If you have a reserve parachute, there are some things to know in order for it to do any good. Our two primary concerns here are that the reserve deploy properly when needed and that it not deploy unexpectedly. Here is more about whether to buy, what to buy and what size to buy.

Insuring Deployment

What a shame to buy a reserve, mount it, rehearse using it then, in your moment of need, have it break your neck during deployment. That's what can happen if you don't mount and toss the reserve properly. To my knowledge, it's never happened in powered paragliding but has happened in other air sports where reserves are used and certainly could happen to us. We just have incredibly few reserve deployments.

Mounting

The reserve will open with enormous force. It must be mounted properly to avoid injury and to do its job.

Where: Mount so as to be on the opposite side as your throttle or in front. Mounting on the front has advantages and disadvantages. If your's is designed to mount on top like the pap, then mount it that way.

Routing: The reserve bridle must be routed to prevent injury during deployment, maintain structural integrity of the harness and leave the pilot in a landable condition.

Secure with: Either Velcro or weak cable ties are most common. The key is that they must let go at about 20 pounds of pull force.

Connect to: Reserve bridles should attach to a D ring on your harness.

Repacking

After about a year the rubber bands that hold everything together long enough to deploy properly decay. Plus the fabric can start sticking together enough to slow down inflation. The video below is an example of slow deployment for a number of reasons but is typical of a reserve that has not been recently repacked. They have

Below is a video of the Reserve Repack and Educational seminar given by long time maker of rescue parachutes, Betty Pfeiffer. Her company, High Energy Sports, makes the popular Quantum series of chutes. These clinics are very valuable because the provide hands-on experience and allow the attendees to get questions answered. Although this clinic was for hang glider pilots, most of the information applies to us as powered paraglider pilots.