Canopy Care 101: Essential Tips for Longevity

(a.k.a. how to make your wing last longer and fly better)

Your canopy isn’t just a piece of fabric—it’s your most important flight companion. If you want it to stay reliable, responsive, and good-looking over time, proper care is essential. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned swooper, these tips will help you take care of your wing like a pro.

Let’s dive into the best practices to protect your canopy from wear, aging, and poor performance.

Take Care of It Before You Even Pack

Start with where and how you pack. Always choose a clean, non-abrasive surface—ideally indoors or under a tent. Avoid concrete or asphalt: they don’t just damage your canopy, they also punish your knees and rig.

If you’re sweaty or wearing sunscreen, take a break before packing. Oils, lotions, and body sweat can soak into the fabric and, over time, degrade the material. You wouldn’t rub sunscreen on your reserve, right?

Another overlooked habit is where you keep food and drinks. It might sound obvious, but a sticky energy drink or a few cookie crumbs can turn into mold or attract bugs—neither of which you want anywhere near your gear.

Store It Like You Want It to Last

When your canopy isn’t in the sky, it should be in a cool, dark, dry place. UV rays, humidity, and heat will silently damage fabric fibers and reduce performance without you even realizing.

If you’re taking a break from jumping, don’t leave your canopy packed tight for days or weeks. Instead, unpack it into a stash bag. Keeping the fabric compressed for too long can cause creases that weaken structural integrity, especially near the nose and tail.

This is even more important if you fly a high-performance wings, these wings are made of delicate materials and should not remain packed for more than two days—otherwise you risk damaging the fabric permanently.

Inspect Like Your Life Depends On It (Because It Does)

Even if everything looks fine on the surface, routine inspections are a must. Start with the pilot chute and kill line—look for signs of wear, fraying, or stretching. A worn kill line can delay deployment and lead to hard openings.

Next, check your softlinks. Over time they can stiffen, and rigid softlinks will start to saw into your lines, shortening their lifespan and risking failure mid-jump. Massage them gently and keep them supple.

After any unusual event—like a cutaway, water landing, or off-landing—take the time to go through your canopy thoroughly. Look for tears, snag points, or stretched stitching. Even minor stress can lead to major problems later.

If you fly in competitions, especially canopy piloting events with water swoops, make post-jump inspections a ritual. Those aggressive landings can hide damage you won’t see until it’s too late.

A Few Final Pro Tips

Minimize unnecessary UV exposure: even leaving your canopy laid out in the sun for a few minutes while you chat on the dropzone can affect its longevity.

Keep your gear bag tidy and organized. Don’t cram things in randomly—metal parts rubbing on fabric, dirt grinding into folds, or harness buckles pinching the lines are all small things that lead to bigger issues.

And finally, treat your canopy like a performance tool, not just a piece of fabric. If you wouldn’t treat your car engine with sandpaper, don’t do it to your wing.

Conclusion

A well-maintained canopy won’t just last longer—it will fly better, open more smoothly, and give you peace of mind on every jump. Treat it with respect, follow these simple habits, and your wing will thank you every time you’re under it.

Because when it comes to skydiving, your gear doesn’t just carry you—it protects you