How to Choose a Wingsuit Canopy

So you’ve got a fancy dress and now you need a canopy to match…but how the hell do you even begin to choose a wingsuit canopy?! Easy. You ask the legends who fly the legends.

We caught up with our JYRO Wingsuiter Athletes—Nicholas Scalabrino, Cornelia Mihai, and Woody (Michael) Smart to find out what they look for in a wingsuit canopy and why the Kraken is still their weapon of choice.

Cornelia Mihai

Romanian firecracker Cornelia Mihai flies a Kraken 119— she’s a bloody beast on it (and every other canopy). Determined, full of grit and skill, Cornelia started wingsuiting at Skydive Dubai on rental gear and smaller suits. Everything changed when her mate Matt Munting handed her a prototype Kraken.

>> FOLLOW CORNELIA ON INSTAGRAM
>> CORNELIA’S ATHLETE BIO 

“I realised how important it is to have a wingsuit specific canopy for wingsuit jumps.”

Wingsuit Canopy of Choice

Kraken 119. I love the on-heading opening and the powerful flare. Plus, it’s fun to fly and I can still swoop it.

What do you look for in a wingsuit canopy?

The reliability of the openings is the most important for me because when you have other things to think about during the opening (like how to fly the wingsuit and not let it fly you) the canopy should be helping the situation, not adding extra stress.

Have you flown other wingsuit canopies? How do they stack up?

I tried a demo Horizon 135 and 120. The openings were initially smoother than the Kraken, but it came with a price. When I had line twists on the Horizon 135 (my fault because of the pull time body position), I was surprised that it put me on my back spinning and I had to cutaway.

Want to compare wingsuit canopies for yourself? Here’s our Kraken vs Horizon demo breakdown.

What’s one thing that shaped how you choose your wingsuiting gear now?

I have been very lucky to be surrounded by very experienced wingsuit pilots. Whenever I had a question regarding equipment or the next step in progression, I had people around me who could lead the way. From the beginning, I knew what equipment I wanted because of them.

How does your canopy choice affect your confidence and decision making in flight?

Even though I am an experienced skydiver and I have been in the sport for a long time, I have only started to wingsuit in the past few years. Being in the sport for so long I have seen how many things can go wrong when you add a big suit to the equation. You’re basically inside a pressurized wing, and that can influence your openings A LOOOOT. Choosing the right canopy takes that stress away.

“With the Kraken, I feel more relaxed and can actually focus on flying and learning.”

How do you manage wear and tear on your canopy?

Compared to my high-performance canopies, the Kraken has way less wear and tear. But when it’s time to fix something or I have a doubt, I’m in a place where I can just go and ask the riggers for their expert opinion.

Wingsuiter Inspo?

I ‘grew up’ in wingsuiting around the boys from ‘The Matt and Nic’ show and they helped me a lot. I admire Nic’s style and dedication and I know he worked hard for the skills he has, so I am trying to put the work in as well. My dream jump would be anything following Nicholas Scalabrino on any line he chooses to fly with his wingsuit. He’s a beast.

The perfect wingsuit jump ends with…

A good swoop landing back on the dropzone

 

Nicholas Scalabrino

Nic pushes it to the max while managing to stay calm, reliable and humble. Friends say he’s as chill carving lines through mountains as most people are kicking back on the couch. His wingsuit game started humble—with a mate’s wingsuit and a borrowed canopy. Then years later, when he got his first wingsuit, he paired it with a JFX and started pushing his limits further.

>> FOLLOW NIC ON INSTAGRAM
>> NIC’S ATHLETE BIO

Wingsuit canopy of choice:

Nic jumps a Kraken 119.

Why? Because of reliable openings and fun flying characteristics. I stopped jumping the JFX with the wingsuits as soon as the wingsuit got bigger than a tracking suit. I have full confidence in my Kraken and don’t have to worry about openings while I’m in freefall.

What makes a wingsuit canopy feel dialed-in for you?

First things first in a wingsuit canopy has to be the openings. They need to be consistent to keep you out of line twists. However I still enjoy flying my parachute so I want it to be responsive. Not too much front riser pressure so you can pull off a 270 and have smooth landings.

Learn how Kraken’s design delivers calm, controlled openings every time.

What advice do you have for first-time wingsuiters?

Go bigger than what you think you need. It’ll be more forgiving. Less cutaways = more jumping and less time on the ground.

Who inspires your flying?

Noah Banson, Micah Couch, Dani Roman, Fred and Vince.

The perfect wingsuit jump ends with…

A mad hookie on my Kraken.

 

 

Woody (Michael) Smart

This man’s a genius, it’s in the name really. The most enthusiastic guy you’ve ever met, and also the nicest. Naturally, we had to get his take. His first wingsuit jump? Unmemorable. In fact, he can’t remember it at all (was it a post-party night jump, Woody?). He took a stab that it was probably on a Sabre 1.

>>WOODY’S ATHLETE BIO

Wingsuit canopy of choice:

Now, Woody jumps a Kraken 119. Why? Because he likes JYRO.
We like you too, Woody!

Have you flown other wingsuit canopies? How do they stack up?

To be honest, I don’t have enough jumps on other WS canopies to give a fair comparison. I did about 1000 jumps on a Sabre 1 120, and then got a Kraken. The Kraken opens on heading consistently and a whole lot nicer than the Sabre 1 for sure. You can quote me on that. “JYRO Kraken, better than a Sabre 1”.

And yeah, we did—here’s why Kraken’s earned its reputation.

What makes a wingsuit canopy feel dialed-in for you?

On heading openings and no line twist. It’s a low bar to set, I know. But if you never have to stress about openings in a big wingsuit, you’re on to a winner.

One thing you wish you knew earlier in your wingsuit journey canopy selection?

You can’t jump elliptical or semi elliptical canopies with a wingsuit. That would have saved me 2 cut aways.

How do you manage wear and tear on your canopy?

I take it to Brett at Downward Trend and say “help”.

If someone’s looking to get a new wingsuit, what would you tell them to consider?

If you want better wingsuit performance, jump a Kraken. I would tell them I’ve got a lot of jumps on a Kraken, and I like it. And that it’s better than a Sabre 1.

 

 

Still wondering what canopy to get?

Read our full Wingsuit Progression Guide if you’re just starting your WS journey.

But the answer pretty bloody obviously in our humble opinion: Fly the KRAKEN. F#&$ Yeah!

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Pick Your Kraken: Low Bulk or Full J-ZP

JYRO now offers two wingsuit-specific Kraken canopies—both designed to crush in the sky:

• The OG Kraken Low Bulk: Built with lightweight L-ZP fabric, this original edition is all about pack volume. It slides into your rig with ease and opens like a dream, making it the go-to for travel, tighter containers, or jumpers who value low profile without sacrificing safety.
• The Kraken ZP: This one’s the powerhouse. Made with full J-ZP fabric, it adds more flare, extra colour choice, and improved performance. Perfect for experienced pilots looking to squeeze every drop of fun out of their suit and canopy.

Same DNA. Two fabrics. Unleash your weapon.

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READ MORE

Kraken Review: A Kraken Good Wingsuit Canopy
A Canopy Comparison Chart 
The Kraken: Tech Talk With Julian