Basejumper.com - archive

Looks like the Lobo is available now.

curious to see what this top-loading tail pocket looks like. Also, available in 350 for roughly $2,600? I never have to drink low carb ever again

Just envision the tail pocket having a slot at the bottom for the lines to go through and the velcro opening at the sides and the top instead of the bottom like usual.

It seems to work well, but it's a real pain to pack. If you maintain your tail pocket velcro, it seems unnecessary.

I'd say that for the average jumper it's probably a good idea (to reduce maintenance). For someone who either (a) packs a lot, or (b) has a sewing machine and can replace velcro (which is easy), it's pretty unnecessary and perhaps more trouble than it's worth.


FWIW, after flying the Lobo I can't see why I'd ever want a Flik again.

I like being able to roll the nose on my canopy.

I rolled the nose on the Lobo. It just took a little adjustment.

What is your opinion with regards to Lobo vs. Outlaw vs. OSP?

It's an apples and oranges comparison, kind of like comparing vented and unvented canopies.

The Outlaw and OSP have top skin slat systems, and the Lobo does not. As a result the Outlaw and OSP have much lower stall speeds and much more docile stall characteristics, along with lower rearward parachutal rates.

What sort of jumping are you interested in? Low and dirty? Tight, technical landing areas? Approaches in turbulence? Potential high glide requirements to reach remote landing areas (or just increase the decision cone)? Do you need forward speed to overcome wind to reach the LZ?

How you answer those questions is going to change the decision on what canopy you choose.

I have a lot more jumps on the Outlaw and OSP than the Lobo at this point, but hopefully I'll get another Lobo out here to demo in a few weeks.

If I had to buy a new canopy right now today for myself (and with no plans to jump solid, slider down objects), I'd probably go with the Outlaw, but I don't think it's actually available for order yet.

If I had to buy a new canopy for myself today and was interested in solid, slider down objects, I'd probably go with a Blackjack.

If I was restricted to standard commercial orders and production products that are currently available, of the three you mentioned, I'd choose the OSP because the Outlaw isn't yet available for order and I don't have enough time under the Lobo yet.

I'd ask Chuma. Being that he gave a quote regarding the Lobo, I would trust his opinion.

Out of curiosity, why blackjack over osp for solid slider down?

I believe the BlackJack has significantly better glide. Good for making distant landing areas. The typical praise I have heard for the BlackJack is that it has highly variable speed (great glide at full flight and good sinking ability in deep brakes).

EDIT: I just realized that this doesn't particularly effect the solid object thing. Perhaps better rearward flight?

In my opinion the BlackJack has a noticeable better rearward flight than the Troll while I find the Troll easier to sink.

I believe Todd tells peeps with lobos not to roll nose.

Fair enough.

I've never been very good at following instructions, I guess.

saw a bunch of lobo openings and flights in arizona. looks awesome. also the tailpocket is well thought out and works well. all the packing i saw of them was with no roll on the nose. seemed fine.

Can someone please post a picture of the tailpocket design? I need to see :P

picture it as a regular tailpocket except that the velcro opens the other way with the "hinge" of the pocket closest to the container. theres a hole in the center of the hinge that you pull your lines through as you stow. then you seal it up from the top with the velcro.

Just thought I would rekindle this thread as I am interested in the Lobo. I am confused though on how Apex figures the wingloading for this canopy. Talking with Steve he says to figure the WL for this canopy not by exit weight but by naked weight. That's a difference of about 20lbs give or take. I weigh 190 naked and currently jump a 293 vented FLiK and my figured "exit" weight WL is .72, naked it would be .65. That's a big difference in WL, especially when the Lobo's sweet spot is .725. So going by Apex's "naked" WL I would need a 260 or a 270 and if figured by "exit" I would need a 290. I know pretty much all other manufactures of canopies skydiving and BASE figure WL as jumper + gear at exit. Im just curious on why the Lobo is the only canopy out that's figured this way?

Based on a couple jumps comparing a Blackjack 280 and a Lobo 280 at identical wingloadings (210lbs AUW) to test sink rate, forward trim speed, and glide ratio, I wouldn't jump a Lobo in a size smaller than what you're used to.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDVqkh6Kz1k

So with both canopies loaded at .75 (exit weight) and what looks like a dead even start, the Lobo has a much faster fwd speed, a faster sink rate and less glide then the blackjack. Based on this video and this video alone I wouldnt think that going to a smaller size lobo to achieve a naked .725 would be a wise decision.

One quick note is that while we made sure our exit weights were the same, the Lobo is ultralight so the suspended weight below the Lobo was a few pounds more than the BJ. But then the Lobo was brand new and the BJ had 150 jumps so it should have been more porous and been at a slight disadvantage in sink rate and glide ratio.

Either way, they were pretty close. The Lobo has some very innovative features that no other canopy has and I'm sure a tiny 160 would be crazy fun just for slider up cow swooping.

What would those be?

Biggest two would be the airfoil camber and the shark nose. Set it up for a flat pack next to any other base canopy and you'll see the chunky hump on top. It's one of the only modern canopies that isn't a direct clone of some other BASE canopy. The new tail pocket is kind of kludgy if you're used to the regular style, but that's optional and I'm sure all the new Youtube kids ordering $5k rigs before their FJC will think it's the shit.

Can anyone comment as to how the lobo compares to the OSP in terms of initial pressurization? Is the lobo a solid performer as a slider down canopy like the OSP?

except the OSP and the outlaw...

I have to preface this with the fact that I have heard nothing but good things about the Outlaw. I jumped with a guy who had a brand new Outlaw all week and he couldn't get a fraction of the distance, glide, or performance that I got on my ragged out FLiK with over 400 Jumps on it. Granted, he does not have a fraction of the canopy experience, but even the difference in experience would never make that much of a difference in flight performance from a low object. The Outlaw just didn't seem to perform at all for him. (*Edited*)*Does* Anyone else *besides Tom* have a one for one "personal" comparison between the Lobo & The Outlaw?

I love the OSP, but the Lobo outperforms it in my opinion (limited experience on both though 19 on the OSP, 23 on the Lobo, so take it with a grain of salt).

If Stane, Matt, & Todd want an honest "one-person" opinion please send me one of each and I will report back

That's interesting, I jump with a guy who recently replaced his FLiK with an Outlaw and finds it to be more performant. (I also jump an Outlaw, but came from a MOJO.)

We're heading to the bridge in a week, I guess we'll find out more then.

Yeah man. It was bizarre for sure. Like I said, I have heard nothing but good things about the Outlaw. I should have asked him if I could jump it.

I jump an outlaw, had a Flik and a BJ before that. I get more glide, speed control, and stability from the outlaw than anything else. I think it will progress the sport to new levels. I also am not sure that's a good thing, as it will probably give new people confidence to try things they have no business yet trying. Lobo is sweet too. I watched Jimmy fly that thing backwards in a tailwind. But my outlaw will do that and get me laid, so...

Wait a minute...I should have read Squirrel's product description... I'd have bought one for each day of the week.