THE CLOUDBASE PERSPECTIVE

Hopper or Scraper? Start with the pilot.

At Cloudbase, we don’t start this conversation by asking which wing has the most performance. We start with the pilot.

Where do you fly? How much experience do you have? What sort of conditions do you normally launch into? Are you looking to build your parakiting skills progressively, or are you already an experienced pilot specifically looking for more speed, energy and dynamic performance?

That distinction matters with the Hopper and Scraper.

The Hopper is the wing we expect to suit the greater number of pilots. It combines genuine parakite performance with a broader, more manageable operating range, progressive feedback and excellent low-speed capability. There is plenty of performance to grow into, without demanding that the pilot access it all at once.

The Scraper is a different proposition. It is a high-performance parakite for experienced pilots who understand energy management and actively want the additional glide, dive, roll and energy retention it provides.

Neither is simply “better”. The right wing is the one that matches your experience, your environment and what you actually want to do with it.

COMPARE HOPPER & SCRAPER

Hopper or Scraper? Start with the pilot.

HOW WE SEE THEM

Two wings. Two different jobs.

We fly, demonstrate and support both wings in Australia, and the difference between them becomes much clearer once you stop looking at specifications alone.

For us, the Hopper is the all-rounder. Its easy inflation, progressive brake feel, useful low-speed performance and predictable energy management make it particularly well suited to pilots who want to develop their parakiting without quickly outgrowing the wing. It can be flown conservatively, but there is considerably more available as your technique and confidence develop.

That is one of the things we like most about it: the Hopper doesn’t need to be flown aggressively to be enjoyable.

The Scraper is the performance tool. It carries energy exceptionally well and gives the experienced pilot more of everything that makes dynamic parakiting addictive — glide, acceleration, dive, roll and the ability to convert one form of energy into another. That performance also means the pilot needs to stay ahead of the wing rather than simply go along for the ride.

Our recommendation is deliberately simple: if you are building your parakiting experience, want versatility, or simply want a wing with a wide usable range, start by looking at the Hopper. If you already have the experience and technique to actively manage a higher-energy wing and that additional performance is specifically what you are looking for, the Scraper is where the conversation changes.

The specifications below explain the technical differences. A demo tells you the rest.

COMPARE THE SPECS

ALLROUND

HIGH-PERFORMANCE

CHARACTERISTIC	HOPPER	SCRAPER
INFLATION	Quick and easy inflation in any environment	Good inflation, but demands proper technique. Asymmetric launch recommended
STALL BEHAVIOUR	Predictable stall warning (brake pressure becomes heavy). Low stall speed. Deep stall possible	High-performance design results in a higher stall speed. Predictable stall with light brake pressure
DEPOWER	Very good depower	Manageable in extremely high winds due to excellent depower. Disclaimer: Always keep a safety margin!
BRAKE PRESSURE	Progressive brake pressure offers constant feedback and a distinct warning before stall	Its light brake pressure allows for effortless, hours-long flights. While it does warn you near the stall point, the feedback is noticeably softer than on the Hopper
ROLL	Very good, even at slow speeds	Very good
GLIDE	The glider achieves its best glide at lower speeds, making it easy to maintain altitude even on dunes with poor or inconsistent lift	Exceptional glide, though more technical to achieve. Best glide requires hands wide at trim position, clear of the risers
DIVE	Moderate dive with auto-level The first bit of depower adds speed with minimal diving, while further depower initiates the dive Automatically levels out in a hands-up position	The Scraper initiates an immediate dive as soon as you depower, and it sustains this dive until you re-engage the power
TURNS	The wing easily performs both efficient flat turns and steep turns, though these manoeuvres generate noticeably less energy compared to the Scraper	Delivers high-energy, extremely steep turns
POP	Good pop: low-speed flying allows backward popping in lighter winds compared to the Scraper	Powerful pop with superb dive-to-lift conversion. The Scraper's high efficiency keeps it driving forward
WING FEEDBACK	The wing cuts cleanly through turbulence without sacrificing the direct connection and feedback needed to read the air	Cuts through turbulent air exceptionally well, turning gusts into energy. The talkative nature suits experienced pilots but may overwhelm less experienced flyers