What To Wear Skydiving: Everything You Need To Know

Key Takeaways

Athletic wear or activewear items like gym shorts, leggings/yoga pants, or T-shirts are top choice for what to wear skydiving when it is warm. If the weather is cool, add thin insulated base layers under long sleeves and long pants for the perfect chilly skydiving attire. No matter the weather, wear lace up shoes, ideally sneakers. For extra comfort and coverage, Wisconsin Skydiving Center provides optional skydiving jumpsuits that go over clothing.

Skydiving attire matters! If you’ve booked your jump and are curious about what to wear skydiving, this is the article for you. Apparel restrictions do exist, but this is only because we keep safety first in every decision we make. The simplest way to think about what to wear skydiving is to remember that it’s a sport, so athletic wear with sneakers is best, with layers added during colder months. 

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

What To Wear For A Parachute Jump: General Guidelines

What is the best thing to wear when 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 is safety, with comfort as a close second. You’ll need to make sure you have full range of motion without discomfort. 

Your first time skydiving is special, and like any special event, you want to make sure your 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 on their first time skydiving. So, is there a dress code for skydiving? Yes!

• Top: T-shirts, long-sleeved shirts, pull-overs (no hoods)
• Bottom: Leggings, shorts, sweatpants, jeans (worn in or with stretch)
• Shoes: Sneakers
• Accessories: None!

Additionally, there’s no need to fret if you wear glasses or contacts. We provide goggles to protect your eyes from the wind and we have specially constructed goggles sized to fit over glasses. We’ll also provide a jumpsuit if you’d like to wear one over your clothes.

A quick note about jeans: Are jeans OK for skydiving? We include them on our list of acceptable bottoms, but make sure they’re flexible and don’t impede your range of motion! Being able to comfortably lift and bend your legs is important for your safety. If you have a pair of well-loved, worn-in jeans, by all means, wear them skydiving. However, ideal skydiving pants need to have some stretch. The skydiving harness will be a bit tight, and jeans may be uncomfortable.

Does The Weather Matter?

The temperature outside does matter when considering what to wear for skydiving, but not as much as you think. We don’t jump in extremely low temperatures anyway. We lose about 4 degrees for every 1,000 feet gained, so although shorts and a tank top feel great on the ground, you may want to bring a pullover and layer for the skydive, even in the summer.

No matter the weather, 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. 

Especially in the summer, lightweight, stretchy bottoms like leggings 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.

As always, the answer to what shoes to wear for skydiving is sneakers, in any weather.

What Not To Wear For Skydiving

Here are a few no-nos for skydiving attire:

Accessories/Jewelry

Leave accessories and jewelry like bracelets, earrings, 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, Dresses & Super Baggy Clothing

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 fit over 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. Remember, though, you also shouldn’t wear any clothing that prohibits fluid movement (you should be able to move your whole body with ease).

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!)

What Is A Snag Hazard?

A snag hazard is any item (or part of the skydiving attire) that could catch, tangle, or interfere with skydiving equipment. For example, certain hiking boots have hooks on them for their laces. Those very same hooks could get caught on the lines of the parachute, creating a potentially dangerous situation. 

It’s vital that every part of your outfit remains snag-free. If you’re worried or have questions, just ask your instructor or manifest. We’ll be happy to help you keep safety first!

What About Costumes?

Skydivers love to have fun. So that means we also love costumes – so long as they meet the general requirements and don’t impede the jump or the equipment! A tight, flexible Spiderman costume would be awesome to wear on a skydive. A Superman costume with a cape fluttering behind you? Not so much. Onesies are also a popular choice to wear; just make sure it doesn’t have a hood. 

How Should You Wear Your Hair When Skydiving?

Those with long-hair often wonder 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.

Still Have Questions?

Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions or concerns about your jump day attire. Our team is happy to help you decide what to wear to go skydiving. If you’re ready to show off your best skydiving ensemble, we can’t wait to make it happen! Schedule your skydive with Wisconsin Skydiving Center today.