Buying a used paraglider: the Rid'Air checklist

Start with the age and airtime

A wing ages through its cloth and lines, not only through hours flown. Ask for the year, the airtime and how many times the reserve has been repacked. A recent, lightly flown wing keeps its performance and its safety margin. A heavily flown or badly stored glider, however nice in photos, may have lost some of its reliability.

Porosity and the state of the cloth

The thing that gives away a tired wing is porosity: cloth that lets air through no longer inflates the same way and flies less well. A check measures porosity, cloth strength and the state of the lines. That is the real deciding factor on a used wing, far more than how it looks.

Have it checked before you fly

Our Oderen workshop checks wings and repacks reserves all year round. On a used wing, a full check tells you exactly where the glider stands: porosity, lines, seams, certification still consistent. Thirty minutes that spare you a nasty surprise in the air.

Check the all-up weight range

Like a new wing, a used one is chosen by all-up weight, the total flying weight. Check that the wing size matches your range, you fully kitted out. If you are starting, keep a forgiving class: the beginner buying guide covers EN-A, EN-B certification and how to work out your all-up weight.

Why go through the Rid'Air marketplace

Buying used between private sellers often means uncertainty over payment and real condition. On our used marketplace, sellers are verified, payment is secure and the listing describes condition, airtime and history. You can ask the seller your questions before buying, and have the wing checked afterwards. If you would rather buy new, all our paragliders are right next door.