What the original AirDesign AirPack is — and the sizing question buyers face
The AirDesign AirPack is a concertina, or accordion-style, packing bag for folding a wing flat. AirDesign publishes the original AirPack in three sizes — S, M and L — and a natural question for buyers is whether an AirPack size letter lines up with the size letter printed on their own wing. AirDesign's stated sizing rule is not a letter-to-letter match; it is based on comparing the bag against the maximum length of the glider's chord, so buyers should compare that measurement directly rather than assume the two letter systems interchange.
AirPack S, M and L: published lengths and masses
The official AirDesign AirPack product page lists the following length and mass for each size:
| Size | Length | Mass |
|---|---|---|
| S | 2.5 m | 520 g |
| M | 2.7 m | 570 g |
| L | 2.9 m | 600 g |
These figures — length and mass for S, M and L — are the length and mass specifications AirDesign publishes for the original AirPack, and they apply only to this variant, not to other AirPack variants.
How to read AirDesign's maximum-chord rule
AirDesign's measurement-based guidance refers to the maximum length of the glider's chord. AirDesign's own wording is that the AirPack you choose "should be slightly larger than the max length of your gliders chord." That measurement — not the S/M/L letters printed on the bag, and not the S/M/L (or XXS through XL) letters printed on your wing — is what buyers should compare.
Why "slightly larger" does not provide a numerical clearance margin
It's worth being precise about what AirDesign has and hasn't said. The manufacturer's page states the bag should be slightly larger than the wing's maximum chord — the official product page does not give a number of centimetres, a percentage, or any other quantified margin. That means a buyer cannot correctly calculate "chord plus X cm equals correct size" from the published information, because no such figure appears on that page.
Documented ventilation, riser storage, zipper and compression features
AirDesign documents two side bands of breathable mesh, which it says provide full-length ventilation, plus an internal riser pocket, a two-way zipper and a sewn-in compression band.
Editorial buying checklist
Before choosing between S, M and L, we'd suggest working through these steps rather than matching letters:
- Find the published maximum chord for your exact wing model and size — not an approximate figure for the model range, and not the wing's size letter alone.
- Compare that chord figure against the three published AirPack lengths (2.5 m, 2.7 m, 2.9 m) rather than assuming your wing's letter tells you the bag's letter.
- Since AirDesign's own guidance is qualitative — "slightly larger" — ask the seller or retailer to confirm which size they'd recommend for your specific wing, rather than relying on a self-calculated margin.
- This checklist is meant to help you gather the right information; it does not make an individual fit decision for you. Confirm your wing's published maximum chord and discuss the AirPack size with the seller before buying.
Check the original AirPack product page
Once you know your wing's maximum chord, you can review the AirPack product page directly to weigh it against the three published lengths and confirm with the seller before buying.