What to Wear for a Paragliding Flight?

What should I wear to go paragliding? What outfit and clothes should I choose?

What you wear for your paragliding flight will depend on the season, of course, but also on the day's temperature. As a general rule, when doing a first paragliding flight in Annecy, you should gear up as if for a short mountain hike. Choose suitable clothing: pants (or capri pants in summer), a Gore-Tex style windbreaker for the top, and trainers (or hiking boots). And don't forget your sunglasses, you'll get good protection against the wind and your flight will be all the more enjoyable.

Is it cold in paragliding?

It's always noticeably cooler in the air when paragliding than on the ground. This is because the paraglider is constantly moving through the air mass at around 35 km/h. This creates a constant relative headwind. What's more, if weather conditions allow, the pilot will gain as much altitude as possible, and a paraglider can easily climb to 2,500 m! And at that height, the temperature is much lower! In mid season and winter, you can also add a light fleece under your jacket for extra comfort and to avoid landing freezing cold.

Which shoes should you choose?

In Annecy, we're lucky enough to do paragliding flights with turfed launches. The risk of slipping is therefore much lower than on a natural grass launch, but it's still best to opt for trainers or hiking shoes with thick, grippy soles. That way there's no risk of slipping, and you'll be able to run easily to build up speed at takeoff.

A few extra clothing tips:

If you opt for a longer flight (Prestige, Cross, or Cross++), you can bring a pair of windproof gloves as well as a neck warmer. Because when you fly for a long time at altitude, you quickly become prone to cold, numb fingers and a chilly draft on the neck.In summer, you can also bring sun cream, since with the relative wind you never really feel the sun on your face, and yet, when you gain altitude, it shines really strongly.

Can I bring a camera in the air?

Every instructor is equipped with a wide angle camera, GoPro style, and will take several photos and videos of you above Lake Annecy (subject to favorable aerological conditions). We'll transfer them to your phone directly after the flight. To let you fully enjoy your first paragliding flight, this service is included in all our flight packages. That said, it's entirely possible to bring your own camera to take pictures in flight, as long as you can attach it. It'll be your sole responsibility.