There’s a common question that circulates among newer wingsuiters and even intermediate flyers: “When should I upsize my wingsuit?” It’s a fair question—but one that deserves a thoughtful, honest answer.
It’s Not About the Numbers
Contrary to what some gear manufacturers might suggest, the decision to upsize should not be based solely on jump numbers. Jump count is just a metric—it doesn’t account for how you’re flying. You might have 125 jumps but have spent most of them flying solo in a straight line. On the other hand, someone with 70 jumps who’s consistently flying in formations, training with a coach, and experimenting with acro as well as having done some wingsuit tunnel which might demonstrate far better control and spatial awareness.
Are You a Ninja in Your Current Suit?
If you’re considering a move to a bigger suit, ask yourself the following:
- Can you transition and backfly in a formation within your slot, not just “near” it?
- Are your exits consistent and stable across different aircraft and orientations?
- If you lose control mid-jump, can you recover quickly and safely?
- Are you using every ounce of your current suit’s performance envelope?
Unless you’re ticking most of these boxes, your current suit still has more to teach you.
Modern Suits Are Forgiving—Use That to Your Advantage
Suits like the Swift, Phantom, or Piranha have incredible range. They’re no longer just “beginner” suits—they’re powerful tools that, when flown well, can hang in the sky with intermediate suits. Yes, your friends might be flying bigger suits, but good formation flying is about matching, not muscling.
In fact, modern smaller suits often make better platforms for progression. They let you focus on technique—tight lines, smooth transitions, clean docks—without the added complexity and risk that comes with a larger surface area.
The Risk of Upsizing Too Soon
Jumping into a suit you’re not ready for won’t just stall your progression—it might send you backwards. Loss of control, fear responses, instability at deployment, or not being able to fly your slot can lead to frustration, injury, or worse—quitting wingsuiting altogether. And we certainly don’t want that.
It’s the same problem we’ve seen for years in canopy progression. Downsizing too fast leads to bad habits and increased risk. Upsizing too quickly in wingsuiting is no different.
Seek Feedback—From Coaches, Not Just Mates
Wingsuit flying is deeply personal, but that doesn’t mean you have to go it alone. Talk to a coach. Better yet, fly with one. Let them assess your skills honestly and provide tailored feedback. A coach isn’t there to hold you back—they’re there to accelerate your progression safely and sustainably.
What’s the Goal?
Before upsizing, take a moment to reflect on why you want a bigger suit. Is it to fly faster? Stay up longer? Join a different group? Those are all valid—but ask yourself: have you fully explored what your current suit can do in pursuit of that goal?
A suit can feel limiting well before it actually is. Often, it’s not the suit—it’s the technique. The real limit is usually the pilot, not the fabric. Bigger suits magnify mistakes as much as they enhance performance. So, instead of chasing surface area, refine your flying. Push your skills to the edge of the suit’s capability. That’s when you’ll know it’s truly time to level up.
Final Thoughts
There’s no one-size-fits-all path in wingsuiting. But here’s a good rule of thumb:
Don’t upsize until your current suit feels limiting—not because your ego or peer pressure says it’s time.
Upsizing should be a reward for mastery, not a shortcut to belonging.
Fly safe. Fly smart. Be a ninja first.