Buying Advice

To illustrate how Flybubble’s buying service works, we follow the experience of Ben Holt, who wanted an upgrade from his Advance Success 3. Find out what goes on during a harness fitting session at Flybubble.

A helicopter pilot would never lift off in the morning without a complete systems check. Paraglider pilots can sometimes skip their daily equipment inspection, because problems are rare and the equipment is deceptively simple. Beware! Paragliding harness maintenance is essential. Make sure you check yours regularly.

It’s very hard to set up a harness by yanking on straps in the air. Although easy adjustment is a vital feature of any harness, the initial trimming is best done in a static environment where you can take the time to get the geometry perfected.

The latest competition racing pod looks a bit out of place under a Progression class wing. There’s a mismatch between objectives here: the harness is aiming for ultimate performance, but the wing is aiming for maximum safety, so what exactly is the pilot chasing? This sort of blend means you compromise your flying because your kit lacks synergy.

When designers create a harness, they try to match the harness features with the intended use. Each design has a different mix of back protection, buckle style, reserve parachute integration, flight deck options, stowage space and comfort factors like the seat board, straps, and fabric used. Understanding what features you need on your harness can help you narrow down your search.