# Collapsible, rigid wings
**URL:** https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/collapsible-rigid-wings/10809
**Category:** Foils and Boards - Gear Talk
**Created:** [June 27, 2025, 6:36pm UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/collapsible-rigid-wings/10809 "2025-06-27T18:36:52Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@qfoil](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/qfoil)
#### Post date: [June 27, 2025, 6:36pm UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/collapsible-rigid-wings/10809/1 "2025-06-27T18:36:52Z")
Last year, before the parawing, there was some buzz about the foldable, rigid wing. Since the parawing hit the market, I have not seen that same buzz. Was the parawing just that much better than a foldable, rigid wing? Was something fundamentally wrong with a rigid design? In six months, are we going to see a market explosion from a company selling collapsible wings and replacing parawings?
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### Author:  [@Gneve](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/Gneve)
#### Post date: [June 27, 2025, 7:11pm UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/collapsible-rigid-wings/10809/2 "2025-06-27T19:11:53Z")
Not sure about collapsable, but I’d like to see (and try) a wing with a rigid leading edge that is small and efficient. For floatation, the boom strut could still be inflatable.
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### Author:  [@TooMuchEpoxy](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/TooMuchEpoxy)
#### Post date: [June 27, 2025, 7:19pm UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/collapsible-rigid-wings/10809/3 "2025-06-27T19:19:22Z")
I think for all but the smallest wings even just the leading edge would be size (transport) and weight prohibitive. What about a variation on drop stitch technology to Make a leading edge in a shape that’s not round?
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### Author:  [@jondrums](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/jondrums)
#### Post date: [June 27, 2025, 8:34pm UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/collapsible-rigid-wings/10809/4 "2025-06-27T20:34:42Z")
I ran some math on this and the leading edge diameter is not a terribly sensitive dimension in the lift/drag coefficient of a hand-wing. Notice that the para-wings can’t match inflatable hand-wings. If getting rid of the inflatable leading edge was a big win, then we’d easily be able to capture that advantage with parawings, but so far not yet.
That said, for high end kite racing, the fastest highest pointing kit is a para-style. There may be a way to regain that advantage over inflatable bladder. I am thinking that the need for very short lines means we have to have a curved parawing and fairly low aspect to get the square meters packed into that curve. Maybe we could get that all back with a different boom/handle/bridle system.
I’ve been tossing around ideas instead about a fully rigid wing. Super light carbon and thin skin construction like we see in the top tech foiling catamaran sails. Could go reasonably high aspect, but I think the practical limit will be pumping up onto foil. I’m pretty sure this is only useful for racing, but it could be significantly better than the best dual skin fabric wings and similar weight.
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### Author:  [@TooMuchEpoxy](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/TooMuchEpoxy)
#### Post date: [June 27, 2025, 8:38pm UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/collapsible-rigid-wings/10809/5 "2025-06-27T20:38:35Z")
When those thing flip over and a helmeted winch grinder falls from the high side they blow through that carbon like it’s not even there! One wave and that skin would be shattered!
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### Author:  [@jondrums](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/jondrums)
#### Post date: [June 27, 2025, 8:39pm UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/collapsible-rigid-wings/10809/6 "2025-06-27T20:39:02Z")
yup. racing only. Johnny would win by even more over us kooks.
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### Author:  [@jondrums](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/jondrums)
#### Post date: [June 27, 2025, 8:41pm UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/collapsible-rigid-wings/10809/7 "2025-06-27T20:41:12Z")
I guess though that since we don’t see rigid wing kites for racing, maybe that’s because of the durability. Or maybe I miss something else about why a para-style is best. I haven’t even see any “red bull speed dudes” showing off a rigid wing (that I know of)
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### Author:  [@jondrums](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/jondrums)
#### Post date: [June 27, 2025, 8:42pm UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/collapsible-rigid-wings/10809/8 "2025-06-27T20:42:41Z")
> [@TooMuchEpoxy](#):
>
> I think for all but the smallest wings even just the leading edge would be size (transport) and weight prohibitive.
we carry around paddles that a 2m long, why not a two-piece carbon leading edge a bit larger diameter than a paddle. Plenty stiff and light I think. Someone should try it
I sketched this a while back. I honestly would be seriously surprised if someone somewhere hasn’t already tried something like this. If not, and there is someone with the capability and desire to make something like this, I’d love to collaborate. not enough time…
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### Author:  [@Gneve](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/Gneve)
#### Post date: [June 28, 2025, 6:05pm UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/collapsible-rigid-wings/10809/9 "2025-06-28T18:05:16Z")
Keep in mind that this was 4 years ago
[ ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYu9JjoAHeU)
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### Author:  [@qfoil](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/qfoil)
#### Post date: [June 29, 2025, 11:23pm UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/collapsible-rigid-wings/10809/10 "2025-06-29T23:23:44Z")
Thanks, my general feeling is that a collapsible, rigid wing might be a viable parawing alternative. However, the weight and lack of buoyancy might make it less convenient.
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### Author:  [@alexnh](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/alexnh)
#### Post date: [July 1, 2025, 7:26am UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/collapsible-rigid-wings/10809/11 "2025-07-01T07:26:24Z")
Simon Sanderson in the UK has built a rigid carbon wing for speed runs.
[https://www.instagram.com/p/CsOjfpCt3DW/?igsh=Y2NhY2wza25ybzJq](https://www.instagram.com/p/CsOjfpCt3DW/?igsh=Y2NhY2wza25ybzJq)
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### Author:  [@SmilesBernard](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/SmilesBernard)
#### Post date: [July 1, 2025, 9:58am UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/collapsible-rigid-wings/10809/12 "2025-07-01T09:58:19Z")
yes also interested in the collapsable option and have been sketching some designs
similar thinking re paddle already … so why not an umbrella wing?
these are not collapsable and not for water (floating/cushioned spars etc)
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### Author:  [@jondrums](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/jondrums)
#### Post date: [July 1, 2025, 9:50pm UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/collapsible-rigid-wings/10809/13 "2025-07-01T21:50:43Z")
> [@alexnh](#):
>
> Simon Sanderson in the UK has built a rigid carbon wing for speed runs.
gosh that photo is almost exactly what I envisioned but its two years ago. Surely there is a ride-report somewhere. I assume it didn’t work well or there would be more photos of it in action?
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### Author:  [@alexnh](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/alexnh)
#### Post date: [July 2, 2025, 8:50am UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/collapsible-rigid-wings/10809/14 "2025-07-02T08:50:55Z")
I’m not sure, I haven’t seen a report on how it flies. He posted about going to Weymouth speed week. He is active on the Facebook board and hydrofoil builders group.
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### Author:  [@Matt](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/Matt)
#### Post date: [July 2, 2025, 9:50am UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/collapsible-rigid-wings/10809/15 "2025-07-02T09:50:51Z")
I would guess the dual skins are 99% of the performance with zero of the terrifying drawbacks of it
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### Author:  [@SmilesBernard](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/SmilesBernard)
#### Post date: [July 2, 2025, 11:24am UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/collapsible-rigid-wings/10809/16 "2025-07-02T11:24:51Z")
but not collapsible like an umbrella for DW. Thats my interest in the potential here
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### Author:  [@Matt](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/Matt)
#### Post date: [July 2, 2025, 12:14pm UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/collapsible-rigid-wings/10809/17 "2025-07-02T12:14:13Z")
I’m guessing this isn’t news to anyone, but for completeness:
[ ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDKp1B7Rkqs)
[https://www.instagram.com/p/DKC0UjSsPEL/](https://www.instagram.com/p/DKC0UjSsPEL/)
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### Author:  [@alexnh](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/alexnh)
#### Post date: [July 2, 2025, 2:43pm UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/collapsible-rigid-wings/10809/18 "2025-07-02T14:43:42Z")
I can’t see a fully rigid wing catching on for recreation or even for racing any time soon.
It will be interesting to see if there is any other major technological leap forward over the current inflatable wing, maybe with a shaped, dropstitched or rigid leading edge, full battens for shape, as others have said.
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### Author:  [@Jonnpow](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/Jonnpow)
#### Post date: [July 4, 2025, 8:49pm UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/collapsible-rigid-wings/10809/20 "2025-07-04T20:49:15Z")
Windsurf sails have been around a long time, massive weight disadvantage for anything that is reasonably durable.
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### Author:  [@qfoil](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/qfoil)
#### Post date: [July 22, 2025, 5:56pm UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/collapsible-rigid-wings/10809/21 "2025-07-22T17:56:32Z")
For downwinding, was this wing just too heavy? Parawing has lots of challenges such as tangles, narrow wind range, and line dangers. I would expect this product to eliminate at least some of those, but it doesn’t seem to have caught on.