Different Types of Parachutes
Skydiving
Table of Contents
- What are the Different Names for a Parachute?
- Round vs. Ram-Air: The Two Main Parachute Types
- Four Kinds of Parachutes Used in Skydiving
- How Many Parachutes Does a Skydiver Have?
- Different Parachute Shapes
- Wing Loading Explained
- What is Downsizing?
- What is the Safest Type of Parachute?
- What Does Flying a Parachute Feel Like?
- Ready to See What Modern Parachutes Can Really Do?
Key Takeaways
Modern skydiving parachutes are far more advanced than the classic rounds of yesteryear. Today’s skydivers fly highly engineered ram-air wings designed for control, comfort, and precision. From tandem parachutes and student canopies to high-performance swoop wings and military rounds, each parachute type is built for a specific purpose. Understanding the different types of parachutes can help you appreciate that the canopy ride is not just a ride back to earth – it’s an intelligent process and an unforgettable part of the skydive.
When most people picture a parachute, they imagine a giant round dome drifting slowly toward the ground. In reality, that image is decades out of date. Not only are modern skydiving parachutes highly engineered for control, glide, and precision flight, but there are many different types used throughout skydiving and aviation.
By the end of this guide, you will understand the major different kinds of parachutes used in modern skydiving, how they work, and which type you will most likely experience on your tandem jump at Skydive Key West.
What are the Different Names for a Parachute?
In skydiving, several terms are commonly used when talking about the parachute:
- Parachute: the general public term
- Canopy: the most common skydiving term
- Wing: use because ram-air parachutes generate lift like aircraft wings
- Rig: the complete parachute container system worn on the jumper’s back
A modern skydiving rig includes much more than just the visible canopy overhead. It contains the main parachute, reserve parachute, pilot chute, harness, container system, and built-in safety equipment.
Round vs. Ram-Air: The Two Main Parachute Types
The two fundamental parachute types are round parachutes and ram-air canopies. The biggest distinction is simple: round parachutes help you descend, while ram-air parachutes allow you to truly fly.
Round Parachutes
Round parachutes are the traditional dome-shaped parachutes most people recognize from older military footage and historical skydiving photos. These parachutes work by creating drag to slow descent. They are generally stable but offer very limited steering capability, meaning the wind largely determines where the jumper lands.
Round parachutes are still used in military static line operations, cargo drops, and specialty applications where simplicity and stability are priorities.
Ram-Air Parachutes
Ram-air parachutes, or Parafoils, are standard in modern skydiving. These canopies are built with internal cells that inflate with incoming air, creating a pressurized wing shape. Instead of just slowing descent, ram-air canopies generate lift and glide forward through the air.
This design allows skydivers to steer, turn, control speed, and land with remarkable precision. Every jump at Skydive Key West uses a ram-air canopy system because of its comfort, control, and safety advantages.
Four Kinds of Parachutes Used in Skydiving
Within the ram-air category, there are four types of parachutes designed for different jumpers and disciplines.
1. Tandem Parachutes
Tandem parachutes were created to carry two people – the instructor and the student – which is why there are skydiving weight limits.
Tandem canopies are significantly larger than solo parachutes, often exceeding 300 square feet. They’re engineered for stable flight, gentle openings, and comfortable landings that prioritize passenger safety and comfort.
Tandem parachutes are also accompanied by a drogue parachute – small parachutes used to stabilize a falling object and/or to extract a larger parachute.
At Skydive Key West, tandem jumps are conducted using the UPT Sigma Tandem System, one of the most respected tandem systems in the skydiving industry.
2. Student Parachutes
Student canopies are used by those learning how to skydive solo. They’re large and forgiving, with flight characteristics that give beginner skydivers more time to react, learn, and build confidence under canopy. As jumpers gain experience, they gradually transition to smaller and more responsive canopies – it’s a process called “downsizing” (more on this later).
3. Sport & High-Performance Parachutes
Licensed skydivers use solo sport canopies for recreational jumping. These parachutes vary in size, speed, and responsiveness depending on the pilot’s experience level.
More advanced jumpers may fly high-performance canopies designed for aggressive turns, high-speed landings, and swooping competitions. These parachutes require extensive training and very careful progression.
4. Reserve Parachutes
Every skydiver carries a reserve canopy in addition to the main parachute. Reserve parachutes are built specifically for reliability and predictable handling during emergency situations. Unlike high-performance sport canopies, reserve systems prioritize stability and consistency above all else.
How Many Parachutes Does a Skydiver Have?
So how many parachutes do you jump with? Every skydiver jumps with two parachutes:
- Main parachute used during the skydive
- Backup parachute called a reserve
The reserve parachute is professionally packed and maintained by an FAA-certified parachute rigger. All tandem systems also include an AAD (Automatic Activation Device), which is designed to automatically deploy the reserve parachute if necessary.
Different Parachute Shapes
Not all parachutes fly the same way, even within the ram-air category. A canopy’s shape and wing loading both play major roles in how it performs.
Rectangular Canopies
Rectangular parachutes are the most stable and forgiving canopy design. They are commonly used for tandem skydives, student training and reserve systems because they offer predictable handling and smooth landings.
Semi-Elliptical Canopies
Semi-elliptical canopies provide a balance between stability and performance. They are faster and more responsive than rectangular canopies while remaining manageable for intermediate skydivers.
Elliptical Canopies
Elliptical canopies are highly responsive, fast, and aggressive. These parachutes are typically flown by experienced jumpers with advanced canopy control skills.
What is Wing Loading?
Wing loading refers to the relationship between a jumper’s total exit weight and the size of their canopy. A larger canopy over you would create a lower wing loading, resulting in a slow and more forgiving flight characteristics; whereas a smaller canopy would create higher wing loading, leading to faster speeds and more aggressive handling.
This is why the “best” parachute always depends on the person flying it.
What is Downsizing?
As licensed skydivers progress in the sport, they move through different parachute sizes in a process known as downsizing. A jumper’s competence and confidence under canopy is extremely important during the downsizing process because a wing that feels manageable at a larger size can become significantly faster and more responsive at a smaller size.
There is no universal jump-number requirement for downsizing. Instead, organizations like the United States Parachute Association (USPA) emphasize progression based on demonstrated canopy control.
Professional canopy coaches and S&TA-level guidance recommends staying on each canopy for at least 50 to 100 jumps or more on a canopy to build consistent accuracy, decision-making, and confidence before transitioning to a smaller wing.
It’s also recommended that jumpers complete canopy coaching courses (Flight-1, PD Factory Team seminars, etc.) before or between downsizes.
What is the Safest Type of Parachute?
There is no single “safest parachute” for every skydiver. The safest parachute is the one that matches the jumper’s experience level, training, and intended use.
In general, the safest parachutes are large, rectangular ram-air canopies. These are commonly used for tandem skydiving, student training, and reserve systems because they prioritize control and reliability over speed or performance.
For sport skydivers, safety depends heavily on flying a canopy that matches their experience level and wing loading.
What Does Flying a Parachute Feel Like?
When the parachute opens, everything changes in an instant – the roar of freefall fades and everything slows down as your body settles into the harness. Suddenly, you’re weightless, suspended under a colorful and steady ram-air wing that responds to every input.
When you take the toggles in your hands, you’re no longer just a passenger – you’re flying. A gentle pull starts a smooth turn, lifting a toggle brings you back to level flight, and subtle inputs control your direction, speed, and glide.
As you float back down to earth, the world goes quiet and there is a moment of reflection to take it all in. It’s awe-inspiring wherever you are in the world, and in Key West it’s breathtaking. Beautiful turquoise water below and a stunning, endless horizon in every direction.
On final approach, you guide it into landing, then smoothly “flare” by pulling both toggles down. The wind slows forward speed and adds lift, turning what felt like motion into a soft, controlled touchdown.
Ready to See What Modern Parachutes Can Really Do?
Reading about parachutes only goes so far – the real experience is in the air! From the moment the canopy opens to the final landing, the parachute ride is where skydiving transforms from adrenaline into something unexpectedly peaceful.
At Skydive Key West, you’ll experience that moment under a professionally maintained tandem system, guided by an experienced instructor. If you’re ready to move from curiosity to canopy flight, it’s time to book your jump and soar over the Florida Keys. Blue skies!
