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Skydiving Gear and Equipment: Main and Reserve Parachutes: Performance Designs: Sabre (Out of Production)

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Item: Sabre (Out of Production)  Manufacturer: Performance Designs   (2176 Hits) Purpose: Main  Shape Square  Cells 9  Fabric: ZP      Description: The Sabre provides soft, consistent on-heading openings. At higher wing loadings, it exhibits more responsiveness to your control inputs and additional speed, while at lower wing loadings providing a longer control range and more forgiveness.

User Reviews: Average Rating: Total Reviews: 63 Write a Review Read all 63 Reviews

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3 Recent Reviews:

2 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

Great choice for a senior
Rated by: elreg (more about me) on 2012-02-13 10:45:17 (user reviews) Review ID:2626

Pros: Very reliable and predictable
Cons: Doens't do the crazy swoops that awe the girls (not my line of business in any case)

I bought my Sabre 210 in 2006, after the sudden death of my first canopy. At the time, I had logged about 300 jumps over the course of more than twenty years, with long interruptions. So I was looking for a canopy that would be reliable and predictable, since I had mediocre experience. Also, I was considering doing fifty jumps per year, so anything too tricky or temperamental was out. I was not looking for the adrenalin rush as I land, I wanted something that could fly smoothly, straight, at half breaks, and with a little release in the last ten seconds, find the oomph to land softly. Ah, and also, not too expensive. I decided for a Sabre after reviewing comments on dropzone.com, and having asked for advice on various DZs (in France). The Sabre had an excellent reputation. I weigh 88-89 kgs (195 lbs). I thought 210 would be the right size (my previous, a seven cell, had been 220). I bought one second hand, with about 600 jumps, pretty old (DOM 1991). I have done 180 jumps with it since. Every jump has been a pleasure. It is fast, takes you long distances, is very easy to handle, I have found it very predictable in all circumstances. I have read comments about brutal openings. Frankly, I am surprised. Either I am accustomed to ill treatment, or my canopy is reasonable. To be sure, I pack meticulously and I use little tricks to delay openings. Incidentally, I use a pull-out. It may be those who experienced hard openings were not under the optimal size canopy. Just a suggestion. As for landing, well, I find it easy. I do nothing of the exotic type, I am not attempting flares or swoops, I do a classic U pattern with half brakes, choose my landing spot and let it fly a wee bit before landing. I am not sure that is what the designers had in mind when they produced it, but it works for me. My style doesn't stun the boys or turn on the girls, but then, I am 53 and intend to live a long life jumping. Last point: quality of fabric. Ahhh... that is something. My friends and experienced packers who have a look at my canopy, when they are told it was born more than twenty years ago, are astounded. Fair enough, it has been handled with care by its two owners, both in the air and on the ground, but there is a general feeling that "you don't make them anymore like that" - though this may be slightly insulting to PD, who, hopefully, go on producing with the same degree of perfection. I do mostly accuracy nowadays, with another canopy (PD Zero, actually), but for style and the occasional RW, I intend to go on logging a few dozen jumps per year. I trust my beautiful, friendly, humble Sabre 1.

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2 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

One size bigger slider and it opens like a Sabre 2
Rated by: IslandJumper (more about me) on 2012-01-30 13:41:23 (user reviews) Review ID:2617

Pros: Extremely fun to fly and are very cheap!
Cons: Off heading openings.

My Sabre 1 135 is my first canopy loaded about 1.3. It is an absolute blast to fly! it will swoop, dive, glide, and everything in between. It is true that it is a head banger, but I have found the solution to that. one sized bigger slider. A sabre 2 in the same condition as mine would cost about $1200, I paid $600 for mine and paid $50 to have the new slider installed. O and the slider cost $35 used from PD. so in the door I am still at least $550 up. Plus the sabre 1 flies way way way better than a sabre 2. if I had to compare, the sabre 1 is like VW golf, not the fastest, prettiest, or best car out there, but man is it a blast to get behind the wheel. While the sabre 2 is like a honda civic. Great great great car, will last forever and has no surprises, but its just too tame. too spongy. My advise would be, if you want a sabre and want to save money, buy a sabre 1 and just get a bigger slider. you will not regret it. and since you only buy a good one for $500 you can sell it for $400 it only depreciated $100!!! beat that!

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1 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

Good overall
Rated by: ricardo.quail (more about me) on 2011-12-28 07:26:41 (user reviews) Review ID:2604

Pros: Fun to fly and strong flare
Cons: Opens off heading

I recently acquired a Sabre 170 with 500 jumps. I'm still quite new to the sport with 58 jumps. I'm currently loading it at 1 lb per square ft. Overall I'm pleased with this canopy. It flies well, with firm responses to the steering toggles and a strong fly, which lifts me back up into the air if I flare to quickly when landing. As for the opening, I have yet to be slammed, but I have only put 10 jumps on it so far. Tends to open off heading, but not by much.I think it is a good and fun canopy for a beginner that is fairly forgiving of mistakes. Canopies I have flown so far: Manta 280 - Slow with brutal openings Navigator 220 - A fun and easy canopy. Raider 220 - Back breaking openings and sloppy feeling. Fury 220 - Similar to the raider. Spectre 170 - Slow opening, but fun to fly with quick turns (quicker than the sabre), but the wind penetration is not as good as the Sabre. PD 190 - Gets you down to earth and that's about it

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