After several months, many days and many hours of extensive testing of both the standard-weight AirDesign Rise 5 and its lighter weight sibling, the Soar 2, in multiple sizes (XS, S, M and L), with multiple harnesses, in a wide range of conditions, to get to know them really well, so we can best advise our customers on which is the best wing for them, here's a detailed breakdown of our views of these high B paragliders based on our experiecne, including some comparisons between the two and other similar wings.

Rise 5 vs Soar 2

Both are High B wings, certified EN and LTF B.

Both wings are very similar in design and performance, with only subtle differences due to their construction. We’ll highlight those as we go along.

The Rise 5 is the standard weight, more robust version, while the Soar 2 is the lightweight equivalent, made with lighter sail materials and superlight brake handles. Otherwise they have the same construction, lines, risers and maillons.

Both wings have the same 2.5 line construction: 3 main lines (A, B, C) in the center, 2 (A, B) at the tips.

They both have two pairs of winglets (the first and only wings to have this at the time of writing). The pair of winglets on the wingtips are supposed to help reduce drag. The pair of winglets on the top surface are supposed to improve roll control, especially in deep spiral (mostly helping prevent the wing locking into a deep spiral).

Both wings have the same nitinol rods in the sail, and feature AirDsign's new "nose guard patches" on the leading edge top surface, which is their solution to help resolve the key known issue with nitinol rods, which tend to wear through the wing, especially in this curved area.

The Rise 5 coms in 6 sizes (XXS, XS, S, M, L, XL) covering all-up weights from 50-135 kg. The Soar 2 comes in 5 sizes (XXS, XS, S, M, L) covering all-up weights from 50-120 kg. The weight ranges are all identical for the same sizes of each model e.g. Rise 5 and Soar 2 size S are 72-92 kg. Likewise, where it's 'best' to fly in the weight range (which varies by individual) is identical for the same sizes of each model.

Both wings come with AirDesgin AirPack 50/50 concertina packing bag, repair materials, stickers and goodies.

Ground Handling and Launches

On the ground, we did plenty of handling practice and launches in various conditions. For a high-B wing, the Rise 5 feels very well sorted but does require firm, confident input during launch. Its slightly higher aspect ratio means if inputs are vague or asymmetric, one wingtip might come up faster than the other. So a good, firm pull is needed to get it to rise cleanly and evenly.

We’d place both wings at the higher end of the high-B category. They suit pilots transitioning from mid-B wings, but if you’re moving up from a low-B or A-wing to your first high-B, these might not be the easiest step.

Brake Handling and Responsiveness

The brake travel on both wings is relatively short for a high-B, with brake pressure becoming firm very quickly after about 10-15 cm of travel. This gives the Rise 5 a direct and responsive feel, although the pressure is firmer than most other high B wings.

We usually fly the Rise 5 with a half-wrap on the brakes, but you can fly it just holding the toggles for moderate turns. After a few hours of thermaling in punchy UK thermals, the firm brake pressure becomes noticeable, especially with the Rise 5.

The Soar 2, being lighter, offers slightly lighter brake pressure and less inertia in turns, making it feel more responsive overall.

Agility and Turning Characteristics

Both wings have moderate agility — they’re not overly quick or snappy, but they turn efficiently and flat. With good weight shift input, you can tighten turns nicely.

Compared to something like the Niviuk Ikuma 3, which is more agile and quick, the Rise 5 and Soar 2 feel more performance-oriented with flatter, slower turns.

Climb Rate and Performance

Both wings climb very well, performing strongly in light thermals and holding their own in stronger lift.

Pilots will need to dial into the handling a bit, especially if moving up from lower aspect ratio wings. The Rise 5 and Soar 2 are designed for pilots comfortable with a more active flying style, especially in turbulent conditions, where you need to stay engaged to avoid tip tucks.

Overall, the climb rate is excellent for a high-B wing, and performance remains strong throughout.

Glide and Speed Bar

Glide performance is very good, competitive within the high-B class. The wings maintain speed well and handle wind and turbulence confidently.

The speed bar is light and easy to use, providing a good increase in speed without feeling heavy. One minor note: at full speed bar, the leading edge shows some slight dimpling and flutter, but this doesn’t significantly affect overall performance.

Descent Techniques

For descent, the Rise 5 offers classic big ears using the split A lines. They’re easy to deploy and stable, with a good increase in sink rate. To exit big ears, a gentle pumping motion works best as just releasing them can sometimes keep them engaged.

Spiral dives are easy to initiate and control with no tendencies to lock in or behave unpredictably. The glider feels very stable and responsive in spirals.

The stall point is very clear, with brake pressure increasing noticeably before the stall. The firm brake feedback makes it easy to detect when you’re near stall.

One thing to note: the wing tends to stall from the tips first rather than symmetrically across the whole wing, so it requires a bit of sensitivity during landing flare, especially in gusty conditions.

Build Quality and Design Details

The risers feature 12mm webbing and a well-designed speed system with a 20mm pulley on top and a smaller one at the bottom. The system feels light and efficient.

There’s an interesting setup with a ceramic ring and a small ball on the rear risers that gives smooth BC (brake control) travel. While it works well, it’s not quite the same feeling as a two-liner but close.

One small issue we noticed was with a line occasionally catching on a part of the riser. We plan to add an O-ring to prevent this.

The brake handles are nicely padded and equipped with poppers for easy handling.

Final Thoughts

Both the AirDesign Rise 5 and Soar 2 are excellent, competitive high-B wings, offering great climb, solid performance, and reliable handling. They are best suited for pilots moving up from mid-B wings who are comfortable flying actively and handling a slightly firmer brake feel.

They perform well for soaring, thermaling, and cross-country flying in both flatlands and mountainous terrain. If you’re looking for a high-B wing that combines performance with a solid feel, these are definitely worth considering.

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