WHAT SHOULD I WEAR TO GO SKYDIVING?
One of the questions we get a lot is, "What should I wear to go skydiving?" Fair question. You're about to jump out of a perfectly good airplane at 14,500 feet and fall at 120mph — what to wear skydiving matters more than you'd think. We've been doing this since 2004 and have a whole list of insider tips that can make your skydiving outfit work for you instead of against you.
First Time Skydiving? Here's the Quick Version
If you're short on time and just want the basics for your first tandem skydive, here's the cheat sheet:
- Wear: T-shirt or long sleeve, jeans or athletic pants, lace-up sneakers
- Layer up: It's 20-30 degrees colder at altitude than on the ground
- Leave on the ground: Jewelry, hats, phones, keys, wallets, loose accessories — we provide lockers for all of our students
- We provide: Goggles and over-the-glasses goggles
- Hair: Braid it if it's long
- Shoes: Anything that laces up tight. No flip flops, no heels, no barefoot
Want the full breakdown? Keep reading.
What Kind of Top Is Good for Skydiving?
Depending on the weather, we recommend comfortable t-shirts, long sleeves, and hoodies. Dressing in layers is a smart move so you can add or subtract based on your instructor's recommendation. Temperatures change throughout the day. Morning and evening jumps can be chilly and mid-day can be hot, depending on the season.
Here's the part most people don't think about: temperatures drop as we go up in altitude. It's about 20-30 degrees cooler at 14,500 feet than it is on the ground. If it's 75 and sunny down here, it could be 45-55 up there — and that's before the freefall wind hits you. If you're skydiving in early spring or late fall, you might even want to consider wearing a pair of gloves.
The sweet spot for most people is a comfortable athletic top or hoodie that fits close to the body. Anything too loose or baggy will flap around like crazy in freefall, which is more annoying than dangerous but still worth avoiding.
What Kind of Pants Should I Wear to Go Skydiving?
Long pants, jeans, or athletic wear are good options for your bottom half. Longer, thicker pants offer more protection for slide-in landings. Because many landings are seated, be sure to wear something durable that you don't mind getting a little dirty. Pro tip: skip the white pants unless you want grass stains as a souvenir.
Wear something you can move around in comfortably. You'll be crouching, bending, sitting, standing, and arching your body during freefall. Tight dress pants or anything restrictive will make you uncomfortable before you even get on the plane.
Can you wear shorts skydiving? Technically, yes. But we recommend against it. Your legs are more exposed to harness rub, grass on landing, and the wind chill at altitude. Most people who show up in shorts wish they hadn't.
What Should I Wear Skydiving in Summer vs. Spring and Fall?
Our season runs April through October, and what to wear skydiving changes a lot between opening day and the middle of July.
Summer (June-August): Wear whatever feels comfortable on the ground, but remember it's still cooler up top. A t-shirt and jeans or athletic pants is the go-to summer skydiving outfit for most people. You probably don't need layers, but a light hoodie tied around your waist never hurts.
Spring and Fall (April-May, September-October): This is where people get caught off guard. If it's 60 degrees on the ground, expect it to feel like the 20s by the time you're at jump altitude. Add freefall wind on top of that and your hands and face will feel it fast. Dress warm. Layers, long sleeves, gloves, and closed-toe shoes that you can snug up tight. Morning jumps in April and October are the coldest — dress like you mean it.
What Kinds of Shoes Should I Wear to Go Skydiving?
The most important thing is to wear shoes that won't fall off. Tennis shoes, gym shoes, or skateboard shoes that lace up are best. Lace them tight — you're about to experience 120mph winds and those winds will find any weakness in your footwear.
We don't allow flip flops or slip-on shoes. A shoe falling off at altitude is a real hazard to people on the ground. Heels are also not permitted — they create additional risk on landing. Same with going barefoot. You need shoes so your feet are protected from rough ground on a slide-in landing.
Forgot your shoes or showed up in sandals? We keep backup shoes at the dropzone for exactly this reason. Just ask and we'll get you sorted.
What About Wardrobe Malfunctions?
It's worth noting: any exposed skin tends to ripple and flap in the wind regardless of age or fitness. If that's not an aesthetic you want in your video or photos, long sleeves and pants are better options than shorts and tank tops.
It's also possible to have a wardrobe malfunction with low-cut tops or shorts that gape open around the legs. Wind speeds are high and can blow clothing out of place. However, we don't judge and we've seen it all, so wear what makes you feel good. The absolute best thing you can wear on a skydive is a big 'ole smile.
Can I Wear a Costume on My Skydive?
We have a lot of customers who come out for special occasions and holidays and they are pumped to show their spirit. We've seen tuxedos during prom season, Halloween costumes, onesies, and even the Oscar Meyer Wiener folks dressed up as hotdogs. There have been a ton of great skydiving outfits and we absolutely love seeing people skydiving dressed up.
The only restrictions on what you can wear to go skydiving come down to safety. Everything you wear must be securely attached and pose no risk of falling off. We will disallow anything that has long, draping fabric or strings that could get tangled on the equipment. Any costumes large enough to impede the instructor's ability to maintain stability or access all parts of the skydiving equipment will be prohibited.
Other than that, have fun and let your freak flag fly.
What Should I NOT Bring to the Dropzone?
Leave the valuables on the ground — we provide lockers for all of our students. You can't bring any of the following on a tandem skydive:
- Phones and cameras — No GoPros, no selfie sticks, no action cams. USPA regulations prohibit any jumper with fewer than 200 jumps from carrying a camera in freefall. That's not our rule — it's the industry standard for good reason. Your tandem instructor can film your jump with a professional setup instead.
- Keys and wallets — Anything in your pockets can (and will) fall out at 120mph. Empty your pockets completely.
- Jewelry — Rings, necklaces, bracelets, watches, and dangling earrings should all come off. The harness and wind can catch on them, and losing a wedding ring at 14,500 feet is a bad day for everyone.
- Hats and scarves — They will blow off. Guaranteed.
- Loose accessories — If it's not strapped to your body, it's not coming on the jump.
Do You Have to Wear a Helmet to Go Skydiving?
Helmets are not permitted for students on tandem skydives. They pose a potential risk to the instructor. Helmets turn your head into a bigger, harder weapon than it already is. We want to minimize any risk of a large, helmeted head hitting an instructor in the teeth or chin for obvious reasons.
Helmets also make it more difficult for you to hear important instructions from your tandem instructor. So, ironically, tandem students don't wear helmets, for safety.
What Should I Do with My Hair on a Skydive?
The best way to manage long hair is to braid it. Any braid will work but if you can French braid, even better. You can go with a tight bun or ponytail, but any hair exposed to the wind is likely to get tangled.
If you're not concerned with a long brushing session after you skydive, you can leave it down — as long as your instructor can still see and it's not so long that it could get caught on any equipment. Loose hair in freefall looks wild in videos, so there's an argument for just going with it.
Can I Wear Glasses or Contacts on a Skydive?
Every tandem student gets a pair of goggles. If the goggles are securely fitted to your face, contacts should not be a problem. If you wear glasses, we have over-the-glasses goggles that are designed to be large enough to fit over most glasses. Either way, we've got you covered.
What Does Skydive Midwest Provide?
You don't need to bring any special clothing or gear — we've got everything you need:
- Goggles for every tandem student
- Over-the-glasses goggles if you wear prescription lenses
- Backup shoes if you show up in something we can't allow
- All harness and safety equipment — you just show up in the right clothes
Still not sure what to wear? Give us a call at (262) 886-3480 and we'll help you figure it out.
Ready to Jump?
You've got the outfit figured out, now come and jump!