Square reserves

The square rescue parachute is the ultimate in safety. More technical in its design, this "new generation" parachute has been developed to considerably reduce the pendulum effect and improve the sink rate. Efficient, it opens in less than 3 seconds! Bigger than the round parachute, the square rescue offers additional safety. On the other hand, it also comes at a higher price, and repacking it will require a bit of concentration (and lots of tutorials).

For maximum safety without adding too much weight to your paragliding equipment, particularly for trekking or bivouac flights, square rescue parachutes are available in light and ultra-light versions. The smallest parachutes, such as the tapa X-Alps from Skywalk weighing up to 780 gr 🙂

How do you choose?

As you can see, the main argument for the square parachute is not its weight, but the safety it provides. Virtually all conventional harnesses with integrated para pockets can accommodate it under the seat, whether they are school, sport or cocoon paragliding harnesses. It's big, but it's not too big either 🙂 Some para belly pockets, such as the supair OLYS  have specific sizes that will allow them to be fitted to the chest strap of light touring harnesses with leg straps. And, of course, the light square rescue can be slipped into any (harness) pocket.

Like your paraglider, a rescue parachute has a weight range. To optimise its opening, it is recommended to be 15% below its max ptv. CAD that if the PTV max is 100, the ideal is to be at 85kg. Most manufacturers do not take the weight of the glider into account when calculating the total weight of a rescue. We'll have to go back to the scales 🙂

Although not compulsory, it is strongly recommended to ensure your safety.

Don't hesitate to contact us to find yours, and we'll help you install it in your harness when you buy from us.

Approval :
All paragliding rescue parachutes are subject to European EN 12491 certification, and must pass a number of tests:

- The opening time must be less than 5s,
- The shock on opening must not exceed 15g,
- Pendulum stability (observation from the ground of the stabilisation of pendulum movements), a parachute that is too unstable will be readjusted (and in any case, instability increases the sink rate...).
- Fall rate: after a minimum fall of 100m, the measurement is taken over the last 30 metres before "ditching" → Max 5.5m/s.

To ensure that it opens effectively, manufacturers recommend that it be re-bound every year. Tutorials are available to help you, but if you're not sure, don't hesitate to call in a professional or a sail inspection centre.