How to Plan a Multi-Day Andes Paragliding Expedition (With a 20lb Max Pack, No Fluff)

Last spring, I set out on a 5-day solo-supported paragliding crossing of the Andes between Mendoza and San Juan, Argentina, with a 38lb pack and a head full of "just in case" gear: a 4-season tent, a DSLR, three pairs of hiking boots, and a full wing repair kit "for emergencies." By day two, I was so exhausted from hauling the pack up 2,000ft of scree to launch zones that I skipped two prime thermal windows just to rest. I ended the trip with a 22lb pack of unused gear I'd carried the entire way, and a promise to myself to never overpack for an expedition again. Six months later, I repeated the same route with a 17lb pack, no support vehicle, no extra "emergency" gear, and ended up flying 30% farther, camping in remote high-alpine meadows no other pilots visited, and actually enjoying the trip instead of suffering through hauling extra weight. The secret? Minimalist expedition planning isn't about cutting safety corners -- it's about cutting every single piece of gear that doesn't directly help you fly, hike, or stay safe, and leaning into pre-trip planning to eliminate the need for "just in case" items. Below is the no-nonsense guide I used to pull off a multi-day Andes paragliding trip with almost no extra gear, no matter your experience level.

Start With Route Scouting (This Cuts 10lb of Gear Off Your Pack Immediately)

Most new expeditioners pack for the worst-case scenario before they've even mapped their route. That's a mistake. The Andes are massive, and conditions vary wildly even over 50km stretches -- a route that sees daily afternoon thunderstorms in the northern Argentine Andes might have calm, consistent thermals for 6 hours a day in the central Mendoza foothills. Before you even think about your gear list, spend 2-3 weeks scouting your route using free, low-weight tools:

• Cross-reference paragliding-specific route tools (Paragliding Earth, local national paragliding federation forums, and regional pilot Facebook groups) to find documented launch/landing zones, thermal corridors, and known safe bailout points. Most popular Andes crossing routes have already been flown by dozens of pilots, so you can skip the guesswork.
• Load offline topo maps (OpenStreetMap or AllTrails work perfectly) onto your phone ahead of time to mark hiking trails between launch zones, water sources, and potential camping spots. If your route has consistent ridge lift along the trail, you can skip carrying extra fuel for long hike-and-fly stretches where you'd otherwise be stuck walking.
• Pick a route with consistent, predictable wind patterns: the dry season (November to March for the southern Andes) has stable morning winds and predictable afternoon thermals, so you can plan to fly early and land by 2pm to avoid afternoon thunderstorms -- no need to carry heavy emergency storm shelter if you're not planning to fly in bad weather. I skipped the heavy 4-season tent I brought on my first trip entirely for my second crossing, because I scouted a route with only dry, above-treeline camping spots where a lightweight bivy sack was more than enough. That one cut 4lb off my pack immediately.

The 20lb Max Gear List (No Fluff, No Compromises on Safety)

The only gear you need is what directly serves three purposes: flying safely, hiking comfortably, or staying alive in an emergency. Everything else stays home. I split my 17lb pack into three non-negotiable categories, with zero extra items:

Flight Gear (8lb total, non-negotiable)

Your flight gear is the only part of your pack you can't cut weight on without risking safety, but you don't need a heavy competition setup:

• Lightweight EN B hiking wing: 3.5lb, designed for hike-and-fly, not heavy cross-country competition wings that add 2-3lb of unnecessary weight.
• Ultralight hiking harness with integrated reserve pocket: 2lb, no extra storage pockets or padding you don't need.
• Mini certified reserve parachute: 1.5lb, sized for your weight -- no need for a heavy oversized reserve.
• Phone with pre-loaded flight apps (SkySight, FlyXC) instead of a heavy dedicated vario/GPS: 0.5lb, plus a 20,000mAh power bank to keep it charged for 5 days. A dedicated vario adds 1lb of weight for almost no extra benefit if you're experienced at reading terrain and cloud formations.
• 2oz mini wing repair kit (2 self-adhesive patches, 1 tube of quick-set glue, a small patch tool): enough to fix small tears mid-trip, no need for a full heavy repair kit with fabric patches and tools you'll never use.

Camp Gear (5lb total)

Skip the heavy car camping gear entirely:

• Ultralight bivy sack (2lb): no poles, no stakes, perfect for dry above-treeline camping, way lighter than a 2-season tent. If your route has frequent rain, opt for a 2lb 2-season tent instead, no need for 4-season.
• 30F down sleeping bag (1.5lb): rated for the lowest overnight temperature on your route, no need for a -20F winter bag if you're crossing in the dry season.
• 6oz closed-cell foam sleeping pad: puncture-proof, way lighter than an inflatable air pad, and doubles as a sit pad for lunch breaks.
• 100g fuel canister, mini titanium canister stove, 1 titanium pot, 1 spork: enough to boil water for coffee and one hot meal a day, no extra cutlery or cooking gear needed.
• Sawyer Mini water filter (2oz): filters 100,000 gallons of stream water, no need to carry heavy water purification tablets or 5L of water at a time. Refill your 2L bladder from streams every morning.

Personal Gear (4lb total)

This is where 90% of overpacking happens. Stick to the absolute basics:

• 1 set of merino base layers (8oz): washable in streams, doesn't smell, works as both daywear and sleepwear.
• 1 waterproof shell jacket (10oz), 1 mid-weight fleece (8oz), convertible hiking pants (10oz), 2 pairs of merino socks (4oz), 2 pairs of merino underwear (2oz): no extra "just in case" clothes, you can wash them in streams every 2 days.
• Lightweight trail runners (1lb, worn while hiking): no heavy mountaineering boots unless your route has glaciers or heavy scree, trail runners are lighter and dry faster.
• Mini first aid kit (3oz): only blister care, painkillers, antiseptic wipes, band-aids, and any personal prescription meds. No heavy trauma kit or extra supplies -- you're in a popular paragliding corridor, not remote uncharted territory.
• Mini headlamp, SPF 30 mini sunscreen, mini lip balm with SPF, mini toothbrush/toothpaste, bar soap (doubles as body and dish soap): no extra toiletries, makeup, or heavy personal items.
• Mini PLB (personal locator beacon, 2oz): non-negotiable, way lighter than a satellite phone, and alerts rescue services if you're injured. Total pack weight: 17lb, 3lb under my 20lb limit, with zero extra gear I didn't use. For context, my first trip's pack was 38lb -- I cut 21lb by ditching a DSLR, 4-season tent, two extra pairs of shoes, a heavy camping chair, a full repair kit, 3lb of extra food, and a portable speaker I used exactly once.

Pre-Trip Logistics That Eliminate the Need for Extra Gear

Minimal gear only works if you've planned for every possible scenario ahead of time, so you don't have to bring "just in case" items:

1. File a detailed flight plan with a local contact (a friend, a local paragliding club member, or your hotel at the end of the route) and check in with them every evening via the PLB or a free satellite messaging app like WhatsApp (if you have spotty cell service). No need to bring a heavy satellite phone or extra emergency shelter if someone knows exactly where you are at all times.
2. Coordinate with local paragliding clubs ahead of your trip: most clubs in the Andes offer free camping near popular launch zones, and will let you borrow a mini repair kit or extra fuel if you run out, so you don't have to carry a full backup kit. Many also have connections to local farmers who will let you camp on their land for a small fee, so you don't have to carry extra emergency shelter if you get grounded far from a documented landing zone.
3. Stick to a high-calorie, low-weight food plan: bring only nuts, energy bars, dried fruit, and instant oatmeal for breakfast. No heavy canned food, frozen meals, or extra snacks -- a 5-day supply of food for 2,500 calories a day weighs less than 3lb total. If you pass through a small town mid-route, resupply on fresh fruit and snacks there instead of carrying extra food from the start.
4. Skip the heavy "expedition" clothing: merino layers don't smell, so you only need one set of base layers for the entire trip. Wash them in a stream every other night, and they'll be dry by morning. No need for extra "camp clothes" or heavy insulating layers if your sleeping bag is rated correctly for the low temperatures.

3 Minimalist Expedition Mistakes That Will Ruin Your Trip

1. Cutting safety gear to save weight: Your wing, reserve, harness, and PLB are non-negotiable. Never cut weight on safety gear to make your pack lighter -- a $100 lightweight reserve is worth every penny to save your life, and only adds 1.5lb to your pack.
2. Overestimating how much you'll hike: If your route has consistent ridge lift or thermal corridors, you'll spend 70% of your time in the air, not hiking. Don't bring heavy mountaineering gear or extra hiking supplies "just in case" you get grounded -- if you do get stuck, you can almost always hitch a ride with a local shepherd or farmer, almost all of whom are used to helping lost pilots in the Andes.
3. Overpacking for "Instagram moments": You don't need a DSLR, a portable speaker, or a heavy camp chair for photos. Your phone camera is more than enough to capture the Andes, and a rock works just as well as a camp chair for lunch breaks. Every extra pound you add for "content" is a pound you have to hike up to launch.

The first time I crossed the Andes, I spent half the trip huffing and puffing up scree slopes, dragging a pack full of gear I never touched, and skipping flights because I was too tired to hike to launch. The second time, with a 17lb pack, I flew for 6 hours straight on day two, landed in a remote alpine meadow no other pilot had camped in that season, and spent my evenings watching the sunset over the peaks instead of sorting through my extra gear. Minimalist paragliding expeditions aren't about suffering or bragging about how little you carry -- they're about freedom. The lighter your pack, the farther you can fly, the more remote the launch zones you can reach, and the more time you get to spend doing what you love: flying over the Andes, not hauling gear up a mountain. Next time you're packing for an expedition, ask yourself one question: will this item help me fly, hike, or stay safe? If the answer is no, leave it at home. Your back -- and your flight time -- will thank you.