The NOVA Concertina Bag Light is a thoughtfully engineered, lightweight paraglider concertina bag specially designed for cell-by-cell packing and compact storage of wings and risers. Its purpose is to protect the paraglider from external damage while allowing air and moisture to escape through a large mesh ventilation panel, thereby helping to preserve the integrity of the fabric and the internal rods during storage and transport.
Constructed with lightweight yet durable materials, the bag weighs from 328 g (size S without compression straps) up to 482 g (size L including compression straps), making it a preferred choice for XC and hike-and-fly pilots who prioritize both protection and weight savings. The mesh ventilation panel runs along the bag’s length, ensuring effective airflow and moisture release—an advantage over traditional closed stuff sacks that trap dampness and lead to premature wear.
Construction and Usability Features
The internal design follows current best practices for modern wings featuring plastic rods. The profile nose of the wing can be stabilized using an internal mesh flap, maintaining the leading edge’s shape after careful folding. Two internal buckles secure the wing body, reducing stress and movement that could damage the rods. A dedicated sewn-in riser pocket helps keep risers and lines organized, minimizing tangles when unpacking.
Handling and closure are designed with pilot convenience in mind. The bag features a smooth, anti-snag zipper to reduce the chance of catching lines or fabric and cord stoppers at both ends for easy closure with gloves. Adjustable compression straps allow the packed bag to be stabilized and compressed tightly. Interestingly, these straps are long enough to wrap around the harness, enabling an integrated, compact packing solution without needing a separate inner bag.
Packing Guidance and Sizes
Printed packing instructions directly on the bag guide pilots through a gentle, cell-by-cell rosette folding method that aligns rods and preserves wing shape. Although the manufacturer recommends using a separate “Pack Roll” insert to optimize rod curvature protection, this accessory is sold separately. NOVA suggests using the harness to maintain rod protection during transport, avoiding the need for purchasing additional items.
The Concertina Bag Light is available in three sizes tailored to fit a range of wing sizes and models: Size S (Orange), Size M (Lime), and Size L (Light Blue), each offering distinct dimensions and weights from 328 g to 482 g depending on size and inclusion of compression straps. NOVA provides a sizing matrix to match various wing models and sizes with the appropriate bag size, especially helpful for pilots who fly NOVA gliders.
Strengths and Target Users
This bag is especially suited for pilots who value maintaining wing structure and fabric life, want a compact, lightweight packing solution, and fly frequently in environments where moisture management is critical. Its strong ventilation reduces moisture build-up, and internal fixation features protect delicate rods. The integrated riser pocket and functional details such as anti-snag zippers and long compression straps enhance packing ease and organization.
From user feedback patterns of similar concertina bags by NOVA and competitors, the Concertina Bag Light is highly regarded for its low weight and ventilation efficiency. Pilots upgrading to modern rod-reinforced wings appreciate the wing-friendly cell-by-cell packing method. Usability features like internal buckles and riser pockets consistently receive positive remarks for improving packing and reducing wing wear.
Possible Limitations
Potential compromises include the bag’s lighter fabric construction, which prioritizes weight over abrasion resistance, making it less ideal for pilots who frequently handle gear roughly or need a bombproof pack for harsh environments. Additionally, the separate purchase of the Pack Roll accessory for optimal rod protection may be seen as an added cost. The sizing system, optimized mainly for NOVA wings, requires careful dimension checking by non-NOVA pilots to ensure a proper fit.
Finally, as a concertina bag rather than a heavily padded transport case, it offers limited impact protection for airline or bus travel, so pilots requiring heavy-duty protection should consider additional solutions.
Conclusion
Overall, the NOVA Concertina Bag Light is a modern, efficient solution for pilots who want to preserve their wing’s structure while benefiting from a lightweight, ventilated, and compact packing system. Its design strongly supports current paraglider technology with rods and sensitive profiles. Despite some trade-offs in fabric durability and the separate Pack Roll purchase, its strengths in usability, ventilation, and lightweight construction make it well-suited for XC and hike-and-fly pilots who pack carefully.
Currently, there are very few publicly available customer reviews specific to this bag, but its inclusion as standard equipment with several NOVA wing models like the Codex and Mentor 7 Light suggests general acceptance and satisfaction from the pilot community. Common pilot feedback from similar products indicates high valuation of weight savings, wing protection features, and packing ease, balanced against the expectation that the bag is not intended for heavy abuse or extreme ruggedness.
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