Good points Gregg. Also in the information I received from Rigging
Innovations was a note that opening time, and hence altitude loss, is a
function of the jumper's attitude at the time of deployment, i.e., if
the deployment is downward to to the side, the opening time will be
longer. Of course, the same holds true for the round parachute.

On 6/8/2017 10:54 AM, wrote:
On Thursday, June 8, 2017 at 9:08:32 AM UTC-4, Craig Reinholt wrote:
I have a new Softie. It is less comfortable than my previous National 425.
Regarding a ram air chute, they are designed to open softly and they take about 800' to fully open. An emergency round chute is designed to open quickly in 300'-350'. Is your momentary comfort worth that 500'?
Not true. They are equal or the square is a bit faster. Either way opening time variances between the two overlap. Besides a handle fumble or pilot chute kicking around for a second before inflating will burn far more altitude than any difference between round/square. If I was in the business of selling pilot rigs I would go to the big contests pay a young durable skydiver to jump a round, then jump a square afterwards land and open my order book. Guaranteed every pilot who saw the difference live would bust out a credit card.

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Dan, 5J