The AirDesign Sock pod harness is light, comfy and robust. An everyday paragliding pod harness that will take you from your all-day long XC, hike-and-fly training, XC competition to your Bivy project. The Sock is a versatile product offering the most efficient feel in the smallest packed volume. A semi-light pod harness, size M 2.75 kg with inflatable protector (only).
We'’ve spent quite a bit of time flying the Sock harness, and we must say, we are pleasantly surprised. It’s hard to overlook the convenience of having the handle positioned right in front of you.
We've tested it with a wide range of wings:
- AirDesign LiVi
- AirDesign Rise 5
- AirDesign Soar 2
- AirDesign Volt 5
- LittleCloud Gracchio Mk2
- LittleCloud Puffin
- LittleCloud Urubu
- LittleCloud SuperFly
- LittleCloud La Mouette
- PHI MAESTRO 2 light
How much have we tested it?
Flybubble Carlo and Nancy tested The Sock for around 30 hours in a wide variety of conditions with various wings over several months. This doesn't include a few hours spent in-house, checking each size of the harness over, getting to know them, fitting reserves, hang checks, making adjustments, etc.
They mostly tested size M. Also size L, a little. Size S is too small for them. More on sizing later!
Package
When you examine the stress points, you can easily appreciate the thoughtful design. The Air Design Sock comes in a handy bag that doubles as a storage solution and aids in inflating the protective system. It’s a fantastic semi-light harness that provides excellent value for money, loaded with features. Whether you’re into cross-country flying, soaring, or local hikes and flights, this harness covers all bases.
Comfort
The comfort is impressive; the weight shift feels just right—not too dampened, yet not overly responsive. It provides a calming, reassuring sensation during flight, and while it isn’t heavily dampened, the overall handling and comfort have been enjoyable. Regarding roll authority, I find that while the Sock delivers good responsiveness, harnesses like the arrows offer a bit more precision. Still, the Sock’s performance is solid; it’s definitely not vague.
For those playful moments—like executing wingovers or tight turns in thermals—the Sock harness has more than enough handling capability. It does lean slightly towards the weight-shifty side compared to other options, like the Supair Delight 4, which is quite stable. The Sock has a more upright design, which adds to its reassuring feel. If you prefer a more laid-back posture, it’s incredibly comfortable and not extreme. There’s also an option to adjust for a more upright position, but like many hammock-style harnesses, it excels when flown in a supine posture.
Ease of use is a standout feature; clipping in and out is seamless. The thoughtful design makes it very user-friendly, which is definitely a plus. I was surprised by how comfortable it is; it exceeds my expectations. While it may not be the absolute pinnacle of comfort—like the Advance Lightness 3 or 4—it holds its own, especially at this price point.
Who is it for?
For pilots in search of a semi-light pod with ample storage, moderate weight shift, and durability without excess weight or over-engineering, the Sock harness is a great choice.
Design
In terms of design, it folds down quite compactly and features an unusual shape. Unlike typical harnesses with a flat back and sides, this one has a back section that folds, supported by two side sections connected by a V-triangle. This unique design feels different but surprisingly comfortable in the air.
The leg straps are a bit unconventional, not coming from the center but adopting a hammock-style layout. The inflatable protector acts similarly to a seat board, but it’s crucial to position your legs between the straps rather than through the middle.
Inflatible protector
Inflating the protector can be a bit tricky compared to foam protectors, but it packs down to a small size, which is a major advantage. Considering this is a semi-light harness, the pack size is quite manageable.
Speedbag
The speed bag is made from a durable fabric that strikes a good balance between weight and sturdiness. While it isn't the lightest option on the market, it doesn't feel heavy, making it suitable for extended use.
Upon examining the build quality, shaping, and overall design, I find it to be very impressive—excellent, even. Models like the Advance Lightness 3, Lightness 4, and Niviuk Arrow may offer a slight edge in terms of comfort, but they also come at a significantly higher price point.
One standout feature of this speed bag is its compact packing ability. It can be easily stowed away, making it a practical choice for those who prioritize space efficiency.
Cockpit
The flight panel: We've added a Kortel Cocpit Eexension to the harness, allowing us to easily organize and swap our instruments. While the harness doesn’t come with a removable flight panel, it does offer a reasonably sized cockpit area. It would be even better if the design were a bit more squared, but compared to other options, like the Woody Valley GTO Light, it's quite good. The panel is firm and stable, ensuring that our instruments remain securely in place during flight.
Front mount container
We’ve fitted a Charlie Target Cross Durable 125 reserve in it. It's not the lightest reserve, but we chose it on purpose to test the manufacturer’s recommended size and see what actually fits. A smaller reserve would obviously fit, but this one went in just fine. There was still a bit of extra space, though it started to feel snug.
We’ve been using this setup for several months and haven’t encountered any issues, like having to readjust or repack it. One of the key benefits is having the handle right in front of you. In a situation where you're falling out of the sky, disoriented, experiencing high G-forces, and getting tossed around, you can easily look down and see the handle. In contrast, with a side-mounted handle, you’d have to feel around to find it.
Sizing
To give some idea of sizing, here's how each size of The Sock fits Flybubble Carlo and Nancy.
Carlo
181 cm, relatively longer back, shorter legs. ~ 80 kg.
- Size S much too small.
- Size M pretty good fit. Harness part OK but a little small, short for back. Speedbag too short with standard settings; needed to extend to the longest setting.
- Size L ok fit, a bit too big, especially speedbag, needed to shorten to near the shortest setting.
- Overall, between sizes M and L; M best.
Nancy
176.5 cm, relatively longer legs, shorter back. ~ 65 kg.
- Size S much too small.
- Size M, pretty good fit all-round. Standard settings are a good fit.
- Size L, too big, especially the harness part.
- Overall, size M best (and pretty good).
See the size chart on our website: flybubble.com. For a more sure expert sizing recommendation on which size - and which harness - is right for you, take advantage of our Flybubble MATCH service and we'll be in touch!
Reserve compatibility
Maximum recommended reserve volumes for the reserve compartment vary from 4-5L, depending on harness size.
Size M: Supair FLUID LIGHT EVO size L 100-125 kg, 32.2 m2, 1260 g, max pack volume 5.3 L = tight fit.
Storage
The storage area on this harness is impressively large. You might not see it clearly, but we can confirm that it’s bigger than most other harnesses we’ve used. The Ozone BV1 might surpass it in terms of sheer storage, but that's a harness designed specifically for bivouac flying, so it’s expected to maximize storage space. We do hope to review the BV1 soon, but we believe the Sock surpasses the BV1 when it comes to comfort, handling, aerodynamics, and overall streamlining.
This harness offers a generous amount of storage space. Like most harnesses, there’s a dedicated section for a hydration system, and the drink tube can be routed easily from there. The side pockets are thoughtfully designed, practical, and very functional, with zippers on both sides. Some harnesses, like the Advance, only have a zipper on one side, leaving the other with just stretchy fabric. We appreciate that the Sock has zippers on both sides. There’s also a large, non-zippered bonus pocket, ideal for quickly stashing items like a selfie stick.
One highlight we’d like to mention is how easy the storage pocket is to access. Some harnesses have storage pockets at the bottom that are difficult to reach due to the speed system. AirDesign has smartly placed a pocket in the bottom of the nose cone, making it convenient and functional.
Speed system
The speed system on this harness works well. It can be a bit fiddly to get your feet in place, but that’s typical of most systems like this. Once you get used to it, it’s easy to manage and functions just fine.
Tail-fairing
One thing we’ve noticed with some harnesses that have tail fairings is that they don’t always inflate properly and can take a while to do so. However, the Sock inflates quickly and consistently. I believe this is due to the well-placed holes on both sides and the stiffening material, which doesn’t bend easily. Unlike some lightweight harnesses that deform and lose airflow, the Sock has held up exceptionally well over time.
Durabilty
Wee've been using this harness for several months now and have flown with it quite a lot. You can see the wear in spots, like the dirty foot marks, but the harness overall is impressively durable. It’s not overly heavy, and they haven’t over-engineered it either, but they’ve definitely prioritized durability and longevity in the design.
After plenty of use, especially getting in and out of the pod frequently, the harness is still holding up very well. The stress points, particularly around the leg straps and the front where there’s constant wear, show little sign of damage. All in all, this harness is built to last.
Overall
The Sock folds down very compactly. This harness has truly impressed me with its comfort, performance, and durability over several months of use. If you’ve had the chance to fly the Sock, I’d love to hear your thoughts! Let us know in the comments below!
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