Dust of the universe: What is the best glider?

Monday, October 5, 2026

What is the best glider?

Hello everyone,
Over the years, I have received this illustrious question many times (What is the best glider?)
After 34 years of flying and over 400 different gliders tested, I think I have the answer Smile

As you all know, paragliding is a pure pleasure for me, and I don't take one cent from this passion to keep it that way. I just try to sell my tested gliders as economically as possible, just to stay in the game.
So, I created a new, completely free app based on my two earlier EN-B and EN-C comparison apps.
It's called What's the best glider? )
This app is like a mirror to the pilot if he chooses to fill it only with his reflection. It's completely private, with no data sharing whatsoever.
I also made a video explaining the app's goal.
Launching the App on the 6th of October at 7 pm Beirut time EEST / UTS+3

No comments:

🙌🏻 For inspiration:

I search for hope in the darkness of days and focus on the brightest. I do not judge the universe.

Dalai Lama

"It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent ones. It is the one that is most adaptable to change"

Charles Darwin

Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.

Albert Einstein

Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex...It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction.

Albert Einstein

One often meets his destiny on the road he takes to avoid it.

Siddhartha

"No one is more hated than the one who speaks the truth"

Plato

Tests, sizes, and weights….☘️

Tests, sizes, and weights… Sometimes, in a desperate move, and for strategic marketing, some brand-related pilots will show you a different picture of a certain glider Y when writing about what they experience. For example: Glider Y has already been flown and tested, with normal ratings. This pilot says that he has flown glider Y, in its XL size, and mentions that he could out-climb in weak thermals, and out-glide any other glider around, and sometimes regardless of certification, please consider carefully the other side of the story, that the other mentioned gliders could highly be S and XS gliders. My answer would be: Bring that glider and I’ll fly my 44 sqm tandem solo, and we will see the outcome…. :-) Bigger gliders especially from the same category, do fly better. They can catch every small bit of lift much more efficiently than the smaller ones. Even on long glides, they can float and sniff any lift throughout that glide and sometimes they arrive much higher than anticipated. Happy flights, Ziad

🤗 BEST GLIDER

Comparisons are only to get an idea what the glider will be and feel like.
Some like it soft on the brakes ,others find it too jumpy...
But the best glider is the one that each individual pilot will have the most fun with.
For some it could be the glider that out-climb or out-glide your club mates....But for most ,it is the one that will give you a smile and a satisfying happy feeling immediately after you land.
That's the glider you must choose.
So there is no best glider rather than best feeling for a glider.
Fly SAFE,
Ziad.

🌞 400 !!💥 / flown gliders and going up ;-)

⭐️ UP Jazz Stellar Boogie Vision Kantega 1 Kantega XC2 Kibo SM Kibo-X Summit 2 Summit 3 Summit XC Summit XC2 Summit XC3 Summit XC4 Summit X- SM Kangri 1 Kangri-X Trango 2 Trango 3 Trango XC 2 Trango XC 2 light Trango XC 3 SM Trango Race SM Trango X-race - SM Meru 1 Meru 2 Targa 3 Bi-Pick up ----------   ⭐️ AIR DESIGN Volt 1 SM Volt 2 SM Volt 3 SM Volt 4 SM Volt 5 SM Rise 1 M Rise 2 M Rise 3 S Rise 4 S Rise 5 S PURE M Hero 2 SM Hero X-Ped S ----------   ⭐️ PRO DESIGN Challenger Classic Relax ----------   ⭐️ EDEL Atlas Quantum ZX Orion Sector TX Bi-space ----------   ⭐️ U-Turn Infinity 4 S Passion SM Blacklight S Lightning S Blacklight S/M Blacklight 2 S Cross rock S Vision AIREA Aspect  ---------- ⭐️ FLIGHT DESIGN B4 S B4 M A6 M S2VT Bi-twin2  ---------- ⭐️ NOVA Artax X-ray X-act Axon Argon Aeron Radon Tattoo Prion 2 Ion Ion 2(light) Ion 3 XS Ion 3 S Ion 4 S Ion 5 XS Ion 6 XS Ion 3 M Ra Mamboo Oryx Tycoon Triton 2S Pheron Mentor 2 Mentor 3 Mentor 4 S Mentor 5 S Mentor 5 XS Mentor 5 Light XS Mentor 6 XS Mentor 6 S Mentor 6 Light XS Mentor 7 Light XS Mentor 7 -S Factor 2 Sector S Codex -S Vortex XS Bi-X large Bi For 2 Bion 1 M Bion 1 L Bion 2 L  ---------- ⭐️ OZONE Electron Proton Proton GT Octane Vulcan Vibe Buzz Z4 Buzz Z5 Buzz Z6 Geo 3 Geo 4 Rush 1 Rush 2 Rush 3 Rush 4 Rush 5 MS Rush 5 S Rush 6 MS Swift 4 MS Swift 4 S Swift 5 S Swift 6 S Swift 6 MS Delta 1 M Alpina 1 M Alpina 2 MS Alpina 2 ML Alpina 3 MS Alpina 3 S Alpina 4 S Alpina 4 MS Alpina 4 ML Alpina 5 S Alpina 5 MS Alpina GT S Delta 2 ML Delta 2 SM Delta 3 MS Delta 3 ML Delta 4 MS Delta 4 ML Delta 5 MS Delta 5 ML Mantra R10.3 S Mantra 4 SM Mantra 4 ML Mantra LM5 Mantra LM6 Mantra 6 SM Mantra 7 S Mantra 7 MS Photon SM Photon ML Zeolite 1 GT SM Zeolite 2 GT SM Zeno MS Zeno S Zeno 2 MS  ---------- ⭐️ NIVIUK Ikuma 1 Ikuma 2 Ikuma 3 Artik 3 Race Artic 3 Artic 2 Artik 4 Artik 5 24 Artik 6 23 Artik 7 P 22 Artik 7 P 23 Artik R-1 23 Artik R-2 23 Hook 2 Hook 3 Hiko -P Peak 1 Peak 2 Peak 3 Peak 4 21 Peak 4 23 Peak 5 22 Peak 6 22 Klimber 3 P 22 Icepeak 6 23 Roller 2 16  ---------- ⭐️ MACPARA Eden 1 Elan 2 24 Elan 2 26 Elan 3 24 Eden 5 Eden 6 26 Eden 7 24 Eden 8 23 Bi-pasha 1 Marvel M Magus XC 2 Magus 2020 Elan 26 Elan light 24 Verve 23 Icon  ---------- ⭐️ SKY Atis 4 Apollo M Brontes Argos ML Aeon Exos 2  ---------- ⭐️ BDG Tala M Base M Base 2 M Base 2 Light S Base 3 M Cure M Cure 2 M Cure 2 S Cure 3 M Lynx M Lynx 2 S Lynx 2 M Punk M Riot S Epic M Epic 2 S  ---------- ⭐️ SKY-COUNTRY Mystic 2 EVO-X 24  ---------- ⭐️ SWING Astral 2 Mistral 2 Mistral 7 Nexus M Nyos Nyos RS Nyos 2 RS Arcus RS Arcus 2 RS Agera RS Helios RS Shpera RS S  ---------- ⭐️ 777 Pawn Knight 1 Knight 2 Queen M Queen 2 MS Queen 3 MS Q-Light 3 MS Rook 2 MS Rook 3 MS Rook 4 MS R-Light 3 S King S King M King 2 S Q-Light S  ----------   ⭐️ FREE-X Spear Spark Oxygen  ---------- ⭐️ WINDTECH Honey Quarx Pulsar Serak Bali  ---------- ⭐️ AIRCROSS U-cross U-Sport  ---------- ⭐️ FIREBIRD Matrix  ---------- ⭐️ GRADIENT Bliss Saphir Aspen 1 Aspen 2 Aspen 3 Aspen 4 Aspen 5 Aspen 6 Bi-Golden 1 Golden 3 Nevada 1 26 Nevada 2 S Avax XC 5 24 Avax XC 5 26  ---------- ⭐️ SKYWALK Poison 3 95 Poison 4 S X-alps 3 S X-Alps 6 95+ Cayenne 4 S Cayenne 5 XS Cayenne 6 XS Mint Sage 85 Sage 95 Chili 3 S Chili 4 XS Chili 5 XS Cumeo XS Cumeo 2 Tequila 4 S Tequila 5 S Arruba 3 S  ---------- ⭐️ ADVANCE Epsilon 6 Epsilon 7 Iota 26 Iota 2 26 Iota ULS Sigma 4 Sigma 5 Sigma 7 Sigma 8 Sigma 9 Sigma 10 Sigma 11 22 Sigma 11 24 Sigma 12 DLS 22 Sigma 12 DLS 24 Omega 4 Omega 5 Omega 8 Omega X-Alps 2 23 Omega X-alps 3 22 Omega ULS 22 Bi-Beta 4  ---------- ⭐️ GIN Elise TRIBE Sprint EVO Sprint 3 M Calypso S Bandit 2 Bonanza Bonanza 2 S Bonanza 3 S Camino 2 S Zoom Zoom Race Carrera M Carrera S Carrera plus S Explorer S EXplorer 2 S Avid S Boomerang Sport M GTO 1 S GTO 1 M GTO 2 S GTO 3 M Leopard S Fuse mini  ---------- ⭐️ SOL Eclipse Torck Lotus One Ellus Synergy 2 Bi-kangaroo LT2  ---------- ⭐️ AIRWAVE Fusion Xmx Mustang 2 Magic 1 Magic 3 Sport 2  ---------- ⭐️ AERODYNE Dune Shamane Whisper  ---------- ⭐️ SUPAIR Leaf S Step Step- X Taska S Savage 1 Savage 2     ⭐️ AXIS Venus 1 Venus 1 RX Venus 2 Venus 2 RX Venus 3 Venus SC Vega 2 Comet 2 S  ---------- ⭐️ ESCAPE Smax SR  ---------- ⭐️ AXESSE ZunZun 21  ---------- ⭐️ PHI Synphonia Maestro 19 Maestro 19 X-Alps Maestro 21 Maestro 2 21 Maestro 3 21 Allegro 20 Allegro X-Alps 20 Scala 2 19  ---------- ⭐️ Flow Cosmos S Freedom Fusion S Fusion M Fusion Light S Mystic S Mystic+, ML Mullet - 18  ---------- ⭐️ DAVINCI Tango S Mamboo S ⭐️ SKYMAN Cross country 1 Cross country 2 Cross Alps 1 Cross Alps 2 Funky 2 ---------- ⭐️ Little cloud Puffin 16 ⭐️ Flare Moustache - 18 ⭐️ Zoom paragliders X2C -95

😱 GLIDE MEASUREMENTS ! NUMBERS and obsession !!! :-)

Looking at the glide numbers, is like seeing a beautiful food dish just before tasting it ....
Knowing that all measurements are made in calm air(no thermals), and in those conditions we practicably "don't" fly.
Thermal flying and transitions are made in moving air,and in those conditions a glider can change from its good performance on paper to less performance in real air and the opposite also.

Glider X that has a glide of 8.5 on paper, could reach the other side much higher than glider Y that have a glide of 9.0 on paper.
Why? Because the ability of glider X in head wind glides and moving air is much better than glider Y in converting those bumps to lift and still moving forward ,rather than ,when hitting those lifts glider Y stops and dive loosing the glide.

Glide measurements are pure marketing ,but they still are interesting in putting some spices under the pilots nose ;-) .

Glides wingtip to wingtip in different conditions will show gliders ability much better.And that's why i do the videos.
May be we should have a coefficient in efficiency rather than a poor "glide number" on paper. ;-)

Thank you for your Support! latest update: 2023

Advance S11 24 Tks Florent! 777 RLight, Tks Pascal! 777 King 2 Tks Coligny! Advance S11-22 Tks Kerry! Skywalk C6 Tks Pete, Remo! Flow Fusion Tks Sebastien! Ozone Alpina 4 Tks Damien! Ozone Ozium 2 Tks Federico! BGD Cure 2 Tks Patrick! Advance Impress 4 Tks Edmond! DaVinci Tango Tks Denis! Supair Savage Tks Oli! Ozone Zeolite Tks Gary! Swing Helios S Tks Koro! Flow Fusion S Tks Tom ! UP Kangri Tks Thorsten ! Maestro 19 X-alps Tks Messina Maestro 19 Tks Ore! Artik 4 26 Tks Andrea! Mentor 6 XS Tks Johan! 777 Q-Light S Tks Axel ! Ozone Rush 5 MS Tks Olive! Ozone Mantra 7 SM Tks Udo ! Ozone Buzz Z6 Tks Jean-Pierre! W-Valley GTO Light Tks Sylvain! BGD Epic Tks Carl! Ozone Forza M /Zeno MS Tks Eric! Ozone Alpina 3 Tks Bernard! Gin Bonanza 2 Tks Jean-Yves! UP Meru SM Tks Jan! Nova Ion 5 XS Tks Patrick! Skywalk Tequila 5 Tks Franck! GIN Atlas 2, S Tks Gabin! UP Meru M Tks Per-Inge! AD Volt 3 SM Tks Alain! Skywalk Cayenne 5 XS Tks Lucas! Ozone Rush 5 S Tks Hiroshi! Kortel Race 2M Tks Max! Gin Race 4 M Tks Jorge! Nova Mentor 5 XS Tks Nils! Nova Sector XS Tks Alex! U-Turn Cross rock S Tks Andy! Ozone Alpina 2 S Tks Denis! Nova Ion 5 S Tks Marwan! Swing Nyos RS- S Tks Andri! Nova Sector S Tks Olivier! Nova Bion 1, Tks peter! Skywalk Cumeo Tks Sylvain! PHI Symphonia 22 Tks Giovanni! 777 Knight Tks Laurent! UP summit XC 4 Tks Paulo! Bi Golden3 Tks Clement! 777 Knight SM Tks Rupert! Swing Arcus RS Tks Andrea! Nova Phantom Tks Nico! Advance X-Alps 2 23 Tks Bob! Nova Mentor 5 XS Tks Enrico! AD Rise 3 S Tks Alex! Gradient Aspen 6 Tks Sylvain! Mac Para Elan 2 26 Tks Franck !Ozone Delta 3 MS Tks Guy ! Dudek Colt 2 Tks Premsek! Mac Para Elan 2 -24 Tks Werner! Ozone Delta 3 ML Blue Tks Markus! Nova Mentor 5 S Tks Jean-Louis! Nova Mentor 4 S Tks Joao! Nova Bion 2 L Tks Antti! Nova Phantom S Tks Alessandro! Gin explorer S Tks Christophe! Skywalk Chili 4 Tks Dan! U-Turn Blacklight 2 Tks Eric! Ozone LM6 MS Tks Bartek! Advance E8 Tks Douglas! Skywalk P-Xalps Tks Michael! NK Peak 4 Tks Chris! Ozone Zeno Tks Manu! AD Pure 3 Tks Matthew! Gradient Nevada S Tks Alex! UP Kibo Tks Yohan! 777 King S Tks Jerome/Damien! Skywalk Spice XS Tks Markus! Ozone Alpina 2 Tks Brian! Ozone LM6Tks Damien! Swing Nyos M Tks Christophe! Air Design VOLT 2 Tks Philippe! Ozone Buzz Z5 Tks Eric! Nova Ion 4 S Tks Torsten! Gradient Xc 5 26 Tks Paul! Ozone Mantra 6 SM Tks Francisco! MacPara Icon 24 Tks Peter! Advance Iota Tks Alexandra! BGD Cure Tks Ronny! WV GTO Tks Riccardo! Ozone Ozium Tks john! Gradient Avax XC5 24 Tks Pascal! NOVA M4 Lite XS Tks Susan! Skywalk Cayenne 5 XS Tks Alex! Ozone Swift 4 S Tks Tessa! BGD Base Tks Bert! GIN Carrera Plus Tks Robert! Ozone Delta 2 Tks Aaron! UP Trango XC 3 Tks Gary! 777 Rook 2 SM Tks David! Swing Nexus Tks Dean! Skywalk Arriba 3 S Tks Ben! Gin AtlasX-Alps S TksArmel! !U-Turn Infinity 4, Tks Jens! !OZONE Exoceat M Tks! !AD Rise2 S-light Tks Olivier! !BGD Base Tks Manu! !Mac Elan Light Tks Philippe! !NOVA Mentor 4 S Tks Jean-Louis! !GIN Gto 2 S Tks Fred! !SOL Lotus 2 M Tks Francesco! !Ozone Alpina 2 SM Tks Francois! !Skywalk Tequila 4 S Tks Aaron! !NK Artik 4 25 Tks Dusty! !Gin GTO 2 M Tks Gaetan! !Gradient Aspen 5 26 Tks Gianni! !Nova Triton 2 S Tks Herve! !777 Queen M Tks Francois! !Nova Mentor 3 S Tks Aaron! !Advance S9 Tks Gary! !Sky Argos Tks Wade! !U-Turn Lightning Tks Philippe! !Ozone Delta 2 Tks Irving! !Ozone Rush 4 Tks Alex! !Nova Ion 3 Tks Guillaume! !Gin Carrera Tks Arno! !Skywalk Chili 3 S Tks Chris! !Ozone Mantra 6 Tks Andy! !Ozone Alpina 2 Tks Reto! !Swing Mistral 7 Tks Ivo! !Carrera M Tks Markku! !Delta 2 S 65-85Tks Jules! !Skywalk Chili 3Tks Mauricio! ! NOVA Mentor 3 XSTks ! Sky Atis 4Tks ;-) !Advance Epsilon 7 26 Tks Xav !NK Peak 3 Tks Gary/Marcos !GIN Atlas M, Tks Seb! !Mentor 2 S 85 h, Tks J-Luc V! !NOVA Mentor 3 S, Tks Mikael! !BGD Tala M, 5 h BlueTks j-luc! !UP Trango XC2 SMTks Greg! !OZONE Buzz Z4Tks Alejandro! !OZONE Delta 2 MLTks Dom! !NIVIUK HOOK 3 25 Tks !MacPara EDEN 5 26Tks Jonas! !NOVA Ion 2 (Light)Tks Lukas! !Gradient Nevada 26Tks Chris! !AD Volt S/MTks! !AD RISE M 85-105Tks Aymeric! !U-Turn Blacklight SM Tks Jean! !Skywalk Cayenne 4 S Tks Pascal! ------- TESTED GLIDERS (in this blog): You can see earlier reports by clicking "older posts" at the end of this page Swing Agera SM 777 Queen 2 light S Advance XI size 23 GIN Bonanza 2 S UP Meru Sky Aeon Gin Atlas 2 S Flow Cosmos S Ozone LM6 S Gin Genie Race 4 M Skywalk Tequila 5 XS Air Design VOLT 3 MS Niviuk Artik 5 24 Ozone Rush 5 MS U-Turn Cross rock S Skywalk X-Alps 2 (harness) M Nova Ion 5, S & XS Swing Nyos RS S PHI Symphonia 22 Icaro Buteo S Nova Sector S & XS Ozone Alpina 3 S Ozone Alpina 3 MS 777 Queen 2 MS Advance Iota 2 25 Skywalk Cumeo XS Swing Arcus RS, S Advance X-Alps 2 23 Skywalk X-alps 3 S Gradient Aspen 6 24 Ozone Delta 3 MS 777 Knight MS MacPara Elan 2 26 Macpara Elan 2 24 Advance Sigma 10 25 Ozone Delta 3 ML UP Summit XC4 SM Nova Phantom S & XS Nova Mentor 5 S Icaro Gravis M Ozone Zeno S GIN Explorer S UP Trango Race SM Skywalk Chili 4 XS Advance Epsilon 8 25 Gradient Nevada 2 S AD Pure 3 SM Skywalk Poison X-alps XS Skywalk Spice XS SUPAIR Leaf S Aircross U-Cruise M UP Kibo SM Sky Apollo GIN Sprint 3 M MAC PARA Eden 6 26 Swing Nyos M Nova Ion 4 S Ozone Buzz Z5 777 King M & S EN-D Gradient XC5 24 & 26 Nk Peak 4 21 & 23 Nk Ikuma 25 SKYMAN Cross Country S Skywalk Cayenne 5 XS Gin Atlas X-Alps S Skywalk Arriba 3 UP Trango XC 3 SM Gin Carrera Plus S Swing Nexus S SKYMAN CrossAlps S BGD Base M Windtech Bali 26 Mac para Elan Light 24 AD Rise 2 S-Light Advance Iota 26 Nova Mentor 4 S GIN Gto 2 M & S Niviuk Artik 4 25 Ozone Swift 4 SM Nova Triton 2 S Sol Lotus One M U-Turn Infinity 4 Axesse ZunZun 22/14 Axis Comet 2 S Skywalk Tequila 4 S Gradient Aspen 5 26 Sigma 9 25 U-Turn Lightning S Sky Argos Mac Para Elan Ozone Rush 4 Nova Ion 3 Gin Carrera S Triple Seven Queen M Ozone Alpina 2 SM Ozone Geo 4 SM Gin Carrera M Ozone M6 Ozone Alpina 2 Sky Atis 4 M Advance Epsilon 7 26 Niviuk Peak 3 UP Kantega XC2 S Ozone Delta 2 SM SWING Mistral 7 GINAtlas S SKYWALK Chili 3 S -OZONE Delta 2 ML -OZONE Buzz Z4 -NOVA Mentor 3 -BDG Design Tala-NIVIUK Hook 3 25-WoodyValley X-Rated 6 L-Gradient Nevada 26-NOVA ION 2 Light XS-MacPara Eden 5 26-U-Turn blacklight S-AD VOLT S/M-U-Turn Blacklight S/M -NIVIUK IP 6 23-UP TRANGO XC 2 S/M-Escape Smax SR 25-U-Turn Passion S/M -SKYWALK Cayenne 4 S -NIVIUK ARTIK 3 25 (Race version) -NIVIUK ARTIK 3 25 (normal version)-Mac Para Marvel 25 -MAC PARA MAGUS XC2 -GRADIENT ASPEN 4 -AIR DESIGN RISE -WINDTECH Honey-NOVA FACTOR 2-AIRCROSS UCROSS S-ADVANCE SIGMA 8 25-ADVANCE Impress 3 M-OZONE MANTRA 4 SM-Air design PURE S/M (80-95) -GIN TRIBE M-OZONE RUSH 3 M-GIN SPRINT EVO EN-B-UP Summit XC2 M EN-C-AXIS VENUS 3 M ,EN-D-SKYWALK POISON 3 S ,EN-D-Sky-Country EVO X 24 -NIVIUK PEAK 2 24-NOVA MENTOR 2 S-ADVANCE OMEGA 8 25-ADVANCE EPSILON 6-OZONE DELTA M-NIVIUK HOOK 2-OZONE MANTRA R10-3-GIN BOOMERANG GTO M-GIN BOOMERANG GTO S-NOVA ORYX-GRADIENT GOLDEN 3-NOVA-ION-NIVIUK ARTIC 2-GRADIENT ASPEN 3-ADVANCE SIGMA 7-ADVANCE BI-BETA4-38-SKY C MYSTIC 2-SOL TORCK-AXIS VENUS 2 S-AIRCROSS USPORT -UP TARGA 3