Hey, new skydivers! Are you feeling nervous about your first time skydiving? Overwhelmed? Anxious about how to prepare? Fear not--to ease your nerves, we decided to compile a list of simple suggestions for your skydiving adventure, ranging from the best shoes to cute-but-practical accessories. Leave your worries behind and dive into this article to find your perfect skydiving outfit!
Here is the scoop on what to wear skydiving for the first time!
Activewear Clothing
The fast rule for skydiving is to wear a type of clothing that is comfortable and loose-fitting. Although the actual regulations for outfit choices are pretty slim, it is recommended that you choose active wear for your skydiving apparel.
For your bottom half, you can wear yoga pants, joggers, and any other tight items that will keep your legs covered in the cold. In the summer, biker shorts or basketball shorts are other great options! You are welcome to wear jeans, but keep in mind that the skydiving harness' tight hold may make them feel uncomfortable. If you can't live without your denim, then choose your most well-loved, stretched-out pair!
For your top half, find something that is tight-fitting and moisture-wicking. Tank tops, t-shirts, long-sleeved shirts, and sweatshirts are all acceptable. Avoid shirts that are low cut--the last thing you need is for your tandem instructor to catch a glimpse of something they weren't supposed to see!
Top Ideas
Here are some shirts that we would recommend for first time skydivers! Check out the 'Weather Conditions' section of this article to see which shirts would suit which weather conditions.
Bottom Ideas
Here are some ideas for pants or shorts that we would recommend for your first skydive. Above all else, pick comfort over fashion!
All in all, pick clothing that you are comfortable in, are willing to get grass stains on, and are okay with ripping (the air and harness can sometimes do a number on clothing!). Don't bring your most expensive pair of leggings or your jersey signed by your favorite baseball player--they might get ruined! If you follow these tips and the ones below, you can't go wrong.
Weather Conditions
The types of layers you choose should be entirely dependent on the weather conditions on the day of your skydive. Keep in mind that the temperature 14,000 ft up is much cooler than it is at ground level--30 degrees cooler, thanks to the lapse rate! A good rule of thumb is to be overprepared. Pack layers and an extra change of clothes!
If your first jump is during the winter months (60 degrees and below), your best option is to pack heavy with long layers. Make sure you are wearing long pants and long sleeves that will keep your legs safe from the cold air; it wouldn't be a bad idea to even wear thinly insulated thermals underneath your clothes as a base layer or a low-volume fleece. Lots of thin layers and a dependable thick layer on hand are the best way to ensure that you are well prepared for those cold days!
If your tandem jump is happening during warmer weather, you have a bit more liberty in your outfit choices. You could wear basketball shorts, tank tops, short sleeves, leggings, or any other moisture-wicking athletic apparel. Make sure to prioritize comfort over fashion--don't worry about picking the trendiest, just right summer outfit!
However, keep in mind that there isn't too much warm air 14,000 ft up--pack a sweatshirt or zip-up to throw over your clothes just in case!
Skydiving Jumpsuit and Goggles
One of many common questions about skydiving is if tandem students receive jumpsuits and goggles to wear over their own clothing. For the jumpsuits, the answer is that they are not required but are recommended. Slide-in landings are common in the drop zone, and, without a jumpsuit, could result in grass stains and minor skin abrasions.
If you fall in love with this new sport and are looking to become a licensed skydiver, then you will be provided with a jumpsuit that is required to be worn. Solo skydivers taking the entire brunt of the fall need a bit more protection! Wearing a suit also allows divers to establish uniform drag to enhance their flying ability.
As for eye protection, a pair of goggles will be provided to you before your jump. Your skydiving center should also have goggles designed for those with glasses or contact lenses. Just to be safe, call the center before the day of your jump to ensure that they have accommodations that will suit your needs.
Shoes
When you are about to go skydiving, the last thing you want is cold feet--figuratively and literally! For that reason, pick the right shoes that will keep your feet covered and allow you to land comfortably. No sandals, heels, slip-ons, or boots, as cute as each of these options are. It's not New York Fashion Week! Stick with athletic shoes.
Here is a list of some of the best tennis shoes you can wear skydiving.
Accessories
Although they aren't entirely necessary, specific accessories are a good idea for your first-time skydiving. You will only have one carry-on bag, so pick your items wisely!
On the day of your tandem jump, first, gather together some hair accessories. Again, the goal here is comfortable activewear, so don't bring your cutest hat to keep your long hair safe from the wind--there is a 100% guarantee that it will fly off. Instead, your best bet is hair ties to keep your luscious locks in place. Tie it into a low ponytail so it won't obstruct your instructor's view, and you're good to go!
Since you'll be up in the sky for a couple of hours, sunscreen and sunglasses are a must. Try out these highly-rated facial sunscreens and sunglasses to take with you on your adventure!
Another important thing to bring is binoculars. After all, the sky is a great place to try them out!
Above all, bring your big beautiful smile! This might be the most exciting day of your life--get excited!
Accessories NOT to Bring
Just like with clothing, there are some specific accessories that you should refrain from bringing with you. For example, jewelry. As painful as that sounds, it is absolutely necessary. Bracelets, necklaces, rings, or earrings could get snagged in hair or equipment during the free fall. Forget the fancy details of your outfit and just bring your best self.
Another item you should avoid bringing is your own camera. For safety reasons, tandem skydiving doesn't permit bringing cameras to document the journey. However, your first tandem jump is a big deal--so splurge and buy the video package! That way, you can have video evidence of you as the center of attention during your special occasion to post on social media.
Final Tips
First things first, bring your Photo ID (or any other government-issued ID) and payment with you for your jump. The Federal Aviation Administration requires that you confirm your identity with your ID before skydiving, so do not--by any means--forget to bring it!
Next, be sure to bring your most patient self. We know that it's your big day, but weather mishaps happen! Fog from cooler days or vision-compromising snow may keep you on the tarmac for a little longer than expected. If that happens, don't sweat it--the good news is that you can reschedule your skydive for free! The cold weather can't keep you from your adventure.
Eating too much or too little is a classic skydiving faux pas. If you don't eat enough, you may end up feeling pretty dizzy once your plane takes off; adversely, if you eat too much, your jumping stomach may force you to ruin your best skydiving clothing. Eat a moderate amount of food that you know your body tolerates well. Go for the good option, not the risky option!
Get enough sleep the night before. Skydiving is a special event, so treat it as such! Instead of going out on the town before your jump, the better choice would be to have a night in and rest as much as possible. You want to have your wits about you when you're 14,000 feet up in the air!
One of our best tips to prepare for skydiving is to relax. Even though a million scenarios of what could go wrong are probably playing in your head right now, trust in the technology that has kept millions of people safe in the air. And if you can't trust that, then trust us--you'll be fine! A very important part of skydiving is relaxing and trusting your instructor to keep you safe.
All in all, we hope you enjoyed this article on crafting the perfect outfit for skydiving! For more scoop on what to wear, check out these articles:
- What to Wear to Disneyland in February
- 5 Ways To Wear Flat Ankle Boots With Jeans
- What to Wear to Disneyland in May
- What To Wear Paintballing
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