main and reserve sizes

[bloody_trauma 2]

i notice alot of rigs have a larger main than reserve, whats up with that, why is it that you would get a smaller reserve than the canopy you fly normally

Fly it like you stole it

[skybytch 273]

It's a hold over from the days BZP (before zp). Back then, nobody loaded their main or reserve over 1.0. Since most mains were loaded at less than 1.0, it was okay to have a reserve that was smaller than your main; you weren't likely to be overloading it.

I still have a reserve that is smaller than my main for a couple of reasons. I'm confident in my ability to land my reserve if/when I have to, but for the canopy I land all the time I prefer to have something bigger. When I put this rig together I was intending to downsize the main within 100 jumps or so, so it made sense at the time to go with the smaller reserve. And considering that I don't have a long torso, if I'd gone with bigger reserve I may have ended up with the bottom of my container riding too low on my ass for comfort.

[Guest]

It all depends on various number of factors.

For me, I fly a smaller reserver than my main because I will eventuall downsize canopies (from a 190 to a 170), and I bought my container so it could handle this downsize and got the largest reserve I could put in it.

I could have gotten a container one size larger and had a reserver larger than my main, but for me, its was a $$$ issue, and if I had a reserve ride, I would feel comfortable flying a canopy a little smaller than my main.

[peckerhead 0]

I have 3 rigs and all my reserves are larger than my mains. I think they should be at least the same size or bigger. Why? Because the reserves are not Z-P plain and simple. F-111 canopies do not perform the same so the bigger the better.

[yardhippie 0]

My reserve is a PD143
My main is a 103.

My next container will have a reserver larger than my main.

When handles are flying and world is coming up at you at breakneck speed. i want all I can get out there.

Goddam dirty hippies piss me off! ~GFD
"What do I get for closing your rig?" ~ me
"Anything you want." ~ female skydiver
Mohoso Rodriguez #865

[klafollette 0]

Main: Samurai 170
Reserve: PD 176

I don't care if the container has to be a little bigger, when it's reserve time, I want things to slow down, not get faster than under my main. I assume I'll be under a reserve in the worst possible situation; low, in a bad spot, landing downwind, and possibly injured.