What to Know About Skydiving Suits: Gear, Fit & Function

Skydiving isn’t just about the thrill – it’s about being prepared, comfortable, and with safety at the forefront of your mind from takeoff to touchdown. One of the most underrated but essential pieces of skydiving gear is the skydiving jumpsuit.

Whether you’re gearing up for your first tandem jump or already on your path to becoming a licensed skydiver, understanding what a skydiving suit is – and its function – can help you feel more confident, prepared, and excited for your adventure.

Here’s the skinny on skydiving jumpsuits!

What is a Skydiving Suit?

What is a skydiving suit called? In the skydiving world, they’re most commonly referred to as “jumpsuits” or sometimes “flight suits.” While the terminology may vary slightly, the function remains the same: to help you fly better, stay comfortable, and protect your body. 

Jumpsuits are typically made from durable, lightweight, and sometimes stretchy materials to help your body move efficiently through the air while shielding your body from wind, cold, and the occasional grass slide on landing. Whether you’re belly flying, zipping head down at terminal velocity, or simply stepping out for your first tandem jump, your parachute jumpsuit works behind the scenes to keep you comfy, streamlined, and in control.

Why Do Skydivers Wear Jumpsuits?

Think of it as your superhero costume for the sky. It’s not just about looking the part (although, let’s be honest, you will look awesome) – it’s about enhancing your ability to fly your body like you want to! Here’s why these suits are essential:

Flight Control

Your body is your steering wheel in the freefall, and your jumpsuit? That’s your custom aerodynamic upgrade! These suits are designed to fine-tune how fast you fall, how stable you fly, and how responsive your movements feel in the sky. Need extra lift? Some suits have “booties” on the feet or wings under the arms to help you soar smoothly and maneuver better.

Protection

Freefalling at 120 mph can kick up some pretty gnarly winds – a well-fitting jumpsuit can act as a shield, protecting your skin from windburn. The story is a little bit different when it comes time to land back on the ground, but the shield is still the same. The jumpsuit that protected you in the sky will now do its best to protect your skin (and clothes) from scrapes and grass stains.

Team Spirit

Whether you’re jumping as a solo sponsored athlete or on a team, jumpsuits help everyone stay coordinated and can act as a billboard of sorts. Team colors, logos, and your own signature color scheme – everyone will recognize who you are underneath the helmet and who you represent just based on your suit design!

Weather Warrior

Spoiler alert – it’s chilly up there at altitude! At 14,000 feet, temperatures can drop around 20 to 30 degrees, and with the wind chill? It can be fierce. Your jumpsuit helps trap warmth and block out the biting wind so you can focus on flying, not freezing.

Looking Fly

Let’s be real, jumpsuits make you look awesome. Whether it’s your first jump or your hundredth, putting on that jumpsuit feels like flipping a switch – it’s go time! Skydiving jumpsuits aren’t just functional – they’re stylish, too. With bold colors, sleek design, and a tailored fit, wearing your suit skydiving will make you stand out on the ground and in the air. And if you’re planning to stick with the sport, a custom jumpsuit is your chance to show off your personal style while flying like a pro. Want flames on your legs? Go for it. Neon green racing stripes? Yes, please! Looking fly isn’t just about appearance – it’s about owning the moment. Because when you look good, you feel good … and when you feel good, you fly even better!

Types of Skydiving Suits

Skydiving jumpsuits aren’t one-size-fits-all – there are different suits for different flying styles. Here’s a peek into the skydiving style closet:

Student Jumpsuits

Durable, roomy, and built like tanks. These are your starter suits, perfect for tandem students and AFF beginners. Think: comfort, coverage, and reinforcements on the knees and elbows.

RW (Relative Work) Suits

These are also called “bootie suits” because of the extra fabric booties that slide over your shoes for extra power. They’re for belly flyers doing formations. They also have handy grips on the arms and legs for building formations mid-air, and are designed to give just the right amount of drag to keep you steady and in sync.

Freefly Suits

These are tight-fitting suits built for head-up and head-down flying. These are made to reduce drag so you can control your speed and orientation during those high-velocity vertical flights. Sleek, slick, and built for serious speed.

Wingsuits

Ah, the flying squirrel suits! These have fabric “wings” between your arms and legs, turning your body into an airfoil so you can glide like a bird. Wingsuitting is an advanced type of flying style that takes special training and is one of the most mind-blowing ways to experience human flight.

Do You Wear a Jumpsuit When Skydiving for the First Time?

Great question – and yes, most first-time skydivers do wear a jumpsuit. When you arrive for your tandem skydive, your instructor or dropzone staff will provide a jumpsuit if it’s appropriate for the day’s conditions or your clothing choices.

Jumpsuits help keep first-timers safe and comfortable, especially if you’re jumping in cooler weather or want that added protection on landing. Some dropzones may also use them to help with video visibility (bright colors pop better on camera). 

However, it is optional at some dropzones. If you’re dressed appropriately, a jumpsuit may not be required. Here at Skydive Monroe, for example, our instructors may let tandem students jump in their own clothing.

What are the Best Clothes to Wear When Skydiving?

The main things to remember when choosing what to wear on your skydive? Think athletic, snug-fitting, and weather-aware. Clothes designed for movement, like workout wear or activewear, are perfect. They should be snug enough not to flap around in freefall or interfere with your harness, but flexible enough to allow you to move freely.

When it comes to footwear, lace-up sneakers are the way to go. Avoid sandals, boots, or anything with open toes or heels. Your shoes need to stay on during freefall and keep you steady during landing.

Ready to Suit Up?

Skydiving is a transformative experience, and the right gear makes it even better. It’s about that time – let’s gear up, jump out, and fly free! The sky’s not the limit, it’s just the beginning. Book your jump with Skydive Monroe. Blue skies.