It's important to choose paragliding equipment that's adapted to your level, technique, needs, flying areas, frequency, etc., especially as this represents a major investment. We recommend that you buy new equipment, or if your paragliding equipment is second-hand, make sure it has recently been checked.
As the technical characteristics of the equipment vary, there is often a wide choice to suit every level, practice and desire.
One performance indicator is glide ratio, which is the ratio between the distance covered horizontally (going forward) and vertically (falling) in a given time, expressed in meters. In the past, this indicator was around 3 (i.e. 3 m horizontally to 1 m vertically), but thanks to the evolution of equipment, some paragliders now have a glide ratio of over 10. This can be a useful indicator when choosing your equipment, when you need to study its performance, always according to your level and experience.
Here is a list of the various items of equipment required for paragliding:
A wing is made up of several components:
- Intrado and Extrado: two fabric sections, respectively the upper and lower parts of the wing.
- Caissons: also known as cells, these are located between the Intrado and Extrado of the wing, and are delimited by the line attachment points (definition to follow). The cells give the wing its shape when air enters it. They connect the two parts of the wing both vertically and transversely.
- Leading edge: this is the front of the wing, with openings to allow the wing to be filled.
- Trailing edge: the rear of the wing
The paraglider wing resembles an airplane wing. Once inflated by air, the paraglider provides lift to slow the fall.
The paraglider "fifth wheel" is the seating system for the pilot. Originally a simple harness, it has evolved to ensure comfort and safety. The fifth wheel also has an influence on the glider, since it is connected to the lines and therefore to the wing. The pilot attaches to it with a system of straps. There is also a "cocoon" version, which also covers the pilot's legs during paragliding.
Paraglider lines are thin strings that connect the wing to the harness with a system of quick links, safety karabiners and risers. They are installed in branches, and connect different points on the wing. They are sometimes color-coded for ease of handling and reference. Lines are usually made of Kevlar or Dyneema, and are also protected by a system of sheaths. These are fragile materials. They have two main functions: to give the paraglider its profile, thanks to the different lengths of string, and to support a certain weight (up to 200kg per line) thanks to the multiplicity of lines. An essential element in the proper functioning of a paraglider, the diameter and number of lines has a real influence on performance.
What we call "controls" in paragliding are actually "brakes". These are handles that allow you to steer the glider, but also to manage its speed. There is one on each side of the glider. They are connected to the wing by the lines, and in particular to the trailing edge of the paraglider. They come in a variety of forms to enhance performance, but ultimately they all have the same function.
> This is a foot-operated bar connected to the risers. It allows you to influence the incidence of the wing (relative angle between the sail and the wind), and thus gain speed!
> "Trim" is another type of gas pedal, operated by hand and used to modify the wing's curve. As it is "manual", it requires you to let go of the controls. For this reason, it is less and less used, although it can be adjusted even before take-off.
Other useful tools for the paraglider pilot include the radio, for communicating with the instructor, other pilots and obtaining flight indicators. In fact, there is a dedicated frequency for free flight.
The variometer is an instrument that measures pressure and thus provides information on altitude variations, and hence on vertical speed. You know whether you're going up or down with your paraglider, and at what speed.
The altimeter, on the other hand, indicates atmospheric pressure, and therefore altitude. It can be programmed in relation to the take-off zone, for example.
The compass, or more commonly GPS, provides more accurate position information. This is useful, for example, once you've landed in an unplanned area. In paragliding competitions, a GPS can be used to validate the passage of beacons on a given course.
Other items include rescue equipment such as helmets, parachutes, back protectors, etc.