Sabre Discontinued

Alexg3265 · February 2, 2013

I bought this canopy used with a larger pocket slider and it opens and flies great. I have about 40 jumps on it so far and loading it at 1.25:1. I don't like a long snivel and this definitely doesn't snivel... I like to pull and see an open canopy quickly... Not sit and wait for 500 ft. It's a blast to fly and has persuaded me to make far more cc's. stable, very strong flare. I use a 2 stage and every landing except for the very first I have been able to stand or run it out... I've even taken it for a few downwind runs and it levels out and puts the brakes on hard. I have absolutely no complaints. If you're on a budget, and can find one of these, get it. A larger slider is heavily recommended... I'm not the neatest packer, and it has yet to kick me for it. I'm going to give the pocket slider credit for that. Nice toggle pressure, and risers are very responsive... It comes out of line twists great... I pulled about 5 feet off the step on a hop and pop, the d-bag bounced off my foot and as I was getting ready for some crazy spinning opening, it opened perfect again... Don't get me wrong, I would be very careful and get big and slow on deployment or it will kick you. Great canopy.

BossHogSkyDog · October 6, 2012

Guys, do you remember when we were kids and we would jump off of something a tad too high? The jolt upon landing would jar your jiggly bits so hard that you'd see little stars! That's what I experience consistently with my SR-71 (210). This canopy was basically modeled after the Sabre-1 and has identical flight & opening properties (or so I've heard).

I'm slightly over-weighing it (1.3 to 1). I've tried every thing under the sun to slow the openings down. Larger slider, getting really big with camera wings prior to deployment, direct slider control, double stowing all lines, rolling the nose, rolling the crap out of the tail, meticulous packing (flat, pro, flat pro-pack) and every combination of all of the above. The softest openings are the sub-terminal openings, period.

Every thing thing else gets thrown out with a hope an prayer that this one doesn't break something (be it the gear or me). I'm seriously considering up-sizing to a newer model canopy, as jumping at a 5k field elevation probably isn't helping my cause either. Until the the money is there, I'll continue with my hopes and prayers. Oh yeah, and all the TLC I can give the pack jobs meanwhile! In the last 100 jumps, I've made maybe 4-5 open acceptably and have never trash packed this rig. Am I giving it too much attention or is just time to turn this ugly old puppy into a car shade?! Any additional input or suggestions not on the board already would be much appreciated! BS*BD

Revisiting my previous review... I think I've gotten these brutal openings under control and here is what seems to have made the difference.... I'm actually meticulously pro-packing, rolling the hell out of the nose (7-8 times per side), punching that to the back of the pack job, using double half bands (on center c-lines), each double stowed, for direct slider control, not encasing the entire pack job with the tail (due to this canopy's odd shape) and just cocooning the tail around the pack from where it lays after the tail's been flaked (about half way up the bundle. Slimming folds prior to the tail wrap seem the help with control-ability and in keeping all lines in the center as well. Then I double stow all my line stows and this seems to slow it down to an acceptable opening. I was able to pull a significant snivel out of this thing over the past weekend that was a little more than satisfactory as I approached the hard deck. I threw out at 3,400 and was saddled by 2300. That got my attention as I've been so used to a 300-500 ft opening range (OUCH!). Though I'll take a 1k + snivel over having my teeth knocked out any day! I hope this helps any one that may be experiencing similar issues * Oh yeah, and don't forget to cock your pilot chutes ALL THE WAY, boys and girls! ;)~ BS/BD!

elreg · February 13, 2012

I bought my Sabre 210 in 2006, after the sudden death of my first canopy. At the time, I had logged about 300 jumps over the course of more than twenty years, with long interruptions. So I was looking for a canopy that would be reliable and predictable, since I had mediocre experience. Also, I was considering doing fifty jumps per year, so anything too tricky or temperamental was out. I was not looking for the adrenalin rush as I land, I wanted something that could fly smoothly, straight, at half breaks, and with a little release in the last ten seconds, find the oomph to land softly. Ah, and also, not too expensive.
I decided for a Sabre after reviewing comments on dropzone.com, and having asked for advice on various DZs (in France). The Sabre had an excellent reputation.
I weigh 88-89 kgs (195 lbs). I thought 210 would be the right size (my previous, a seven cell, had been 220).
I bought one second hand, with about 600 jumps, pretty old (DOM 1991). I have done 180 jumps with it since.
Every jump has been a pleasure. It is fast, takes you long distances, is very easy to handle, I have found it very predictable in all circumstances.
I have read comments about brutal openings. Frankly, I am surprised. Either I am accustomed to ill treatment, or my canopy is reasonable. To be sure, I pack meticulously and I use little tricks to delay openings. Incidentally, I use a pull-out.
It may be those who experienced hard openings were not under the optimal size canopy. Just a suggestion.
As for landing, well, I find it easy. I do nothing of the exotic type, I am not attempting flares or swoops, I do a classic U pattern with half brakes, choose my landing spot and let it fly a wee bit before landing. I am not sure that is what the designers had in mind when they produced it, but it works for me. My style doesn't stun the boys or turn on the girls, but then, I am 53 and intend to live a long life jumping.
Last point: quality of fabric. Ahhh... that is something. My friends and experienced packers who have a look at my canopy, when they are told it was born more than twenty years ago, are astounded. Fair enough, it has been handled with care by its two owners, both in the air and on the ground, but there is a general feeling that "you don't make them anymore like that" - though this may be slightly insulting to PD, who, hopefully, go on producing with the same degree of perfection.
I do mostly accuracy nowadays, with another canopy (PD Zero, actually), but for style and the occasional RW, I intend to go on logging a few dozen jumps per year. I trust my beautiful, friendly, humble Sabre 1.

IslandJumper · January 30, 2012

My Sabre 1 135 is my first canopy loaded about 1.3. It is an absolute blast to fly! it will swoop, dive, glide, and everything in between. It is true that it is a head banger, but I have found the solution to that. one sized bigger slider. A sabre 2 in the same condition as mine would cost about $1200, I paid $600 for mine and paid $50 to have the new slider installed. O and the slider cost $35 used from PD. so in the door I am still at least $550 up. Plus the sabre 1 flies way way way better than a sabre 2. if I had to compare, the sabre 1 is like VW golf, not the fastest, prettiest, or best car out there, but man is it a blast to get behind the wheel. While the sabre 2 is like a honda civic. Great great great car, will last forever and has no surprises, but its just too tame. too spongy. My advise would be, if you want a sabre and want to save money, buy a sabre 1 and just get a bigger slider. you will not regret it. and since you only buy a good one for $500 you can sell it for $400 it only depreciated $100!!! beat that!

ricardo.quail · December 28, 2011

I recently acquired a Sabre 170 with 500 jumps. I'm still quite new to the sport with 58 jumps. I'm currently loading it at 1 lb per square ft. Overall I'm pleased with this canopy. It flies well, with firm responses to the steering toggles and a strong fly, which lifts me back up into the air if I flare to quickly when landing. As for the opening, I have yet to be slammed, but I have only put 10 jumps on it so far. Tends to open off heading, but not by much.I think it is a good and fun canopy for a beginner that is fairly forgiving of mistakes.

Canopies I have flown so far:

Manta 280 - Slow with brutal openings
Navigator 220 - A fun and easy canopy.
Raider 220 - Back breaking openings and sloppy feeling.
Fury 220 - Similar to the raider.
Spectre 170 - Slow opening, but fun to fly with quick turns (quicker than the sabre), but the wind penetration is not as good as the Sabre.
PD 190 - Gets you down to earth and that's about it

timeslikethese · October 11, 2011

The Sabre 150 was the canopy that came with my first rig. I was loading at 1.0 to start with and about 1.2 recently when loading up on weights for 4-way. The Sabre had plenty of jumps on it before I got hold of it and it is now nearing the end of its life after me putting another 100 jumps on it since last February. The Sabre is great canopy once it is opened and the opening doesn't knock you out. I've had a couple of horrific openings one in which my knees nearly hit my head and one that cut and bruised my arms. I then got a pocket added to the slider, which made the openings bareable. All are very firm, which I actually have become used to. I recently had a high speed mal and the opening of my reserve at terminal velocity did not feel that much harder than a normal opening of my Sabre! Secondly, invariably openings are off heading. I have tried lots of different packing techniques but none sort out this problem consistently. When it is open, it feels solid,has a great glide and is very predictable. Even at my low wing loading I was able to get good input from the fronts and rears. Landing can be a bit hairy due to the lack of flare, but that's mainly due to its age. All in all it was a nice canopy to start with, after I got used to the openings, I'm now moving to a Pilot to try and give my back and neck a break.

FlyinRyan86 · November 30, 2009

I have 150+ openings on my Sabre 150 at a 1.25 W/L. It always provides a consistent opening, reliable flight and gentle landing. I have even had to dig myself out of low flares and fast approaches, and I can always count on it.

Many people talk of Sabre's "hard openings," but I've never had one that hurt, just a couple quicker than normal. If you pack and deploy consistently and stable, then it will open nicely.

I've jumped it with a camera and had no problems. It's great in turbulence. The toggle and riser pressure and response is nice, and I am enjoying every flight on it! Not a single complaint here. And hey, I got a sweet deal on it!

August 3, 2009

I recently brought a sabre 1 with 200 jumps on it. It opened hard for my liking so I had a bigger slider made up that measured 33 x 30 inches. Now the openings are very very nice. It was the best $150 I have ever spent. Now I can trash pack it in 5 minutes and it always opens very softly. The flare in it is great and it does some great surfs. Very responsive in the turns (170 loaded at 1.3). Man you can pull some crazy gs in a hard turn.

Justin_Mac · July 24, 2009

I have put several jumps now on a nice Sabre 190 that I bought with 500 or so jumps on it. It does not open hard compared to student gear...but it opens harder than my Golden Knights PD 235 C. It Flies smoother and faster and has a longer flater landing arch than the 7 Cell PD, and I like that...I jump both canopies interchangeably and like the flexibility, different characteristics and opportunities presented by both canopies.

v/r
Justin

Fdriver · May 28, 2009

At about 35 jumps I bought a sabre 170 as my 1st canopy, been jumping solo 230 and pilot 190 prior to the purchase.
considering weight to surface have a wingloading of 1.16 and it is great to fly. I actually got my A and B license using this canopy. the openings are soft and on heading, however you need to pay a lot of attention to the pack job, in particular to nesting the nose in the pack and making the cocoon. if at this point you loose a bit of focus, you'll be prone to a hard opening.
as to flying the sabre, it is great, still being a rectangular canopy it is really responsive on the controls. I can surely recommend this canopy as a starter for those who are looking for their 1st rig.

Willi91 · April 10, 2009

After achieving my C-license, I borrowed a Sabre 170 from a friend and made two jumps in it. It opened like thunder and lightning.
Afterwards a visited my rigger to see, if he had some gear that fitted my needs. He had a Sabre 170, which I bought, 'cause it was fine in price and was in great condition. I was afraid, that it would open in the same way as my friend's but I've made almost 30 jumps in it now, and have only had one or two openings i would prefere to call hard. All openings besides those two have been fine. It opens fast but smooth. Not fast as in painful. As far as I know, PD also put bigger sliders on the late models, which mine is. I'm not sure though.
So if you're a beginner who's looking for an affordable canopy, I would strongly recommend this one.

humbled1 · March 9, 2009

This is my first canopy that I have actually owned. I had 77 jumps on student and pro shop rental gear prior to jumping this main. I currently have 110 jumps on my Sabre.

It was GIVEN to me by a packer at Elsinore when he realized I had a container/reserve but no main. It was his original first canopy so he had it shipped down from Washington. It had about 850 jumps on it, I got a new line set right away.

It does not have a pocket slider, but I do roll the nose and flip the slider in the front. I have 2 packers that sometimes pack my main, I do my share of packing but sometimes I get lazy about it. I have had a couple of "snappy" openings but NOTHING compared to the slammers I had on some of the rental gear I had used.

I am a huge fan of the Sabre so far, I intend on jumping this main till I have 300 jumps total. At that point I will be looking for a Sabre 150.

uscallesen · February 28, 2009

I bought a used Sabre 170 after getting my C license - Been jumping PD Navigator 220 before that. I found one with brand new lines at an excellent price.

Did 40 jumps on it until I realized that the terrible, terrible hard openings was overshadowing the thrill of jumping. Twice it opened so hard I nearly blacked out. I tried all the techniques with rolling the nose etc.. And I was able to improve the openings but never to the point where I was comfortable releasing the 'chute at maximum velocity.

I ordered a brand new 7-cell PD instead..

dobber · February 21, 2009

I recently, and regretfully, sold my sabre 170. On mine, until I rolled the nose and shoved it in the center cell, it would open EXTREMELY hard. One opening broke a control line, blew out my left stabilizer cell, and knocked me out. After packing it the way I just described, it opens nice. It isn't a velocity, but it is an amazing canopy. However, packers think they are experts on canopies and are scared to pack it this way. Therefore, if you own a sabre, pack it yourself. Your life depends on it. It is worth the effort however, as it is a beautiful work of art which will never fail you. P.S. I was knocked out and scared on the aforementioned hard opening, and low when I woke up. I landed it without incident. I don't recommend this reaction, but it is an example of the well designed nature of this canopy.

February 18, 2009

Guys,

The canopy I have is a Sabre 1, 230. Wing loading 1 to 1.

It came with a pocket slider, whatever the heck that means.

But I have trash packed it, normal packed it... any-way packed it for the last 150 jumps.

150 jumps, all decent openings.

No, its not as smooth as a saphire or sabre2.

If you're on budget, you cant go wrong :)

FourSideDean · September 16, 2008

I am relatively new to the sport and needed to save some scratch if I were to get a rig. I found a Sabre 170 and had it relined. All together cost a fair price of $700. Great condition with one patch.

I was consistantly having hard openings... I was packing the way the manufacturer suggested and did what other people suggested but still got hard openings. My neck was sore from all the hard openings... I finally tried the psycho pack. When the canopy was on the floor I rolled the nose like PD suggested but tighter. I think this way I have more control of the rolls and it stayed rolled for the remainder of the pack job. This fixed my opening problem. I also think the psycho pack kept my slider better in place as well. I think a pro-pack is fine as long as you can keep that roll and slider in place.

Now that it opens nice and soft I am very happy!
Make sure you know how to pack well. Wether you use a pro-pack or psycho pack. If you have problems talk with an instructor/coach/rigger and have them watch you pack it so they can give you pointers.

Once it opens I have a great ride. I am 130 lbs and I have a 170 sq ft... So it is a very low wing load. I'm new so I am most interested in landing safely. But I will fly it around and I have a great time.

Landings have been very nice. No problem with flaring. It has a bit of forward motion but I kind of like that... it's like a mini-swoop... I don't know how to swoop but I like the feeling of floating along the ground...

I think this a great canopy as long as you can pack it right. I'm a bit strapped for cash so I went for the Sabre1 but if you can afford it got for a Sabre2. I hear that those are nice and don't have the hard openings... I imagine my next main will be a Sabre2 150.

I still love this canopy and since I am still relatively new to the sport I get giddy everytime I think about skydiving...

bzreel01 · September 5, 2007

This canopy has treated me very well I own two of them 135's. I have had the best exp. with these I hear some stories about how they open hard but, if you add a pocket slider you will get very nice snivels. Rolling the nose doesn't hurt either the only hard opening I ever got was when the nose wasn't rolled. So to sum it all up roll the nose and get a pocket slider and everything will be ok. Blue Skies

BHawks · September 3, 2007

I have a Sabre 210 that is my first canopy. I like it. Being used to student rigs and rental gear, this has so far offered me a downsize from the 285 student gear to the 210. It gives me some nice performance, its easy to pack (for me) controls are sensitive but not too much for a low time jumper such as my self.

I read so much about the hard openings, my first jump on the canopy spanked the living day lights out of me, like a reserve pull. I read about the new slider from PD, it is rather large, that with a few tricks I learned about pro packing I have not had a problem yet. I look forward to wearing this canopy out.

drudchen · June 19, 2007

Jumped Sabre 190, 170, 150, 135, 120, and now getting myself a 107.

Very nice canopy. Can be both forgiving and agressive at the same time. Quick turns, opens on heading most of the time, very INsensitive to body position on opening. Dives well with front riser inputs, but has a pretty short recovery arc. Very nice flare, long lasting lift before the stall. Flies well on rears, great glide, easy to come back from long spots. Very predictable canopy overall.

My openings are usually quite nice, but I guess you can attribute it to the low deployment speed. I'm pretty light and usually deploy at 100ish mph on my belly

conquestpilot1 · May 22, 2007

I was jumping a Sabre 190 with a 1.3 wing loading. Allow me to start off by saying the canopy's flight department is SOLID I cannot complain about how it handles. Its a truck in the sky. When you ask... She'll give. Landing is unbelievable! This ol' girl packs some major flare into your landings. Super forgiving canopy when its open and flying.
The problem with the canopy stems from the openings. I swear, I gave this canopy a good chance. I really tried to stick with it. I was cracked so hard on openings it almost made me want to give up skydiving completely. I had advice on how to pack from everyone. I tried everything! Different roll techniques for the nose, stuffing the nose, rolling the tail untill you think the canopy will never open, pulling the slider far infront of the nose. All it did was just delay the hard opening. What I mean is... none of it created a snivel for me. I just stayed in freefall longer after deployment. Once those cells got air... the canopy was open... and I mean it opened!

I wish I could give you a technique that worked for me. I know some people that jumped that canopy before me... they were on a much lower wing loading and they said it was hard but didn't hurt them. So I hope this bit of information helps with your decision in buying a sabre.

Blue Ones

dezilu · April 23, 2007

I've put 200 jumps on my saber 190 and have had only 1 hard opening. And that jump was packed by a packer at the dropzone. So guess what? I now am the only one that packs this chute. I've always packed the chute just like the manual for the saber suggests. I split roll the nose and lightly stuff it. I quarter the slider and pull the front half out in front of the nose. And lastly make sure the lines are nice and neat stowed evenly, and tight. Its been an excellent first canopy. I would recommend one to any newby or intermediate skydiver

rjoseph14k · September 19, 2006

I've put only ten jumps on my Sabre 170. I'm able to pack is so it opens like a Sabre 2 without doing all the modifications to it. It also opens on heading, something that didn’t happen to often with my Sabre 2. This last weekend myself and another jumper who also fly's a Sabre 170 made it back from a long spot over a very swampy area with no problem.

My method for packing is doing a normal flake, center all the lines, quarter the slider, role the nose so that only half the labels are showing when finished and tuck it in the middle and pull the slider out in the front. Then I take all the flaked material on both sides of the canopy and fold into the center back and forth from one side to the other. Then I bring the back side around to the front and role it about nine times and then finish it off just like every other canopy. Stowing the lines nice, even and tight helps the openings as well.

I've jumped both the Sabre and the Sabre 2 under the same wing loadings and I can say that the Sabre 2 is a better canopy by far but the Sabre is a good canopy as well. I've read a lot about the hard openings and I've talked to a few people who have jumped Sabre's and non of them had any problems. None of them packed it the same way so finding the right method my take a few jumps.

The bottom line is if you have the money to buy a Sabre 2 then do it, you wont regret it cuz she'll be a sweet heart to have over your head, but if your a little short on funds and buying a brand new crisp canopy may prevent you from spending the money on jumps look at something a little older and more affordable and a lot easier to pack.

camgon · August 13, 2006

I tried the Sabre on three jumps...that was all I could handle. The openings were so hard, I hurt my neck. I tried stuffing the cells when packing, but that didn't help much. However, Sabre II is amazing!

Skyfish1 · July 17, 2006

I bought a Saber 150 while still on student status, I put about 160 jumps on it and I liked it a lot.

I've heard a lot about hard openings but I never experienced any that were not my fault.

I have a Saber 2 now.

Brian

N4785frox · April 21, 2006

I have had 3 sabre 1 150s and 1 sabre 1 170. the 170 i loved it opend well and landed great. as for my 150s i loved them all but i have not jumped one in a long time because i an sick of being in pain from the openings. out side of that there are the best all around canopy for night jumps, new jumpers, windy days, and high alt. landings. i have landed mine over 8000 feet MSL and it did just fine!

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