Smart120 or R-Max118?

[abelchev 0]

I am concidering buying a new reserve canopy but I can't take a final desicion. I can't choose between Smart 120 and R-Max 118. They are both same price. Could someone please give me an advice of which one is better to buy?

[mjosparky 4]

It would help if you fill in some of your profile so people would know a little about you.

My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

[billvon 3,110]

The old Ravens had problems at high loadings. The R-Max supposedly fixes those problems, but I have not jumped them so I don't know for sure.

The Smart 135, loaded about 1.45 to 1, lands very well; quite similar to a PD-126R (which in turn is something like a Triathalon 135.) I have one in one of my rigs. Quality seems high.

[chopchop 0]

Same as Bill, i have not jumped the R-Max. I can tell you that my 2 jumps on the SMART 135 loaded at 2:1 ended in very gentle standup landings off the dz.. near my mains.. Excellent reserve..

chopchop
gotta go... Plaything needs a spanking..

Lotsa Pictures

[karlm 0]

I have a Smart 120 in my Icon I3 and load it to about 1.7 give or track a few pounds ... and it lands great, both a sea level and at 4500ft AGL.

Drop me a mail if you want more info on the Smart.

Better never to have met you in my dream than to wake and reach for hands that are not there.

[AndyMan 7]

Personally, I would not consider the R-Max because of their previous customer service issues.

I would consider the Smart and PD Reserve.

_Am

__

You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

[mjosparky 4]

[riggerrob 643]

I only have one jump on an R-Max 118 reserve, but it set me down softly, despite my loading it "somewhat more" than the manufacturer recommended.

[TCMRigging 0]

Why use anything other than PD?

Customer service, quality, testing, R&D and when you hang any canopy next to a PD you will see the difference.

I have many reserve rides and repacks. There is only one canopy that I will put in my rig and that is a PD.

If I were to pick between the R-max and Smart I would say hands down go for the Smart. The issues with Ravens in the past and they way they handled the problem was very poor.

Chris

[Conquest150 0]

i just had a ride on my smart 120 last week loaded at 1.5 and it was an awesome ride.

[mjosparky 4]

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I only have one jump on an R-Max 118 reserve, but it set me down softly, despite my loading it "somewhat more" than the manufacturer recommended.

Rob,

How many times have I heard you say just because you can get away with it does not make it the smart thing to do?

My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

[abelchev 0]

Thank you all for your help!

[EddieJ710 0]

have demoed both a PD and a Smart and hands down, the smart opened, flew and landed better. MUCH more flare on the bottom end than the PD. not to say that the PD was bad, i just prefer the smart. both great canopies from great companies.
blues

[bob.dino 1]

Just out of curiosity, what size and at what loading?

[Ronaldo 0]

Did you check brake line length on both canopies while in the air? Many people just switch canopies without paying attention to this which obviously leads to an unfair comparison.

Engineering Law #5: The most vital dimension on any plan drawing stands the most chance of being omitted

[BlindBrick 0]

Of the three, I feel the R-Max was better than the other two, but the difference is slight. Of the three, I'd actually rank the PDR at the bottom(again just by a small margin). That's not saying the PDR is bad, it's just a case of the PDR's setting the bar and then the SMART and R-Max, as later releases, having the chance to improve on the standard that the PDR set.

When it comes down to choosing between the SMART and the R-Max, I think it basically comes down to two questions( asuming all else is equal).

1. How biased are your against Precision? I won't quibble on Precision's past history, but I've found their /current/ line of products, and customer service, to be rock solid. Having said that, you should have absolute confidence in your reserve. If you have doubts about Precision, then by all means go with the SMART.

2. How big are you? If you are a large jumper who likes to fall fast, the larger R-Max's are specifically built with you in mind.

-Blind

"If you end up in an alligator's jaws, naked, you probably did something to deserve it."

[EddieJ710 0]

smart was a 135 at about 1.48 and the pd was a 126 at about 1.58. the brake length seemed about the same on both wings. dont get me wrong here people... i would fly both with no worries...

[matt91078 0]

Of the two, Smart 120.
Matt

[RIGGER 0]

Please consider the information & limits:

Smart R: 20 repacks or 10 deployments before ship to the mfg. for testing. NO Box system on the lable, history only on the card, if it gone you can only ???

PD Reserve: 40 repacks or 25 deployments before ship to PD for testing, the "BOX" system on the lable provides history & data. (Must be marked by the riggers)

Raven Max: NO repacks & deployments limits ??? The canopy is TSO'd under the FAA TSO C23D but the TSO mandatory information "FAA APPROVED TSO C23D, AS8015-B 4.3.4 AVG. FORCE: ???? LB. is missing & it must be there by law. It was missing on a Raven Max I saw.

Safe Jumps !!!

[blitzkrieg 0]

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Why use anything other than PD?

because there are others that are similar or better while also being cheaper.

i load my rmax118 at around 1.8 and it flies wonderfully. also, that's not from demo flights... a 96' xbrace to 118' reserve reality.

i would only vote for rmax because i know it's good, but i haven't jumped a smart yet and they seem just as good.

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