The right attire is an essential part of your skydiving experience. The average novice skydiver can understandably feel lost when picking out what to wear. So, can you wear shorts skydiving?
You can wear shorts, but they are typically uncomfortable because of the wind chill and cold air temperatures. It’s much colder in the air than on the ground, so it’s ideal to wear pants while skydiving. Never wear baggy shorts when you go skydiving because they can inflate and throw your balance off.
Make sure to wear tight shorts if it’s hot outside so that they fit comfortably under your jumpsuit. Follow along as we explore what you can expect if you wear shorts skydiving.
Only Wear Shorts if the Weather is Really Warm
You shouldn’t wear shorts while skydiving unless it is a particularly warm day. The air temperature quickly plummets as you ascend higher before skydiving. It is 55 degrees or colder when you are 1,500 feet in the air even if it’s hot on the ground.
This is too cold to wear shorts for the average person, and it can be quite uncomfortable. However, it can get much colder in the air if you go skydiving on a cold day. Plan your attire based on how you will feel in the air, not on the ground. The wind chill alone can make it intolerable to wear shorts while skydiving.
Are Pants the Recommended Option for Skydiving?
Pants are the recommended option for skydiving because of their comfort and practicality. You won’t need to worry about your legs being cold and shaky if you wear pants while skydiving. It is ideal to wear tighter pants so that they don’t inflate and throw off your balance.
Learn the best skydiving outfits and accessories by reading our “What to Wear Skydiving Guide” here.
Are Baggy Shorts a Hazard for Skydiving?
Baggy shorts are a hazard for skydiving because they can inflate. This can also create a snag hazard, but that is a bigger risk if you wear a baggy shirt or hoodie. It can also be uncomfortable to wear baggy shorts under a jumpsuit, especially if they are quite bulky.
Can You Get Hypothermia Skydiving?
It is quite rare to get hypothermia from skydiving, but it is possible. Factors such as the ground and air temperatures as well as what you wear affect your likelihood of frostbite and hypothermia. Hypothermia can begin within 10 minutes of extreme sub-zero temperatures, but most people won’t skydive in those conditions.
It can get as low as 14 degrees in the air while skydiving if it’s 32 degrees on the ground. This is a low enough temperature to cause hypothermia in many conditions. However, you aren’t typically exposed to the cold air while skydiving for long enough to get hypothermia. You only fall for 6 minutes while skydiving, and that isn’t typically enough time for hypothermia to set in.
Final Thoughts
It is recommended that you wear pants instead of shorts while skydiving. Pants will keep you warm and they are less likely to inflate unless they are baggy. Shorts are only ideal if it is a hot day, but it will still be much colder in the air. Remove your drawstrings if you wear shorts so that they don’t get tangled in the air.
Read our related skydiving outfit articles here:
- Can You Wear Leggings Skydiving?
- Can You Wear a Hoodie Skydiving?
- Can You Wear Jeans While Skydiving?
- Can You Wear Glasses While Skydiving?
When Heather is not participating in extreme sports you can find her working the events across the country, or writing about these amazing adrenaline rushes. She loves to go skydiving, snowboarding, parasailing, hang gliding, dirt boarding, off-roading and hiking.
