Parawing vs wing foil: the big difference is the wing in your hands. Under the water, your foil, mast and board can stay the same, as long as your front wing is a good fit. To see the Stow and all the gear for this kind of riding, go to our parawing page.
What is the difference between a parawing and a wing?
A wing foil wing is inflatable. You hold it directly, with handles or a boom. You pump it up before every session, with a pump sold separately.
A parawing (also called a pocket wing or low kite) is a small, light, soft traction wing with cells and no inflatable frame. You fly it with a short bar or handles, attached by lines of 1.3 to 1.8 m (4 to 6 ft). No inflatable frame, so no pump.
| Wing foil | Parawing | |
|---|---|---|
| Wing | Inflatable | Soft, with cells |
| How you hold it | Handles or boom, no lines | Bar or handles, lines of 1.3 to 1.8 m (4 to 6 ft) |
| Pump | Yes, sold separately | No |
| Foil | The same, if your front wing is an Enduro, an Ultra or a Silk V2 sized for your weight | |
| Mast | 85 cm (33.5 in), construction based on your weight and your front wing | |
| Board to get started | Fly One | |
Square meters don’t compare from one wing to the other. Our wing size guidelines don’t apply to the parawing.
What gear works for both?
The foil
Keep your wing foil foil if your front wing is an Enduro, an Ultra or a Silk V2, and its size matches your weight. With another front wing, like the Flyer from the Pack Access, check with an AFS expert before you buy a parawing.
In parawing, maneuverability and pumping matter more than speed. That’s why we recommend the Enduro first if you already foil. The Ultra comes next if you’re after speed or ride downwind, the Silk V2 if you like carving on bumps.
For your front wing size in parawing, read our article what size parawing to choose, or enter your weight and level in the foil finder.
The mast
We recommend an 85 cm (33.5 in) mast, for parawing and wing foil alike. Its construction (HR, HM or UHM) depends on your weight and your front wing’s span. So your wing foil mast can stay, if it fits that rule. To understand the three constructions, read our HR, HM and UHM mast comparison.
The board
To get started, we recommend the Fly One, for wing foil and parawing alike. It’s also the board in our wing foil Pack Access. Once you’re riding on your own, move up to a mid-length: the Blackbird Mid Length in fiber or the Blackbird Mid Length Carbon. For downwind, you can also go with the Blackbird Skinny.
What changes
The wing, and how you hold it. A wing gets pumped up and held in your hands. The Stow, our parawing, comes with its lines, a 33.5 cm (13 in) carbon bar, a harness line, a carry bag and a repair kit. It weighs 0.48 kg / 1.06 lb (2.5 m²) to 0.64 kg / 1.41 lb (4.5 m²).
What wind do you need?
In wing foil, we recommend starting in 15 to 25 knots. Below that, takeoff is hard. Above it, conditions get dangerous for a beginner. For wing size by wind, read which wing for which wind speed.
In parawing, the Stow covers 12 to 25 knots in 4.5 m², 15 to 30 knots in 3.5 m² and 25 to 40 knots in 2.5 m². Those are its wind ranges, not ranges for beginners. To know what wind to start in, talk to an AFS expert.
In both, wear a helmet and an impact vest. Read wing foil hazards and how to avoid accidents.
Parawing or wing foil: which one should you choose?
You already wing foil
Check your front wing and your mast. If they fit, all you need is the parawing. Keep your wing and pick based on the day.
You’ve never foiled
For parawing, we recommend starting on the Evo foil full set and the Fly One. The step-by-step is in our article how to start parawing. For wing foil, read what equipment you need to start wing foiling and go to our wing foil page.
You ride downwind
For parawing, we recommend the Ultra front wing for downwind.
Frequently asked questions
Is parawing easier than wing foiling?
Not at first. Getting going is the most demanding part of parawing. If you’ve never foiled, learning to fly the foil is the hard part either way. Start with our article how to start parawing, or talk to an AFS expert.
Can I use my wing foil setup for parawing?
Yes, with an Enduro, an Ultra or a Silk V2 sized for your weight, and an 85 cm (33.5 in) mast suited to your weight and your front wing. With another front wing, ask an AFS expert.
Do I need a harness for parawing?
No. The Stow comes with a harness line if you want to hook in. Its Power Loop works with or without a harness.
Can you go upwind on a parawing?
Yes. The Stow keeps the same upwind angle across all three sizes. Once you’re flying, its Power Loop extends the high end for long upwind legs.
What gear do I need to get started?
- You already have a foil and a board: add the Stow for parawing, or a D-Lite Black wing with a wing pump for wing foil.
- Starting from scratch in wing foil: the Pack Access includes the Flyer front wing, an HR mast, a stabilizer, the Fly One and the D-Lite wing. The pump isn’t included.
- Starting from scratch in parawing: there’s no package. You need the Stow, the Evo foil full set (with its HM 85 mast) and the Fly One.
Add a harness if you want one, a helmet and an impact vest. Availability varies by size: check it on each product.
Where can I find a used parawing or wing?
On our marketplace, from rider to rider.
Find your setup
For the front wing, mast and board that fit your riding, enter your weight and level in the foil finder, or see all the gear on our parawing foil page. Our foils are made in France, at our factory in Brittany. 2-year warranty. For returns, see our terms of sale.