The ICARO Paragliders Backpack is a dedicated rucksack designed specifically to carry the full range of ICARO flying equipment—including the wing, harness, reserve parachute, and accessories—in one compact and transport-friendly package. Prioritizing long-term carrying comfort and robustness, this backpack targets pilots who frequently hike or travel to launch sites with their gear.
Design and Carrying Comfort
The backpack employs a newly developed carrying system comprising padded shoulder straps, hip fins, and a continuously adjustable chest strap. This combination stabilizes the load effectively, minimizing sliding and tilting during movement. By distributing the weight across shoulders and hips, it offers enhanced comfort for carrying heavy and bulky paragliding equipment over longer distances. The balanced construction allows pilots to carry their gear stably and reduces fatigue during treks to takeoff zones.
Practical Features and Versatility
A standout feature is the multilayer reinforced base that enables the backpack to stand upright on the ground by itself. This ergonomic detail simplifies packing, unpacking, and managing gear in often rough or dusty launch-site environments. The side compression straps reduce the backpack’s volume when not fully packed, secure the contents against shifting during transport, and adapt the bag to both minimal and bulkier packing needs. Additionally, a spacious upper pocket provides additional storage for essentials such as a helmet, gloves, flight instruments, or personal items.
Sizes and Weight Considerations
ICARO offers this backpack in three sizes to accommodate various pilot gear volumes and preferences:
- Small (S): approximately 90–100 liters, weighing about 900 grams
- Medium (M): around 100 liters, approximately 1,000 grams
- Large (L): roughly 115–130 liters, weighing about 1,100 grams
These sizes cover most modern paraglider setups, from lightweight to standard kits. The weight of the backpack is moderate, favoring durability and comfort over extreme ultralight designs, making it suitable for everyday cross-country or recreational pilots rather than hike-and-fly specialists who prioritize minimal weight.
Market Positioning and Limitations
Positioned as a robust, all-around carry solution, the ICARO Backpack is designed to serve a broad range of pilots without focusing on niche ultralight or competitive scenarios. Its strengths lie in comfort, load stability, easy ground handling due to its self-standing base, and flexibility offered by multiple size options. The trade-off is that it is not the lightest on the market and is primarily optimized around the dimensions of ICARO gear, although it should accommodate most standard paraglider equipment.
Customer Reviews and User Feedback
Currently, there is a notable absence of published customer reviews or user feedback for the ICARO Paragliders Backpack. Neither the manufacturer’s website nor major European dealers such as Gleitschirm Direkt and Para-motoparts display user ratings or comments, limiting analysis to product specifications and descriptions. This absence of real-world user insights means that conclusions about customer satisfaction, durability, or comfort are based purely on design intent and manufacturer information rather than verified experiences.
Related Products in the ICARO Range
ICARO also offers related backpack models, including an XC Backpack optimized for hike & fly and long tours with a lighter weight and ergonomic design, and a Rucksack Light version stripped of comfort features to reduce weight drastically. These models similarly lack published customer evaluations, but their existence helps clarify ICARO’s approach to backpacks tailored for different pilot needs.
Summary
In summary, the ICARO Paragliders Backpack emphasizes carrying comfort, robustness, and practical design features for pilots who prioritize stable, comfortable transport over ultralight weight. Available in multiple sizes and crafted with durable materials, it fits the needs of everyday cross-country and recreational pilots well. However, the current lack of customer reviews makes it difficult to assess real-world performance and durability comprehensively.
For pilots interested in more detailed technical information or purchasing options, we encourage visiting the manufacturer's website. You can also order equipment conveniently through Paragliding4.me, your trusted paragliding gear supplier.