Wing, harness, helmet, reserve parachute, instruments: everything that makes up a paraglider’s kit, how to choose it and how much to budget for it. A guide from our DEJEPS-qualified instructors at Gréolières since 2013.
Approved equipmentParagliding equipment is not a collection of items, it is a coherent system: each element is chosen according to the others, your level and your style of flying. Well thought out, it will keep you flying safely and comfortably for years.
This overview guide covers all the essential equipment — the wing, the harness, the helmet, the reserve parachute and the instruments — before directing you to our detailed guides for each item. The objective is to give you a clear overview before investing, without unnecessary jargon.
It is written by the Ailéments team, paragliding school at Gréolières (06) since 2013. Our state-certified instructors (DEJEPS) kit out passengers and advise training pilots every day: choosing, adjusting and maintaining equipment is all part of our job.
These are the two items of equipment that keep you flying and cost the most. They are chosen together, to match your level: this is where the main elements of safety and flying enjoyment come into play.
The wing is classified by the EN 926 standard into categories A, B, C, D according to its control requirement. We start in EN A (the most forgiving), then we progress to an EN B. The model and size are chosen according to your total in-flight weight: check out our detailed reviews of the'Ozone Alta, of the'Ultralite 5 and Delta 5.
The harness is your cockpit: it seats you, integrates the Back protection (foam or airbag) and receives the rescue parachute. Pod, hammock or lightweight split-leg harness: the choice depends on your flying style. Everything is detailed in our paragliding harness manual.
Two pieces of equipment that we hope never to have to «test», but which are non-negotiable. They are required as soon as you fly independently and are supervised by The French Federation of Free Flight.
Only the EN 966 standard, specific to air sports, is valid: a cycling or skiing helmet is not suitable. Open-face helmet for leisure, full-face for cross-country and winter. How to choose it, weigh it and maintain it: see our paragliding helmet manual.
Housed in the harness, it is deployed manually in the event of a major problem. It is chosen according to your total flywheel weight, let's do it have professionally pruned on a regular basis (about once a year) and checking that its container and handle are easily accessible.
Not essential for the first flight, but quickly useful for progressing, navigating and flying comfortably in all seasons.
Le variometer indicates rising and falling air currents, essential for exploiting the thermal. Often paired with a GPS for navigation and flight recording. A simple audio vario is enough to start with.
Essential in internship To be guided by the instructor, useful in clubs and for cross-country flying to stay in touch. Lightweight, it attaches to the harness shoulder strap, with the mic and earpiece within easy reach.
At higher altitudes, it is cooler than at ground level: a jumpsuit or warm clothes, gloves, and above all high-top shoes that support the ankle for take-off and landing. Glasses complete the set.
Good news: you don’t have to buy all your kit on the first day. You learn using the school’s equipment, then gradually invest in your own gear once you know your flying style.
Visit Learning and in training, the school provides the school wing, the harness, the helmet, the reserve parachute and the radio. You invest in your own equipment when you are approaching autonomy and patent.
roughly €3,000 to €4,500 the wing, €700 to €1,500 the harness, £100 to £400 the helmet, £500 to £900 help, £200 to £1,000 of instruments. Let's take a first complete kit of the order of €4,000 to €6,000.
The second-hand market significantly reduces the cost, but a worn or non-standard wing is dangerous. Never buy second-hand without an instructor's advice or of a workshop: age, flight hours, last overhaul and fabric condition are checked.
A well-maintained aircraft flies for longer and is safer. Routine maintenance is straightforward; technical checks, however, should be carried out by a professional.
A wing is serviced approximately every 100 flying hours or every two years : fabric porosity, strap length, strength. At Gréolières, we rely on our partner workshop for the paraglider revision and the tracking of the Ozone equipment.
We store the equipment dry, away from sunlight and heat (never in a car in the middle of summer), you fold the wing without breaking the ribs, and you get your harness and reserve checked after any hard impact. You also choose your flying days: see our flight conditions.
Whether you are a casual passenger or a future pilot, equipment is at the heart of the safety and enjoyment that we look after on every flight.
For your first paragliding experience, verified wing, comfortable passenger harness and certified helmet are provided and fitted by the instructor. You have nothing to bring, just to enjoy the flight.
Visit internship, our instructors will advise you on the wing, harness and instruments suited to your build and your goals — without over-selling to you, keeping lifespan and target practice.
Sale and Ozone service on-site, right by the flying area: equipment chosen, tuned and maintained by people who fly with it every day.
Since 2013 at Gréolières, the team Accessories flies beginners and enthusiasts above the Alpes-Maritimes. Checked wing, harness adjusted to your build, approved helmet, state-certified instructors (DEJEPS): every detail matters — over 1070 5/5 reviews confirm it.
Fancy trying before investing in your own equipment? A taster session is the best way in.
Book my flight
Composition, budget, purchase, maintenance: the most useful answers before equipping yourself.
In mint condition, count €4,000 to €6,000 for a complete kit: around €3,000 to €4,500 for the wing, €700 to €1,500 for the harness, €100 to €400 for the helmet, €500 to €900 for the reserve, €200 to €1,000 for instruments. Second-hand gear, checked by a professional, significantly reduces this budget.
No. In initiation, the school provides all the equipment. You invest in your own gear once you've learned the basics, on the advice of your instructor: an EN A wing suited to your weight and a harness suited to your build.
A type-approved wing EN A, the most forgiving, sized according to your total in-flight weight. You then progress to an EN B for better performance. The choice is always made with an instructor: a wing that is too high-performance for one's level is a real risk factor.
From a specialist dealer and an authorised workshop for Revision. At Gréolières, Ailéments relies on its partner workshop, Aerotech (Ozone sales and servicing). A wing is serviced approximately every 100 hours or every two years.
No, nothing to bring. For a Tandem paragliding, the school provides and pays for everything: checked wing, passenger harness, EN 966 certified helmet. Just bring warm clothes and closed-toe shoes. The equipment only becomes your purchase during training towards autonomy.
Four benchmarks for choosing the right equipment without mistakes, from your first flight to independence.
Nothing to buy to start with. We invest gradually, advised by an instructor, aiming for a wing EN A to begin with.
A complete new kit goes for around €4,000 to €6,000. Opportunity helps, but only with a pro's opinion on the actual condition.
Revision Regular wing checks, annual reserve parachute repack, dry storage. Used for tandem flights, Ailéments supplies and takes care of everything.
Checked wing, comfortable harness, certified helmet and state-certified instructor: for a tandem flight on the French Riviera, you don't need to bring a thing. We take care of all the equipment, you just enjoy the flight.
Book my paragliding baptism
