ElevAir Deluxe Parachutes
These PE parachutes combine strong materials, smart airflow design, and flexible options to support active, engaging learning in any setting.
Flexible Options for Any Class Size
Available in seven sizes from 6’ dia to 45’ dia, these parachutes make it easy to match your equipment to your group. Choose from handle-free options or parachutes with multiple handles to support different activities and class needs, helping students develop resistance and coordination skills. The colorful panel design also supports skill-building games, including coordination drills and color-based teamwork challenges.
Durable Construction That Lasts for Years
These play parachutes are built with thick, flame-retardant rip-stop polyester that resists tearing during high-energy use. Reinforced stitching and interwoven threads add long-term strength, making them a reliable choice trusted by schools. A mesh center vent improves airflow during activities and keeps balls from rolling through the middle, helping games run smoothly.
Designed for Easy Use and Group Participation
Each parachute features a 1/2" thick perimeter rope for added structure and control. Models with handles include easy-to-grasp grips that are double stitched for durability, giving students a secure hold during movement-based activities. Each parachute includes an oversized storage bag, making cleanup and organization quick and simple.
Key Specs and Benefits
- Construction: Reinforced stitching, mesh center air vent, and double-stitched handles provide long-lasting play in high-use environments
- Material: Durable rip-stop polyester construction is built to last
- Sizing: Seven size options from 6’ to 45’ dia support any group size
- Handles: Choose with or without handles
- 6’ dia, 6 handles
- 12’ dia, 12 handles
- 20’ dia, 16 handles
- 24’ dia, 20 handles
- 30’ dia, 24 handles
- 35’ dia, 28 handles
- 45’ dia, 32 handles
- Compliance: ASTM F963 Flammability Standard
- Storage: Oversized storage bag included
Upgrade your PE program with parachutes designed for durability and versatility. Choose ElevAir Deluxe Parachutes today and bring more engaging group activities to every class!
There are endless activity options for your program! You can easily integrate parachute games into warm-ups, cooperative units, or movement exploration lessons. The following activities develop coordination, helping to teach locomotor, non-locomotor, manipulative, and body control skills in both small and large group settings. Let the games begin!
- Popcorn Pandemonium: Place small, lightweight balls on top of the parachute. Students work together to shake the parachute and pop the balls into the air, erupting like a volcano to teach arm strength, timing, and coordination. Have students use waves to push objects to the other side or attempt to catch them as skills progress.
- Wave Maker: Students create waves of different sizes or follow rhythm-based cues together, helping develop timing, cooperation, and upper-body coordination. Assign weather types (ex: Thunder = Hard Shaking, Rain = Slow Up & Down, Sun = Standing Still) to keep students engaged.
- Exploration Stations: Call out colors, numbers, categories or more and have students run or crawl under the parachute to switch spots before it falls. This will teach students listening skills, quick decision-making, and agility—and is easy to adjust for varying skill levels!
- Umbrellas, Mountains, and Igloos, Oh My! Students lift the parachute high to make a mushroom shape, then bring it down to trap air to create different variations; create a mountain by sitting with knees around the edge of the parachute, an umbrella by stepping underneath the dome, and then an igloo by sitting around the inside edge. This will help develop timing, cooperation, and spatial awareness skills!
- Cat & Mouse Chase: Students move around or underneath the parachute playing tag games. A "mouse" moves underneath while a "cat" tries to find them with guidance from the group, teaching locomotor skills, reaction time, and strategic movement. Need more direction? This blog has a demonstration!
- Skill-Building Bulls-Eye: Incorporating this versatile parachute will allow students to turn cooperative movement into precision-based games. Develop control and endurance or catching/tossing skills using specific color zones to create cross-curricular lessons!
Looking for ideas for older students? Team Critter Quest is a great lesson plan from PE Teacher Tim Mueller, who details how to play here, or join us on PE Universe to connect with other PE teachers to find new ideas!
Gopher offers the most durable, widest range of rainbow parachutes on the market—but we know that sometimes so many choices can be overwhelming. We're here to help! Find our size guide below to help you decide.
Before you browse: Most Gopher parachutes follow the same sizing & handle options, but due to its unique, extra-durable design, UltraChute has additional handles and can accommodate even more students! Those numbers are called out separately in the table below.
| Parachute Size |
Number of Handles |
Recommended Number of Students |
|
6' Diameter |
6 | 2-6 |
|
12' Diameter |
12 18 / UltraChute |
6-13 9-19 / UltraChute |
|
20' Diameter |
16 | 8-21 |
|
24' Diameter |
20 30 / UltraChute |
10-25 15-29 / UltraChute |
|
30' Diameter |
24 36 / UltraChute |
12-31 18-35 / UltraChute |
|
35' Diameter |
28 | 14-37 |
|
45' Diameter |
32 48 / UltraChute |
16-47 24-60 / UltraChute |
Remember! You know your students best. Consider age (preschool or elementary students might have a more difficult time creating waves, so we recommend leaning toward the smaller side of each range) and skillset (middle or high school students have more upper body strength, so it's less likely a parachute being too big would be an issue). As always, our Customer Care team is here to help answer any questions you may have!