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My edit did not change that opinion. It stated that free-stowing in the pack tray was not something I recommend. I chose the words I wrote carefully, perhaps you could read them as carefully. "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

Just because you can get away with something it doesn't mean that you should be doing it. Hence the disclaimer I added two days before you posted this. My point was that non-locking stows do nothing to "stage" the opening. "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

I think it depends Yep - on the pilot! "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

Because secure line stows will help prevent a number of problems like hard openings, tension knots, line dump, bag strip etc. I don't believe that non-locking stows help with any of the above except potentially tension knots (see previous comments about keeping the lines organized). Line dump is a non-issue (again, with the exception of the potential for tension knots). You can coil up all the spare line after the locking stows in the bottom of the main tray and have perfectly fine openings [Edited to add: this is not a recommendation - just a statement that it can work fine but it carries risks] Bag strip certainly is an issue, but that is controlled by the locking stows. "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

Again I would say that they are far more important than that. Could you explain why else you think they are important? "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

My experience is that the non-locking line stows aren't important except for keeping the lines from tangling during the packing/deployment sequences. Perhaps I should have said that incorrect stowage of lines can cause a problem, but a total absence of non-locking stows does not provided the lines deploy in an orderly fashion. Before I got my semi-stowless bag, I use to stow my lines with large rubber bands that were not double wrapped and I know several other who do the same. The lines were loose in the stows and never cause any issues. "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

While I have huge respect for John LeBlanc - I would like to hear his perspective on semi-stowless bags in the light of what he said. "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

Yes. No doubt. It put the UK back on the global map. "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

More BS. When you gonna realize that you just don't know what you don't know? Perhaps when you illuminate me with your vast knowledge instead of just calling BS? Did I mention bag locks? And your argument is pro-stowless bags rather than against so perhaps your one-man vendetta against me is a little mis-guided. You are regurgitating something you heard from somebody.....problem is that you are regurgitating out of context. I jump a stowless bag, Grandad, so I fail to see how I am regurgitating. Yet again you point out how wrong I am without providing any counter-point in the discussion. I am not in the slightest bit bothered about your confidence. I am more concerned about the fact that you apparently don't know what you're telling your students. "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

I don't agree. Freebags and semi stowless bags still feature line stowage. Sure it may a different form of stowage but the lines are still stowed A.K.A. the Freestow Pocket. I agree that keeping the lines neat is important. If you include a pocket as a "line-stow" then I agree with you. "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

The only stows that really matter are the locking stows - the others are just there to keep things neat during the packjob. If you don't agree then consider reserve freebags and semi-stowless bags that are on the market now. "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

You may consider this semantics, too, but I don't necessarily think you should view the Stiletto as old technology, but rather as a canopy designed and built for the flying style of the time. Swooping techniques have moved on a lot and the most recent swooping canopies (Comp Velo, Katana, Peregrine, for example) reflect the change in what modern Canopy Pilots want (mainly a steep trimmed, diving canopy which has plenty of range on the rears). That said, if you're not going to fly that way then maybe you will prefer to stick with the Stiletto - plenty of people do still fly and love them. If you want to try to get into the more modern way of flying a canopy for HP landings, may I suggest that you start off with a Sabre2 and build currency loading it up to say 1.5 then go to a Katana or Crossfire2 if you want something that is the next step up the performance ladder. Be aware that these canopies will dive much more than your Stilettos and initiation altitudes will need to go up quite a bit. Finally, some coaching on new techniques would be valuable. "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

Why PM? "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

But that does mean adopting both Android phones and Icarus canopies. A step too far? "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

In which orientation? Head down, head up, belly to earth, or your back or all of the above? "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

Since the revenue from tandems enabled many DZs to survive? If you want to be part of something exclusive, go join the SEALs. "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

Even in the shear direction? We hear repeatedly about people having a hard pull on their cutaway if they don't peel before punching, it seems intuitive to me that the same issue would occur with a velcro slider keeper. Magnets on the other hand are weaker in the shear direction. I am not saying you're wrong, just that it goes against what I know about the properties of the two systems. "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

Easy fix and we old school swoop nunya's have been doing it since looooong before the reserve flap magnet was invented. Sew a square patch of fuzzy velcro onto the back of your jumpsuit collar and sew a mating hook velcro patch on one the end of a 2-inch strip of trim tape and then sew it to the base of the first patch. Once you pull the slider below the steering toggles, simply twist it up, wrap the velcro strap around it and anchor it back to the mating velcro. Your slider will sit collapsed right behind your head and well away from the reserve flaps. In the event of a cutaway, the velcro tears free with only a few pounds of tension. It works better than the magnet, is easier to reach and manipulate, and costs almost nothing to make and install. You can also skip collapsing your slider with the kill lines if you like. A tight twist will do the same thing and the strap (no more than 2 inches long) will keep it from unrolling. That will be one less thing to do while packing. thanks! But that doesn't alter the issue of it not releasing in a cutaway situation. Velcro is stronger in a shear direction than magnets so it could actually be worse than a magnetic slider keeper. "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

Probably manageable. How do you feel about "probably" when it's your life/ability to walk/jump again that's at stake? That's the decision you have to make. "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

3/10 for this post. You forgot to mention the Nazis. "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

You, sir, do not have the mental fortitude to participate in this sport. It's not for everyone - please do not ever jump again. "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

The ten second advice was to ensure the canopy had recovered to full flight after the turn to final, ie. that the flight cycles had died away allowing for the most powerful flare. "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

What???? Show me. Show me where anyone said that. I'll just reply to this one request for information from you and then I am done. You stated that the system I outline would not work here: I can explain this to you in person, but I just can't seem to get you to understand here. "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

It's really quite staggering that you can make this statement, and then follow it up with this: Kindly explain your solid, non-presumptuous reasons for stating that I have "no clue" about this topic. "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

Maybe I did not explain myself adequately or maybe I misunderstood what you are saying, and you're right, I don't know you. However, you are not hearing what I am saying. By planning a pattern and utilizing various techniques, it is possible to fly a predictable (i.e.. non-erratic) pattern while still adjusting for human error, wind etc and hitting your canopy checkpoints - both location and altitude. It's not easy and it takes a lot of practice which is why most people can't be bothered to do it. For me it is an enjoyable challenge and an essential part of canopy piloting and setting up for a high performance landing. For you to tell me that it can't be done says more about you than it does me. And just because you have been teaching students for years doesn't mean you've been teaching them the right/best way. This is not meant as a knock to you, but you are coming across as very resistant to learning/teaching modern CP techniques. Please reconsider your attitude. It is starting to come across as an instructor version of the "mad-skillz" that I know you hate in young jumpers. It is possible that there is more than you could learn about canopy piloting. "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA