Guide
The kit, decoded — what each piece does
Paragliding gear looks simple — a wing and a seat — but each component has a defined role and a certification standard. Knowing the basics makes you a smarter passenger and a better student.
Guide
Paragliding gear looks simple — a wing and a seat — but each component has a defined role and a certification standard. Knowing the basics makes you a smarter passenger and a better student.
The canopy itself — a ram-air airfoil, not a parachute. Wings are certified EN-A through EN-D: A-class is stable, forgiving, designed for students; D-class is high-performance and demanding. A tandem wing (typically EN-B) is built for two-person load and maximum stability.
Load range matters as much as class — every wing has a certified weight window. That's why operators ask your weight before a tandem: outside the range, the wing doesn't behave as certified.
The harness is your seat and your protection — foam or airbag back protection underneath, leg and chest straps, and a container for the reserve parachute. The reserve is a second, simpler parachute for the failure case — repacked on a fixed cycle.
Passenger harnesses are deliberately simple — you sit, you're secured, you land. The pilot's side carries the instruments and controls.
Schools provide everything through P1–P2. Buying your own kit makes sense from P3 onward — when you're flying regularly, know your EN class, and can test what suits you. Used gear is a real market in India; a pre-purchase inspection by an instructor is worth the small cost.
Budget roughly ₹2–4 lakh for a full used kit (wing + harness + reserve + helmet) at the student-to-intermediate level. New wings alone run ₹3–5 lakh and up.
Wing, harness with reserve parachute, helmet, and radio — that's the flight-critical kit. Instruments (variometer, GPS) come later as pilots progress.
No — everything is provided. As a passenger you bring nothing but appropriate clothing and shoes.
Usually after P2 or during P3 — once you know your skill level and which EN class suits you. Schools provide gear through the early levels.
EN (European Norm) classes A through D rate wing safety and handling. EN-A is the most stable — student wings; EN-D is competition-grade with demanding handling. Tandem wings are typically EN-B.
Send us your question — we'll give you a straight answer.