Skyward Chronicles: Latest Reviews in Paragliding Gear

The LIGHTPACK DLS by ADVANCE is a lightweight, ergonomically designed paragliding backpack tailored for pilots prioritizing comfort, practicality, and low weight during hike-and-fly or cross-country flights. Available in 81 and 91-litre volumes with a starting weight as low as 620 g, it is ideal for pilots using modern light or semi-light wings and harnesses who still require sufficient capacity for all flying essentials, including clothing and accessories.

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The Icaro Pandion is a thoughtfully designed EN-B paraglider that provides a reliable and comfortable flying experience for ambitious beginners and recreational pilots. As the successor to the Instinct TE, this paraglider is engineered to offer an intuitive entry into the B-class segment while maintaining a high safety margin, making it an excellent choice for pilots stepping up from EN-A wings or those seeking a trustworthy climber for thermal-oriented flying. Its design blends modern features with pilot-friendly handling, ensuring that both safety and performance are well balanced.

The Nerv 2.0 helmet by Icaro 2000 / ICARO Paragliders is a premium airborne sports helmet designed as the successor to the well-regarded Nerv model. Certified under EN 966 for air sports, it offers a specialized level of protection beyond general cycling or ski helmets. Icaro highlights its leading balance of lightweight comfort and safety within its price segment, making it a popular choice for serious paragliding and hang-gliding pilots.

The ADVANCE PIBI Light Tandem Paraglider offers a unique proposition in the tandem paragliding world by blending lightweight portability with full tandem flying capabilities. Designed with the “PI philosophy” of minimizing weight and volume, the PIBI aims to serve pilots seeking a tandem wing that is much lighter and more compact than traditional commercial tandem gliders but without compromising safety, comfort, or handling quality.

For pilots who hear the call of the wild and refuse to compromise on performance, Bruce Goldsmith Design (BGD) has unleashed the Lynx 2. As the lightweight sibling to the highly acclaimed Cure 2, this wing sits confidently in the EN-C Sports Class, bridging the gap between accessible handling and high-end cross-country efficiency. Designed for the devoted hike-and-fly enthusiast and the ambitious vol-bivouac adventurer, the Lynx 2 promises to be a reliable partner deep in the mountains.

For the discerning paraglider pilot, equipment choices go far beyond just the wing and harness. In the pursuit of the perfect cross-country flight, reducing drag and maintaining core temperature are critical factors that often get overlooked. The Advance Speedarms represent a masterclass in solving these issues, offering a sleek, aerodynamic layer that sits perfectly over your flying clothing to streamline your profile and keep you warm during long transitions at cloud base.

For the dedicated cross-country pilot, the difference between a good flight and a record-breaking one often comes down to energy management. While we focus heavily on wing performance, pilot fatigue caused by wind noise and cold air is a silent performance killer. The Swiss manufacturer Advance addresses this directly with their precision-engineered Windshield, an accessory designed primarily for the IMPRESS 4 harness but compatible with various setups requiring a hook and loop fastener solution. This sleek addition is not merely aesthetic; it is a functional tool for the serious aviator.

When the mountains call, the weight of your gear often dictates how high or far you can go. In the rapidly evolving discipline of Hike & Fly, the NOVA Montis stands out as a masterpiece of minimalism. Weighing in at approximately 300 grams, this ultra-lightweight harness is designed specifically for mountaineers and ambitious pilots who view the ascent as an integral part of their flight. It is not merely a piece of equipment; it is an invitation to explore the alpine world with unprecedented lightness.

UP Paragliders has officially unveiled the fifth generation of their popular progression wing: the Makalu 5. Aimed at new and intermediate pilots, the EN B-certified glider builds on the brand's decades-long commitment to pilot safety, smooth handling, and all-around performance.

Lightweight innovation meets functional design in the newly released BGD WRAP harness, the latest offering from Bruce Goldsmith Design. Engineered for hike-and-fly pilots, travel adventurers, and minimalist flyers, the WRAP is a semi-pod harness that's rapidly gaining attention for its versatility, portability, and thoughtful safety features.

BGD (Bruce Goldsmith Design) has officially launched the DUAL 3, the next-generation tandem paraglider that’s already making waves across professional paragliding communities worldwide. Designed from scratch, this model replaces the highly successful Dual 2, offering significant improvements in launch characteristics, handling, and glide performance.