A hard-won, no-nonsense guide to buying your first wing and harness — from someone who got it wrong the first time.
Let's start with the obvious: you shouldn't choose your first gear alone, especially as a newbie. Speedfly is a dangerous sport that can lead to serious injury or death, so get in touch with an authorized training school or an expert mentor first. That's the whole point of what we do — helping you avoid the mistakes we made, understand the sport and its risks, and actually enjoy the ride.
Back in early 2008, coming straight off skydiving, I got in touch with a well-known manufacturer and ordered what I thought was the right call. I couldn't have been more wrong. I went all-in on a convertible harness for both speedflying and speedriding, but for the wing, I bought an Ozone Bullet GT 10m — a wing whose name alone tells you most of what you need to know.
Not a bad wing at all — I still fly it most of the time. But jumping straight from a large skydiving canopy to a 10m speedfly wing was never the smart move. Small, nervous in strong wind, and nearly impossible to fly safely where I was living at the time. I got lucky — no real injuries, just plenty of scratches, by the time I learned to properly land it.
A 16m speedfly wing today flies almost as fast as a 13m wing once you know how to push it, so be careful when downsizing. Master a bigger, safer wing first — the smaller the wing, the faster, the riskier, and the less margin for mistakes. And you will make them, especially once overconfidence sets in.
When a smaller wing starts tempting you, stick with your current size for six more months first. Once you and your mentor agree you're ready, one size smaller is more than enough — don't push further.
Once you've settled on a size, find a local dealer — your academy or mentor is key here. They know people, and usually get a decent discount on new and second-hand wings. Marketplace groups are also worth checking — the community is small, which is an advantage for buyers patient enough to wait.
Want brand new? Don't leave it last minute — most wings take 3–4 months to ship unless already in stock.
As a newbie, you don't need to spend €500–750 on a pro harness. Something in the €150–250 range will do fine. That price gap isn't the manufacturer being greedy — a pro harness makes a real difference, but only once you know how to get the best out of it.
Practice. Practice. Practice. That's the real key. Keep in touch with us for anything you need, and good luck with your new setup.