TL;DR: Choose your reserve size FIRST. Then pick a container that fits both your reserve and main. Too many skydivers do it backwards — pick a main, grab a container, and cram whatever reserve fits. That's how you end up going from a 190 to a 135 on the worst day of your skydiving career. Don't be that person.
Everyone Gets This Backwards
Here's how some skydivers build a rig: picks a main canopy size, find a used container, and then ask "what reserve fits in this thing?" Whatever fits, goes in.
That's not ideal, when you think about it. You're choosing your emergency parachute — the one thing that needs to work perfectly on your worst day — based on leftover space in a bag.
After 6,000+ jumps and watching this play out dozens of times, I'm going to say what more people in this sport need to hear: your reserve should be the first decision you make, not the last.
The Real-World Horror Story
I've seen this more times than I'd like. A skydiver is jumping a 190 main. They find a deal on a used container — fits a 170 main, sweet. They squeeze in a main that works, and the reserve tray? It came with a 135.
Now think about what happens when that skydiver has a malfunction.
They've been flying a 190. Ok, we downsized 1 size. Maybe he was ready? They know how a 190 flies, how it flares, what the landing speed feels like. Now they cut away, pull silver, and they're suddenly under a 135 — a canopy that's almost 30% smaller than what they're used to. In one of the most stressful moments of their skydiving career, definitely pumped full of adrenaline, maybe in an unfamiliar area.
That's not a downsize. That's a trap.
The Right Order: Reserve → Container → Main
Here's how the decision should actually flow:
Step 1: Pick your reserve size. Based on your experience, your wing loading comfort zone, and the simple rule that nobody under a reserve ever wished they had a smaller one. If you're jumping a 170 main, you want at minimum a 160 reserve — but a 176 is better.
Step 2: Pick your container. Now find a container that fits that reserve AND the main you want. This is where sizing charts matter. Every manufacturer publishes what fits in their reserve tray — work backwards from there.
Step 3: Pick your main. With the container sorted, you know exactly what main sizes fit. Now go pick your colors.
Yes, this is harder. Yes, it limits your options. But you know what's harder? Landing a reserve that's way too small for you while your hands are shaking and your brain is screaming.
What About Used Containers?
Used rigs are great — I'm not against them. But this is where the trap gets set most often. Someone sells a complete rig, and the buyer inherits whatever reserve was in it. Maybe it fits the original owner's needs. Maybe it doesn't fit yours at all.
If you're buying used:
- Check the reserve size FIRST. Not the main, not the container color — the reserve. Does it match your skills and needs?
- Factor in the cost of a new reserve. If the included reserve is too small, budget for replacing it. You can ask your rigger to part out your reserve, put another (bigger one) inside and you can sell the old one.
- Don't let "it fits" be the only criteria. A 135 technically fits a jumper who needs a 176. It just shouldn't.
The Reserves I Trust in 2026
After thousands of jumps and a couple of reserve rides (both mine and ones I've watched), these are the canopies I recommend — the Paratec Speed 2000 and the PD Optimum gets top spot specifically because it supports the reserve-first philosophy.
PD Optimum — My #1 Pick
The Optimum exists to solve exactly the problem we're talking about. It packs small for its size, meaning you can fit a bigger reserve in a smaller container. A 176 Optimum in the space of a 160 standard reserve? That's a game-changer.
Beyond the pack volume advantage, it opens soft, flies predictably, and has a solid flare for a reserve. PD's engineering on this one is genuinely impressive.
- 7-cell design, sizes 99–253
- Significantly lower pack volume — fit a bigger canopy in the same space
- Soft, reliable, on-heading openings
- Excellent flare for a reserve
- The best friend of the reserve-first approach
PD Optimum Reserve — Shop Now
Paratec Speed 2000 — The OG LPV Reserve
Doesn't get enough love outside Europe, but it should. It's one of the first LPV reserve models - and it's a good one. The Speed 2000 opens fast and reliably, flies predictably, and the German build quality is top-notch. Paratec has been making reserves since before most of us started jumping. Unfortunately, the production time of a new reserve.. Just far too long. And mostly, we have PD Optimums in stock. But if you're considering a used one and wondering if this model is a good choice - get it inspected, and that's a solid for a reserve.
- 7-cell design
- Fast, reliable openings
- Excellent build quality — German engineering
- A serious contender that deserves more attention globally
Paratec Speed 2000 — Shop Now
PD Reserve — The Proven Classic
Decades of saving lives. The PD Reserve isn't flashy, it just works — consistent openings, stable flight, predictable landings. The pack volume is larger than the Optimum, which means you might need a bigger container to get the same reserve size. But if it fits your setup, it's bulletproof (not literally).
- 7-cell design, sizes 113–281
- Proven track record spanning decades
- Consistent, reliable openings
- The "you literally cannot go wrong" option
PD Reserve — Shop Now
Size Matters — Always Go Bigger
It's not a common thing that someone under a reserve canopy has ever wished they had a smaller one.
When you're under your reserve, you might be disoriented, dealing with a partial malfunction, and landing in a field you've never seen before, with powerlines everywhere. And probably quite low. A bigger reserve gives you slower descent rates, more time in the air to make decisions, a longer flare, and more margin for error on landing. That's not weakness — that's intelligence.
The math is simple: if your container can fit a 176 Optimum instead of a 160 standard reserve, go with the 176. This rule will fit 99% of the people.
Quick Decision Framework
- What main are you jumping? Your reserve should be the same size, 1 size bigger (or smaller) will cover most situations.
- What's your comfort wing loading? Apply that same logic to your reserve — you'll be flying it on your worst day.
- Container not decided yet? Perfect — pick reserve first, then find a container that works for both - reserve & main.
- Container already owned? Check the sizing chart. If the current reserve is too small, upsize is the container allows. Buy a new & sell the old reserve.
- Buying a used rig? Don't inherit someone else's bad reserve decision. Budget for a reserve swap if needed.
Things People Get Wrong
"My reserve just needs to get me on the ground." Sure — but there's a massive difference between "alive with broken legs" and "walking to the bar." Size and quality can determine which one you get.
"I'll just get the same size as my main." Reserves fly differently — less glide, less flare power, faster descent rates. A 150 main and a 150 reserve are very different experiences. If anything, go BIGGER on the reserve.
"Used reserves are fine." They can be, but get them inspected by a rigger. Check the DOM, repack history. A reserve that's been sitting in a rig for 20 years? I'd pass, if it's without a recent manufacturer inspection.
"Whatever fits." This is exactly the mentality that puts people under a 135 when they should be under a 190. Don't be a statistic.
The Bottom Line
Your reserve is the most important canopy you own, and it should be the first canopy decision you make — not an afterthought.
Choose the size you need. Find a container that fits it. Then pick your main. In that order.
And if someone at the DZ tells you "whatever fits is fine" — smile, nod, and ignore them completely.
