open higher than they used to. This is one of them. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skydiverek 63 #12 May 5, 2020 I jump Pilot 168, with Dacron lines, and a larger slider (from Pilot 230). Veeeery soft openings. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
iranianjumper 2 #13 May 6, 2020 On 5/5/2020 at 4:57 PM, skydiverek said: I jump Pilot 168, with Dacron lines, and a larger slider (from Pilot 230). Veeeery soft openings. could you please explain about effect of larger slider on soft opening ? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Binary93 65 #14 May 6, 2020 On 5/5/2020 at 2:27 PM, skydiverek said: I jump Pilot 168, with Dacron lines, and a larger slider (from Pilot 230). Veeeery soft openings. I'm also interested in this. Did you check with Aerodyne for this one (is it something they consider okay) or you just tried it yourself? Any chance it could become a streamer because of that? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skydiverek 63 #15 May 7, 2020 I ordered brand new Pilot 168 with Darcon lines, and indicated on the order form that I want slider from Pilot 230. So, this was my responsibility, they had my wish on paper. The effect is GREAT! Veeery slow opening, love it! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chipicao 0 #16 May 17, 2020 katana is a beautiful canopy, on heading openings :) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
