Skyward Chronicles: Latest Reviews in Paragliding Gear

The BGD Anda EN/LTF-A paraglider is a carefully designed lightweight wing that targets hike-and-fly pilots, travelers, and newer pilots who seek a safe and capable glider. Weighing between 2.78 and 3.54 kg across five size options (XS to L), the Anda excels with its low weight, a compact pack size easily carried in hiking packs or as airline hand luggage, and straightforward launch behaviour. Its materials strike a balance between durability and lightness using double-coated Porcher Skytex 27 cloth, reinforced leading edges, weight-optimised ribs, and Kevlar/Dyneema lines and risers, requiring careful but practical handling typical of lightweight wings.

The ICARO Tandem spreader stands out in the paragliding accessory market as a lightweight, slim, yet robust tandem connector designed specifically for paragliding setups. Weighing between 400 to 480 grams depending on configuration, it holds the distinction of being the slimmest and lightest option available, ideal for pilots looking to reduce equipment bulk without sacrificing strength and durability.

The ICARO Paragliders Backpack is a dedicated rucksack designed specifically to carry the full range of ICARO flying equipment—including the wing, harness, reserve parachute, and accessories—in one compact and transport-friendly package. Prioritizing long-term carrying comfort and robustness, this backpack targets pilots who frequently hike or travel to launch sites with their gear.

Introduction to the Icaro Loxia² Tandem Pilot Harness

The Icaro Loxia² is a purpose-built tandem pilot harness primarily aimed at professional and frequent commercial tandem use. As an evolution of the original Loxia, it integrates seamlessly with Icaro’s Batis² passenger harness and Parus² tandem wing, highlighting its design focus on tandem operators who prioritize practicality, durability, and safety. This specialized harness balances pilot comfort with essential operational features, making it suitable for demanding tandem flying environments.

The AustriAlpin Stratus Inox is a stainless steel maillon-type connector specifically engineered for the critical role of linking tandem paragliders to their spreaders. Its robust construction and design reflect its intended use in demanding tandem flight conditions where higher loads are common. Featuring a high breaking load capacity of 28 kN, the Stratus Inox offers reliability and safety without excessive weight, weighing in at a practical 130 grams. The interface is dimensioned at 25 mm by 25 mm to perfectly match standard tandem webbing widths ensuring secure attachment without twisting or concentrated stress points.

The ADVANCE WEIGHTLESS represents a pinnacle in ultralight cross-country (XC) pod harness design, merging race-level performance with practical features tailored for serious hike-and-fly, vol-biv, and competition pilots. Developed as a refined derivative of ADVANCE's X-Alps race harness, the WEIGHTLESS offers a compelling proposition centered on the ethos "Less is more fun," boasting one of the lowest weights in its category—starting from just 1.9 kg in a fully equipped setup. This harness is not designed for beginners but for experienced pilots who demand extreme weight savings without compromising safety or comfort.

The ADVANCE Trucker Cap is a versatile lifestyle accessory designed to meet the needs of paragliding enthusiasts and casual users alike. Featuring a mesh back, it offers enhanced ventilation in hot weather, making it ideal for wearing at launch sites or to relax after a flight. Available in a “steel / blue” color combination and offered in one universal adjustable size, its design incorporates a classic snapback closure for easy fit adjustment. With materials blending 100% cotton and 100% polyester, and branded with an ADVANCE logo patch, the cap balances functionality, comfort, and brand identity for fans of ADVANCE paragliding.

The NOVA PENTAGON is a cutting-edge five-sided reserve parachute designed for paragliding and selected hang gliding applications, emphasizing quick deployment, enhanced pendular stability, and a low sink rate for safer landings. Its unique pentagonal, non-symmetrical geometry innovatively disrupts oscillations common in conventional round or square reserves, reducing swing effects and thereby diminishing impact energy, which contributes to increased pilot safety and comfort.

The Nikita XTC from ICARO is a paraglider meticulously engineered for the acro and freestyle flying community. Unlike cross-country (XC) or recreational wings, this glider is dedicated to performing advanced aerobatic maneuvers, including Dynamic Stall, Misty, Mactwist, Rhythmic SAT, and notably, helicopter connections and infinite tumbling. It boasts precise, immediate responsiveness to pilot inputs through its "soft brake pressure" design, minimizing pilot fatigue during intensive training or shows. Maintaining moderate internal pressure, it offers the handling feel of a paraglider rather than a rigid traction wing, striking a balance between performance and pilot feedback.

ADVANCE’s lifestyle accessory range offers paraglider pilots and brand devotees a collection of functional everyday items that embed paragliding identity into daily life. Comprising a windsock, flat visor cap, DAYPACK, LIGHTBAG, and hip bag, this line sits at the intersection of practical gear and brand merchandise. These products are not primary flight equipment but serve as thoughtful companions before and after time in the air, extending the ADVANCE brand’s reach into everyday activities with implied quality and durability.

The Concertina Bag Light is a specialized lightweight packing bag designed specifically for paragliders, focusing on careful, cell-by-cell packing that protects the wing from damage. Designed by NOVA, this bag features a well-thought-out structure that promotes gentle folding while ensuring ventilation and protection against moisture. Its lightweight construction, starting at just 328 grams for the smallest size without compression straps, highlights its suitability for hike-and-fly pilots and those prioritizing weight savings and wing longevity.

The Xenus from Icaro introduces a compelling proposition in the world of freestyle paragliding—a compact and dynamic EN-B certified wing that strikes a deliberate balance between freestyle agility and pilot-friendly safety. Designed for pilots confident in basic flying skills, it offers an ideal platform to embark on freestyle and acro maneuvers such as SATs, helicos, and other figures, while avoiding the extreme demands typical of pure acro wings.