What To Wear When Skydiving

What to wear when skydiving? Your clothing for skydiving should be comfortable and loose-fitting. Athletic wear or activewear items like gym shorts, leggings/yoga pants, or T-shirts are our first choices for what to wear skydiving when it is warm. If the weather is cool, add thin insulated base layers beneath long sleeves and long pants for the perfect chilly skydiving attire. No matter the weather, bring or wear tennis shoes or other sneakers. 

For extra comfort and coverage, Wisconsin Skydiving Center provides each of our customers with a skydiving jumpsuit to put on over their clothing if they’d like to wear it.

Those are the basics! Here are some more details that will come in handy when you’re ready to suit up for your skydiving adventure…

Skydiving Apparel Tips For the First-Timer

Your first time skydiving is special, and like any special event, you want to make sure your skydiving outfit is just right. Most people know what to wear to a wedding or when heading out to hit the town with friends, but very few know what to wear their first time skydiving.

Skydiving is an athletic activity, so your outfit choices should be made with that fact in mind. The most important thing to consider when you are determining what you should wear for the first time skydiving is comfort. Above all else, skydiving apparel should be comfortable. 

Additionally, there’s no need to fret if you wear glasses or contacts. We provide each of our students with goggles to protect their eyes from the wind and have specially constructed goggles sized to fit over glasses.

Can You Wear Jeans Skydiving?

We’re not dissing denim here, but usually, jeans and skydiving just don’t mix. If you have a pair of well-loved worn-in jeans, by all means, wear them skydiving. However, you should consider that ideal skydiving pants need to have some stretch. The skydiving harness will be a bit tight and jeans may be uncomfortable.

The bottoms you choose for skydiving need to be constructed with movement in mind. If the weather is cool on the day of your skydive, you should select bottoms that cover the entire leg. We suggest wearing sweatpants or joggers. If it is warm on the day of your first skydive, feel free to wear shorts and a T-shirt. 

Can You Wear Leggings Skydiving?

If you’re wondering if you can wear leggings skydiving, the answer is absolutely yes! Especially in the summer, lightweight, stretchy bottoms make a great choice to ensure you are comfortable on your skydive. A good rule of thumb is to consider if you would wear the bottoms to exercise. If the answer is yes, they are a good option for skydiving. However, if the weather is cold, you should consider a thicker layer of leggings or consider wearing the leggings beneath a layer of sweats or joggers.

How Should You Wear Your Hair When Skydiving?

Those with long-haired locks are often left wondering how exactly they should tame their mane for different activities, including skydiving. In order to keep your hair safely out of the way, men and women with hair past the jawline should braid or pull the hair back in a secure low ponytail.

If you sport a long or especially burly beard, the same logic applies. To keep the hair out of the equipment and your instructor’s face, please gather your beard in a few secure hair ties or otherwise secure it.

What NOT to Wear Skydiving

Here are a few no-nos for skydiving attire:

Accessories/Jewelry

Leave accessories and jewelry like bracelets, bangles, and necklaces at home. Aside from the possibility that these items could be lost during the skydive, necklaces and hoop earrings can potentially get snagged in hair or equipment and create an unpleasant experience. 

Skirts or Dresses

Skirts or dresses should not be worn while skydiving for a few reasons. One of the primary reasons is that it impedes the function of the skydiving harness. The harness needs to sit over the clothing and must be tightened around each leg. Additionally, for your comfort and safety, it is best not to have excess, loose, or free-flowing fabric whipping about in freefall. 

Sandals, Slip-ons, Heels, or Boots

Picking the correct footwear for skydiving is of vital importance. Attempting to wear anything other than proper footwear on a skydive can have significant consequences. Occasionally, a tandem pair slides in on landing, and footwear with hooks or spikes can snag the ground and result in injury. Heels and heavy-duty boots with hooks can endanger you and your instructor both during freefall and on landing. If you try sporting sandals or slip-ons for a skydive, you might as well say goodbye. Neither of these is fit for a freefall of 120 mph and will likely fall off as you exit the aircraft.

That’s it! Be comfortable and be smart! (There are still plenty of ways to be cute! ;))

Ready to show off your best skydiving ensemble? Schedule your skydive with Wisconsin Skydiving Center today!