Which Paraglider Stuff Bag?When you finish reading this page, you might realize that rather than a paraglider stuff bag, you could actually do with something more. These days there seems to be a whole range of paraglider bags ranging from 'dump the wing and pull the string' right through to well-crafted mountaineering backpacks that have compartments for everything. Try this You might also see paraglider stuff bags referred to as stuff sacks. And backpacks are the same thing as rucksacks. 
Let's have a quick look at both ends of the range. Stuff bags are designed to be quick and easy, and are the most useful when flights are short. The paraglider stuff bag is laid out flat on the ground. The bunched up canopy and any other gear is placed in the center. A draw-string, sometimes called a cinch or cinch-cord, then gathers up the whole package.
Then you head back to the launch area with everything in the one bag. This sort of scenario is common where paragliding schools are operating at a training hill. But it might suit you also, during your early flying days. Some stuff bags are UV-proof, and so are useful for extending the life of the school's equipment when the wing is not actually in the air. The simplest ones just have the draw-string, but for a few more $s you can have padded shoulder straps for easier carrying. Stuff bags are also useful for keeping rain off your paraglider.
Many special compartments are built in to help you stow a variety of paragliding and mountaineering gear. For example, tent, gloves, radio the list goes on... Of course, the backpack itself folds up tightly so it can be stowed away for the glide back down from the mountain or glacier! I have even seen an internal glider bag advertised, for under $30. Basically, a paraglider stuff bag just for the canopy, to protect it from other contents of the backpack. A recent trend is the increasing size of a typical paraglider stuff sack or backpack. The biggest ones can now hold 200 liters (7 cubic feet)!
Stuff Bag and Backpack SurveyThis page is meant to be an overview, prices are in U.S. dollars and will not be kept up to date frequently. They are just a guide, and of course new gear is often offered at a discount at various times. My hope is that you can scan the survey here and come away with a very good idea of your ideal paraglider stuff bag or backpack and roughly what it will cost you.Of course, any paraglider stuff sack seen here might pop up on eBay for significantly less than the advertised price! All marketing hype has been removed, leaving just the essential info you are after! That is, name, price and feature list. To find, for example, where you might actually buy the Black Hawk Stuff Sack on the Web, just type "Black Hawk Stuff Sack" into Google, including those double-quotes. The stuff bags and backpacks below are listed in price order. But not necessarily in order of value! You be the judge. MoJo's PG UV Stuff Bag $65
Black Hawk Stuff Sack $85
Circular Cinch Bag $85
UP Deluxe Paragliding Bag $95
Thermal Tracker Stuff Sack $100
Critter Stuff Bag "Fly Trap" $115
Ozone Backpack $125
PG Mountain Sack Light $120
SOL Deluxe Paraglider Backpack $125
SupAir Grand Tourism $150
Charly Easy Walk 119,00€ ($200+)
Last updated: 28 Jul 2010 Return to Paragliding Gear from Paraglider Stuff Bag
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Now for the top end of the range. Here, particularly during mountaineering, quite a bit more than just the paragliding equipment might be transported. These backpacks are designed for long hours of walking under a heavy load. Comfort and ergonomics are important factors in the design.
