canopy question.... PLEASE HELP

[mjosparky 4]

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First, the Triathlon's flare is nothing like the flare on a Sabre or Stiletto. The Sabre and Stiletto have a really powerful flare that make them very easily surfable and very forgiving if you mistime your flare.

Do you think that might have something to do with the aspect ratio of a 9 cell over a 7 cell? Kind of apples and oranges.

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I can quite comfortably stall and recover my Triathlon at 200 ft. or lower. I wouldn't even consider trying that on a Spectre.

I would think that stalling any canopy at 200 feet or lower would put you near the top of the list for the Darwin Award.

My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

[waltappel 1]

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I can quite comfortably stall and recover my Triathlon at 200 ft. or lower. I wouldn't even consider trying that on a Spectre.

I would think that stalling any canopy at 200 feet or lower would put you near the top of the list for the Darwin Award.

Maybe, but the swoopers are waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay above me on the list!

Walt

[J.9 0]

Thanks everyone for your help and advice. I am going to demo the Tri 160 of course before I buy it. And I do have a great deal on it, if I like it. I really just wanted to hear experience...... I am just all about safety.... Hope everyone has great and fun jumps coming up in the near future......

Janine

[dragon2 2]

I own/have owned 2 spectres and 2 tri's. I liked the tri 135 slightly better than my spectre 135, but it wouldn't pack as small so I stuck with my spectre, which is a great canopy too. Both make excellent birdman and cameraflyer canopies (what more can i want), great for casual crew, demo jumping etc too. I'm glad I started out on a 7cell, even though I jump a vengeance for camerawork now, i stuck with various 7cells for a long time and still have one in my birdman rig (spectre 135) and a crew canopy (hybrid tri 120).

If the 160 is the right size for you, it's not a bad canopy at all.

ciel bleu,
Saskia

[mbondvegas 0]

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They are almost twin sisters built for the same market niche.

, and I'm sure as hell not sorry I paid $700 for a brand new canopy.

Well... except that packing it sucks!

WHat is this about $700 tri's? How/where? I jumped a rented tri this weekend and loved it..

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I am not afraid of tomorrow, for I have seen yesterday and I love today.

[bob.dino 1]

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What is this about $700 tri's? How/where? I jumped a rented tri this weekend and loved it..

A few months ago, Aerodyne were selling stock Triathlons for USD 700. I don't think they're doing so any more.

[377 22]

The Triathlon is a great canopy. Before I bought my first Tri I tried many different canopies. I have since owned 3 Tris and never regretted my purchases. Resale value is very high and you can swap old for new every couple of years without losing 75% of value like other less popular canopies. The newer Tris have a more linear flare than the old ones, but even the old ones can be factory upgraded with the "Beef Mod" named after their rigger who came up with the improvment. I flew through some REALLY MAJOR turbulence with my first Tri and their were two Sabres right next to me in the same crappy air. My Tri stayed fully inflated and rock solid stable while the Sabre guys were fighting end cell collapses and swearing loudly. It all turned out OK but that day sold me FOREVER on Tri stability in rough air. I don't see anything unique in the Tri design or construction that would make it unusually good in turbulence, but it IS so I just accept it. One great thing about Tri's is factory support of older canopies. Upgrades and relines are cheap and they often throw something in for free like a new slider. I have heard stories about Tris "blowing up" on opening, shredding and coming apart, but I wonder if those were sun damaged canopies or excessively high speed deployments. Remember, energy increases with the square of velocity, it is not linear. A little bit faster speed (like coming out of a track but not yet fully decelerated) can mean a LOT more energy to deal with on deployment. The Tri flight characteristics are just perfect for a conservative jumper like me. You can get the thing just on the edge of a stall and keep it there for getting into tight spots with high obstacles surrounding it. It wont go squirrely on you in deep brakes. You can regain speed very quickly when you need to set up for a flare. I have seen no weakness in the canopy and consider it a fine, evolved and proven design. You will not have buyers regret with a Triathlon.

2018 marks half a century as a skydiver. Trained by the late Perry Stevens D-51 in 1968.