A brand new hang glider, harness, helmet, and reserve will cost somewhere between $5,000 – $6,000. After 8 – 10 years of fairly active usage and exposure to UV light from the sun, a hang glider is generally in need of replacement. This of course varies with how you care for your wing. It’s easy to test your sailcloth for strength and thus determine your need to replace your hang glider long before it becomes unsafe. Harnesses and parachute reserves should last indefinitely with good care. Most pilots who get into the sport also purchase a two-way radio and a variometer (which tells you if you are going up or down and how fast.) Good used equipment is sometimes available for about half as much, though it will have a shorter life-span. In addition, because the sport is evolving, newer hang gliders can have significantly better performance and behavior than older ones.