Paragliding equipment is a substantial investment and unfortunately is not cheep. (Note all prices given on this page are illustrative, actual prices will vary)
There are 3 main pieces of equipment that all pilots need to have:
- Glider
- Harness
- Reserve
Glider
Email: [email protected]
Pilot: Mauricio Orozco
The glider aka the wing is what you actually fly. Gliders are constructed from advanced materials (Dokdo Dominco, Porcher Skytex, etc.) with a UV resistant coating. Lines on the glider will be made from Aramid, or Dyneema.
Gliders are not a one time investment, and pilots should expect to buy a new wing every 3-5 years. There are several reasons for this: First, paraglider technology has advance a lot in the last 10 years, and is expected to continue to advance. The performance of modern beginner wings is higher than some advanced wings from 5 years ago, while maintaining or improving safety; Second, as a pilot advances they will want more performance from their wings; and Third, wings age. Wings are treated with a UV resistant coating, but the material can age increasing in porosity and loosing strength.
A brand new beginner glider costs $5,000, with more advanced wings costing unto $9000. There is also a used glider market, but caution is in order as the amount of use and types of use can degrade a wing.
Harness
The harness is the seat a pilot is in when flying. There are 2 primary types of harness: Open, or Pod.
All harnesses have some combination of leg straps, waist strap, and shoulder straps to attach to the pilots. They also have a connection method for the wing (usually a carabiner), impact protection (inflatable or foam), and a compartment for a reserve
Open harnesses, as the name implies are open, the pilots legs hang in front of them. These also come in reversible designs where the harness converts into a backpack for carrying gear.
Pod harnesses, have pod for the pilots legs. They usually have a more reclined flying position and are usually flown by more experienced pilots who want to improve performance.
Brand new beginner harnesses cost $1500, Advanced competition harnesses can cost up to $3000.
Reserves
This is the most basic piece of safety equipment. There are many different kinds of reserves (round, square, square-round, octagonal, rogallo). Some (like rogallos and certain squares) can be steered. However, the most important factor for reserves is that one is installed correctly, and that it has been correctly repacked.
Reserves cost $1000 – $2000
Other Equipment
Pilots also need the following: Helmet, Gloves, Outdoor gear. Helmets should be sky/snowboard or skate types that protect the back of the head. Gloves should be durable to prevent burns from lines.
Eventually pilots will want to get instruments for flying. There are dedicated instruments, as well as Bluetooth devices that us apps for phones. The choice of instruments depends greatly on the pilots preferences.
Our Equipment Sales
Prairie Paragliding is proud to be a dealer of Ozone equipment. Students with the school will be offered competitive package pricing on new Ozone gear. We are also happy to work with you for other brands, and can order Nova, BGD, 777, and Air Design through our partners. If you are looking for used equipment, we will be happy to find options available that are appropriate and help guide you towards high quality gear.
