Canopy Demos

[Zennie 0]

Well, I've decided I'm going to ask Santa for a new camopy for Christmas. Of the course the kicker is "which one"?
I have about 135 jumps and jump a Sabre 150 loaded at about 1.23. I have about 100 jumps on it. I plan to go to a 135, which would load me around 1.37. I've asked some folks around the DZ and they feel that's a reasonable move.
So before I settle on a canopy, I want to demo a few in the size range I'm looking at. As far as behavior goes, my main criterion is reliability & stability. But I also like to surf a bit so a little "sportiness" would be nice. I don't want anything extremely elliptical like a Stilletto or Crossfire. Something sort of in-between is what I'm looking for.
That said, here's my current list of canopies I plan to demo:
Sabre2 135 (on demo list)
Spectre 135 (on demo list)
Cobalt 135 (this is the only one on the list I'm a bit leery of)
Diablo 135
Any thoughts on the current selections? Any other canopies that you recommend I try?
"Wear the grudge like a crown. Desperate to control. Unable to forgive. And we're sinking deeper."

[cobaltdan 0]

hi zennie,
don't be leary of the cobalt. if you are comfortable jumping a sabre2 you will be equally comfortable with the cobalt. at the loading you are jumping the cobalt is an excellent begineer canopy. demo it side by side with your other choices, very good chance you will like it better.
when you see a high experience jumper under a cobalt surf distance, it is under a signifigantly higher loading. bridgit liss has competed in several pro-swoop competitions this year under a spectre. a canopy that no one would consider high performance, the difference between the begineer jumped spectre and hers....skill & wing loading.
the cobalt is not a faster canopy than your other choices to demo.
btw given that you are used to a sabre, my feeling is that you will not like the spectre or diablo. you simply will not get the same glide. the sabre 2 will have a better glide than your sabre and the cobalt even higher.
have fun.
dan
atair

[Zennie 0]

Quote

given that you are used to a sabre, my feeling is that you will not like the spectre or diablo

Interestingly, I liked the Spectre better than both Sabres. But I only did two jumps on it (and one on the Sabre2) and really didn't have much of a chance to put it through its paces.
The things I liked about it were the openings (obviously), its response to toggle inputs and flaring characteristics. We were jumping on a fairly squirrly day wind-wise and I felt totally rock-solid under the thing.
Once I do the full blown demos I'll have a better idea.
I'll prolly demo the PD canopies first since I already am on the list and it gives me a chance to get used to 135s before I take a Cobalt for a test spin.
"Wear the grudge like a crown. Desperate to control. Unable to forgive. And we're sinking deeper."