Low, mid, high — understanding the B class
Low-B, mid-B, high-B appear in no standard — EN 926-2 only knows A to D. What the market split really means, with the APCO facts on mid-B (Vista VI) and high-B (Nestra Light).
Low-B, mid-B and high-B appear in no standard. EN 926-2 classifies paragliders solely into classes A to D. The three-way split of the B class is market terminology — but a useful one, once you know what it means.
Why the B class gets split
EN-B certification spans the widest range of wings in the sport: from the good-natured step-up wing straight after school to gliders whose performance approaches the C class. The certification is identical — standardised flight-test manoeuvres, tested per size by accredited labs (EN classes in detail). The pilot skill required is not. That is why the market split the class into low, mid and high.
Mid-B: the Vista VI
APCO positions the Vista VI verbatim as “APCO’s middle B, designed for talented beginners or pilots who wish to step up to the B category with a very calm, safe and easy wing to fly”. A true 3-liner across the whole span, from 4.6 kg — and per the manufacturer especially strong when it gets rough: “excels in strong conditions with its solidity and homogenous feeling”.
High-B: the Nestra Light
The Nestra Light is APCO’s high-B — and the manufacturer leaves no doubt about the positioning: “A true cross country machine offering C level performance in the EN-B category with real life B level safety.” The facts behind it:
- True 2.5-liner — per APCO “the only wing in the B category to date”
- Aspect ratio 6.0 — “with impressive passive safety”
- Just 215 m of lines — “less than new generation EN-C 2-liners”
- Kevlar/aramid competition lines — stable in length, “no periodical trimming needed”
- From 4.35 kg including standard risers
The direct comparison of the two: Vista VI vs Nestra.
What matters when choosing
- Check the certificate for your own size — the class can vary per size. On the Nestra Light, S, M and L are individually EN-B tested; the test reports are linked on the product page.
- Honest self-assessment — no data sheet answers “am I ready for a high-B?”. A high-B demands active flying; fresh graduates are better served by a mid-B (Vista VI) or EN-A (Karisma II).
- Advice with your real take-off weight — we advise concretely with data sheet, use profile and your all-up weight: [email protected].