Canopy database › Performance Designs
Performance Designs Pulse
Sizes
107, 120, 135, 150, 170, 190, 210, 230, 260 sq ft (9.9, 11.1, 12.5, 13.9, 15.8, 17.7, 19.5, 21.4, 24.2 m²)
Source: Performance Designs — Pulse product page ↗Designed for (manufacturer wording)
- Novice to Experienced skydivers
- Wingsuiting
- Getting back from long spots
- Individuals who are learning or who have issues packing
- Individuals looking for a canopy that has a low pack volume
- Flat packing
Keywords: Soft, forgiving openings with short snivel · Very flat glide · Short recovery arc · Easy to pack · Easy to time flare · For Novice to Experienced jumpers
Your wing loading on each size
| Size | Wing loading | PD chart category |
|---|---|---|
| 107 ft² | — | — |
| 120 ft² | — | — |
| 135 ft² | — | — |
| 150 ft² | — | — |
| 170 ft² | — | — |
| 190 ft² | — | — |
| 210 ft² | — | — |
| 230 ft² | — | — |
| 260 ft² | — | — |
Wing loading = exit weight (lb) ÷ size (ft²). PD's chart lists the MAXIMUM exit weight per skill category — the category shown is the lowest one whose maximum covers your weight, by PD's own rule.
Performance Designs chart — maximum exit weight per category
| Size | Student | Novice | Intermediate | Advanced | Expert | Maximum (never exceed) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 107 | N/S | N/S | N/S | 114 lb · 51.7 kg | 138 lb · 62.6 kg | 160 lb · 72.6 kg |
| 120 | N/S | N/S | 115 lb · 52.2 kg | 129 lb · 58.5 kg | 155 lb · 70.3 kg | 180 lb · 81.6 kg |
| 135 | N/S | 110 lb · 49.9 kg | 132 lb · 59.9 kg | 146 lb · 66.2 kg | 175 lb · 79.4 kg | 202 lb · 91.6 kg |
| 150 | N/S | 123 lb · 55.8 kg | 149 lb · 67.6 kg | 169 lb · 76.7 kg | 195 lb · 88.5 kg | 225 lb · 102.1 kg |
| 170 | N/S | 143 lb · 64.9 kg | 173 lb · 78.5 kg | 193 lb · 87.5 kg | 222 lb · 100.7 kg | 250 lb · 113.4 kg |
| 190 | 140 lb · 63.5 kg | 165 lb · 74.8 kg | 194 lb · 88 kg | 218 lb · 98.9 kg | 247 lb · 112 kg | 266 lb · 120.7 kg |
| 210 | 157 lb · 71.2 kg | 190 lb · 86.2 kg | 216 lb · 98 kg | 230 lb · 104.3 kg | 259 lb · 117.5 kg | 275 lb · 124.7 kg |
| 230 | 172 lb · 78 kg | 210 lb · 95.3 kg | 228 lb · 103.4 kg | 245 lb · 111.1 kg | 268 lb · 121.6 kg | 280 lb · 127 kg |
| 260 | 195 lb · 88.5 kg | 230 lb · 104.3 kg | 242 lb · 109.8 kg | 262 lb · 118.8 kg | 282 lb · 127.9 kg | 302 lb · 137 kg |
N/S = not suggested by the manufacturer for that category. Weights are maximums, not recommendations. Confirm on performancedesigns.com.
Flight characteristics — in Performance Designs's words
| Opening | Significantly shorter snivel than a Sabre2 or a Spectre, and an inflation that is a bit quicker, without being uncomfortable. Easier to keep on heading; if it opens off heading it will generally stay on that heading rather than continuing the turn. |
|---|---|
| Recovery arc | The recovery arc is a lot shorter than on a Sabre2; when you stop a turn it will plane out into normal flight much more quickly than a Sabre2. |
| Glide | Very flat glide when flying at full flight, much like the PD Stiletto. |
| Speed / dive | not published |
| Flare | Approach angle is flatter and rate of descent lower than most other canopies, so the flare is quite easy to time; less tendency for unwanted pop-up or "ballooning" on landing. |
| Front risers | Flies reasonably well on front risers, with a somewhat lower increase in descent rate than a Sabre2; riser pressure is firm and builds as airspeed increases; not designed to achieve steep diving turns. |
| Rear risers | Rear riser turns are conventional, though the control range is very short; only a modest improvement in glide with rear risers; flaring with rear risers is not nearly as effective as on a Sabre2. |
| Harness response | not published |
| Toggle response | Very responsive in toggle turns; takes less toggle movement to achieve a given turn rate compared to a Sabre2, and descends less quickly in a turn. |
Frequently asked
Performance Designs lists the Pulse in 107, 120, 135, 150, 170, 190, 210, 230, 260 square feet.
In Performance Designs's words: Novice to Experienced skydivers; Wingsuiting; Getting back from long spots; Individuals who are learning or who have issues packing; Individuals looking for a canopy that has a low pack volume; Flat packing.
Wing loading = exit weight in pounds (you plus all your gear) divided by the canopy size in square feet. The manufacturer's chart then shows which category that loading falls in. It is information, not approval to fly a size — decide with your canopy coach.
See it in your own data
Fly the Pulse with a FlySight? Upload your jumps to see your landing pattern, turn height per 90°, consistency and how you fly this canopy compared with others you own.
Analyse my FlySight jumps — free Compare with another canopy
More from Performance Designs: Sabre3 · Katana · Stiletto · Silhouette · Spectre · Storm · Comp Velocity · Valkyrie