Skydiving vs Paragliding | What’s the Difference?

So, you’ve decided you want to try out a different sport, and you’re caught up between skydiving and paragliding and are unsure of the difference. If this is you, don’t worry! It happens to the best of us. But what exactly are the differences between the two?

Skydiving is when you jump out of an airplane with a parachute strapped to your back, but the parachute is packed away and must be opened before 4500 feet above ground level (AGL). Paragliding is when you launch from your feet using an opened paraglider parachute, typically from a mountaintop. When skydiving you freefall, paragliding you don’t.

Below, we will walk you through the differences between paragliding and skydiving so you can better understand what each entail. We will take you through the cost, gear, and a few other things to think about.

What’s the Difference Between Skydiving and Paragliding?

Skydiving is a pure pleasure for those who like to experience the freedom and adrenaline rush of freefalling. You can hurtle through the sky, land safely on the ground, and connect with other jumpers.

On the other hand, paragliding is more relaxing and more independent. You don’t need a plane or engine to start your flight, and it’s about taking a flight with nature.

What is Skydiving?

Typically, a skydive consists of a plane ride, a freefall, a landing, and a canopy flight. Participants jump from a plane; however, helicopters and hot air balloons are sometimes used. Although, for typical tandem dives, it’s from an airplane.

You can experience freefall at up to 120 mph as you jump from an altitude almost two miles above the Earth. During this time, jumpers will deploy their parachutes and enjoy flying their canopy to the ground. Usually, they aim for a landing zone.

Learn more about skydiving in our articles here:

What is Paragliding?

Paragliding involves parachuting through the air, which is done through a parachute. It’s up to you whether or not you want to paraglide on your own or with other people.

Instead of a plane, you launch from your feet using a paragliding parachute from which you’ll then sit in a harness as you glide through the skies.

With paragliding, you get to relax into the sport a bit more than you would skydiving. However, you should remember that with paragliding you still need to pay attention with what you are doing as one mistake can be fatal.

Learn more about paragliding in our articles here:

Are Skydiving Parachutes and Paragliding Parachutes Different?

Paraglider canopies are made of curved materials and are shaped like inverted parabolas. This is a much larger version of a standard skydiving canopy, which means it can stay in the air longer and be more maneuverable. It also allows you to ride the wind back and forth.

Skydiving parachutes are only meant to slow you down so that you can land on the ground safely after your freefall.

What About Other Gear and Equipment?

Both of these sports share similar gear, but they’re very different. Below, we will talk about the harnesses and the backup parachute.

Harness

Skydiving harnesses aren’t made for comfort; they’re designed to handle the force your body will exert when your canopy hits the ground at full speed. At worst, they’ll make you feel like you’re begging to go back to the ground faster.

Harnesses for paragliders are made for comfort, as their forces are significantly smaller than when riding a plane. This allows paragliders to maintain a relatively low speed and allow their users to relax more. While both these activities are very safe, reserve parachutes are needed.

Reserve Chutes

In skydiving, a reserve is the same parachute as your main one. Except it’s been packed diligently by a certified expert and not hurriedly by you as you rush to the next plane! Otherwise, your reserve parachute is the same as your main one (but often in white).

Paragliding reserves are round canopies, almost straight out of the World War 2 movies where thousands of soldiers fly in using them. They offer little in the way of control and are there to get you back to the ground alive.

Is Skydiving or Paragliding Safer?

Although skydiving has a higher death rate than other sports, it is still relatively low compared to other activities. This is because the sport has been around for a long time and has the latest equipment.

It is still important to thoroughly understand the risks involved in parachuting and skydiving before taking to the air. Doing so will allow you to enjoy the experience without taking unnecessary risks.

Skydiving Safety Statistics

Due to the nature of the sport and the higher fatality rate in comparison to other extreme sports, many people think skydiving is dangerous. However, this is not the case, as the risk of death is still incredibly low compared to paragliding.

The data collected by the American parachuting association shows that the number of people who died in the sport of skydiving decreased significantly from 1999 to 2018. The lowest recorded death rate since 2000 was in 2018.

Tandem jumps are among the safest forms of parachuting. These are typically the first experiences for people who are new to the sport. You are strapped to a highly experienced instructor who will guide you through your fall.

Paragliding Safety Statistics

In Europe, paragliding is a popular sport. According to studies conducted in Germany, out of the 11,000 pilots that practiced this activity, only three people die each year. This is a significant decrease from the US, where car accidents are typically much more common.

Almost all of the accidents that occur in paragliding are attributed to human error. In most cases, the malfunction of the equipment is rare. However, there are also instances where people get carried away by sport and assume that they are flying safely. This is why it is important that pilots practice caution at all times.

Which is better, paragliding or skydiving?

The better sport depends on what you are trying to achieve. Paragliding is the way to go if you are looking for something a bit calmer where you can enjoy the scenery from the sky.

However, if you’re hoping for an immense adrenaline rush, skydiving would be your better option. Instead of gliding through the sky, you fall until the parachute slows you down.

Are the Restrictions and Requirements Different?

One thing these sports have in common is restrictions. However, the limits are vastly different. Below are a few examples of this:

Age Restrictions

In the US, people at least 18 years of age are required to participate in aerial sports such as skydiving. This includes minors who have parental permission and are trained by an adult instructor.

The USPA and other affiliated drop zones strictly enforce the FAA’s minimum age limit for parachutists. These establishments can get in trouble if they allow minors to participate in certain activities.

Paragliding, on the other hand, welcomes people of all ages, including some who are as young as three years old. There is no age limit for anyone when it comes to this sport.

Height Restrictions

For individuals interested in skydiving, you should be at least 5 feet tall for solo jumps and 6 feet tall for tandem jumps. Being too tall or short for these jumps can challenge experienced parachutists.

As a self-regulated sport, paragliding doesn’t have a height restriction. There’s nothing that makes paragliding unsafe when it comes to how tall someone is.

Weight Restrictions

Although there is a weight limit for skydiving, there really isn’t one for paragliding. The maximum weight that a person can carry in tandem skydiving is 230 pounds.

However, people of all weights are able to paraglide as long as the load for the parachute isn’t too much on the given day’s wind. Some individuals as heavy as 550 pounds have been able to paraglide successfully.

Which is More of a Thrill?

Skydiving is more of an overall thrill, especially if you want your adrenaline dose. However, if your definition of ‘thrill’ is gliding through the air and being able to take in the view, then paragliding would be the answer.

What’s the More Popular Action Sport?

The more popular sport is paragliding, which is mainly due to the sport’s restrictions and invasiveness. For example, paragliding doesn’t cause as much of an adrenaline reaction, free falling out of the sky. More people feel it’s safer as you’re not 15,000 feet in the air.

Plus, the weight restriction isn’t as much of an issue as it is with skydiving, and the gear and setup are vastly different.

Is Skydiving or Paragliding Easier?

Paragliding requires one to gain a deeper understanding of the world around them by learning about weather conditions. While it is a rewarding activity, one must put in the time and effort to master it. Skydiving is similar to paragliding, with the main difference being that you can jump if the sky is blue.

Does Skydiving or Paragliding Cost More?

For skydiving, the price can vary depending on the country where the flight is conducted. In California, for instance, the average price for a 10K foot tandem jump is around $180, while the 15K foot jump is around $220. For a tandem paraglide, the price will be about the same.

However, if you want to get into skydiving and want to become a licensed instructor, be prepared to pay between $3,500 and $6,000 for the courses, licenses, jumps, and gear.

Paragliding will cost around $5,000 to $8,000 for the gear, with the paraglider costing approximately $3,500 to $5,000. The rest is for the licenses and training courses you will need to become licensed.

Which is a Longer, A Skydive or a Paragliding Ride?

A full day of paragliding will last around two hours while skydiving can last 5 to 8 depending on the altitude at which you decide to jump. Both sports require you to take a brief safety course for any riders who don’t regularly participate in the sport.

Final Thoughts

Although similar, paragliding and skydiving are very different in how the sport is executed, and they also differ in their restrictions for whoever wants to enjoy them.

If you’re looking for some nonstop adrenaline, choose skydiving! Paragliding is excellent for those who want a more relaxed adventure. However, I recommend doing both, as you should always try everything at least once!

You may want to read some of our related action sport comparison guides:

Heather Wright

When Heather is not participating in extreme sports you can find her working the events across the country, or writing about these amazing adrenaline rushes. She loves to go skydiving, snowboarding, parasailing, hang gliding, dirt boarding, off-roading and hiking.