When you want to go paragliding, it's important to choose the right clothes for the day's weather, with good windproofing, but it's also important to choose the right shoes before you take to the skies.
What footwear should you choose for a first flight in the Puy de Dôme?
It may seem insignificant, but choosing the right shoes for a paragliding flight in the Puy de Dôme is important, especially for the take-off and landing phases. A good paragliding shoe should have good crampons for grip on both land and grass. Small city shoes or trainers with smooth soles are not the best choice, as they tend to slip on dry grass in summer.
It's better to opt for hiking boots that offer good support and cushioning. The thickness of the sole absorbs energy when you land.
TIP: don't forget to lace up your shoes before take-off, because when the pilot takes you through the 360s and Wing Over, the centrifugal force will increase sharply and you could well end up barefoot on the ground, looking for your trainers in the forest of the Puy de Dôme.
Paragliding shoes
What kind of footwear for everyday flying?
When you get serious about paragliding and start flying regularly, it's a good idea to choose a pair of paragliding boots with good foot support, a gore tex or equivalent membrane for protection from the wind and a decent lug sole.
You should also choose a model without a lacing buckle. When paragliding, you could find yourself in difficulty with your feet caught in the lines, or vice versa, during a SIV course or even a thermalling flight. The presence of tightening loops could snag a line and prevent the glider from reopening. It's a bit like attaching a camera to a helmet.
What footwear is best for cross-country paragliding?
When you start cross-country paragliding, you need to be able to land anywhere, but above all you need to be able to walk, sometimes for hours, to find a vehicle to hitchhike to. So you can opt for either hiking boots without buckles or ultra-light trail running shoes. The latter would be perfect if you're flying in a cocoon, for example.
Can you fly barefoot?
Not at the Puy de Dôme, as it's far too risky if you value your ankles and toes, but why not at the Dune du Pilat? The Dune is in fact a legendary spot for paragliders who want to inflate on the ground and be lifted up by the force of the wind, their feet slipping in the sand. It's a unique sensation that you should try at least once!
