Canopies are much less weight critical than when this was written. Nevertheless if we are paying out a lot of hard earned cash then we might as well fly at the optimum for the glider.

Modern canopies can be quite weight critical, particularly if we wish to optimise their performance accurately. The loading should be quoted as all-up weight or take-off weight. This is the weight of the pilot + harness + canopy + any other equipment. i.e. ALL that goes UP, or ALL that TAKES OFF. The other weight quoted should be the weight of the canopy including lines and risers. Naked pilot weight is sometimes used by manufacturers and dealers wishing to fudge over loading problems and is a very poor guide.

The best way to check your weight is to weigh yourself equipped as you would be to walk up to take-off. However, if you are always fiddling about with bits of equipment then it may be useful to weigh everything individually and make a weight chart like this.

Self (normal clothes)  	72.50	
Boots                 	 1.75	
Flying Suit           	 1.15	
Helmet + Gloves       	 1.05	
Instruments	              0.56	
Drinking Water        	 1.28	
Map + Case + Compass  	 0.46	
Camera                	 0.35	
Harness + Parachute   	 6.00	
Canopy Bag	              0.77	
Canopy                     7.20	
		
Total                     93.07 Kg	

Using such a chart it is easy to calculate the effect of any equipment changes.