Thrill-seekers across the world have been ziplining since as far back as 1739. While it has advanced over time, ziplining has always been a basic and reliable activity. So, how safe is ziplining?
There are roughly 3,700 ziplining injuries per year out of 70 million rides, and only 12% of them result in hospitalization. Ziplining fatalities are rare and there were only 16 deaths in the United States over 10 years. Bruising makes up the majority of ziplining injuries, and it is considered a relatively safe activity.
Always pay attention to your tour guide so that you are prepared to safely zipline. I was a guide for over 5 years and had zero ziplining-related injuries. The only time we had an injury was due to someone rolling their ankle on the trail, not due to ziplining.
Ziplining accidents happen when the zipliner does not listen to the safety speeches, this is when you learn all you need to know to stay safe. Never touch your gear after the guides have suited you up, unlinking carabiners or straps can lead to serious accidents.
Follow along as we explore the safety of ziplining and what you can expect from the experience.
Is Ziplining Dangerous?
Ziplining is not considered dangerous, and accidents are mostly rare. Broken bones and bruising account for just over 60% of all ziplining injuries. Concussions account for less than 10% of ziplining injuries.
The Association for Challenge Course Technology claims that you have a 1 in a billion chance of your line breaking. While there aren’t enough metrics to prove the probability, it makes sense when you see how few accidents there are per year.
Is Ziplining Scary?
Ziplining can be scary if you are inexperienced or afraid of heights. That is why it’s important to research your ziplining destination to see how high it is. The length of the ziplining course can also affect how scary it is, but your tolerance for heights is the ultimate determining factor.
Longer courses are often scarier because the cables sag more. This makes you go faster and also means that you will drop lower than you would on a shorter course in the beginning or middle.
Think you can zipline? See what 10 People Should NOT Go Ziplining here.
Do You Get a “Drop” Feeling When Ziplining?
It is common to experience a slight drop feeling when ziplining. You are more likely to feel a drop when ziplining if the line itself sags quite a bit. The more the line sags, the more likely you are to feel your stomach drop when ziplining.
A tight line is unlikely to give you a stomach drop feeling, and shorter courses generally have tighter lines. Longer ziplining courses typically sag at one point to help you pick up speed. This lets you reach the end of the course without losing momentum and it can create a dropping feeling.
However, this feeling quickly goes away because you are safely connected to the cables. These cables are designed to hold tens of thousands of pounds. A joke I always made as a guide was “We could zip you across in your car if your car could fit in a harness”.
Does Ziplining Feel Like a Rollercoaster?
I find the sensations of ziplining and rollercoasters to be quite different. Rollercoasters involve much more motion than ziplining. You are likely to feel your stomach drop several times on a rollercoaster whereas you will likely only experience this one while ziplining.
Rollercoasters offer a more hectic experience than ziplining. You move in a linear path when ziplining, whereas you are whipped around somewhat violently on a rollercoaster. Both experiences are fun, but ziplining is much more relaxing than a rollercoaster in my experience.
Personally, ziplining is a more relaxing experience in the “ride” sense. When I am on a rollercoaster I find I get a stomach sickness from all the motion, plus you get way more G-force on a large rollercoaster, when ziplining you get pretty much none.
Is Ziplining Safe for Children?
Ziplining is safe for children, and many courses are meant specifically for kids. Age restrictions are typically set by zipline operators. Some locations let kids as young as 5 years old go ziplining. However, tame ziplining courses are ultimately the best for children, especially if they have never done it before.
Where I worked as a zipline guide you had to weigh 60 lbs and fit securely in a kids harness to be able to go ziplining.
Is Ziplining Safe for Seniors?
Healthy seniors can safely zipline in most cases. However, it is inadvisable to go ziplining if you have physical problems or a heart condition whether you are a senior or not. Seniors should consider a shorter ziplining course with minimal slack if they are inexperienced or apprehensive about a longer course.
I have gone ziplining with many seniors, it is important to know the course. Some ziplines are much faster and landings are different. If you are the brake, as in they provide you a glove and you can grab the line, then this is better suited for seniors. Where I worked, we caught you during the landings. Sometimes you go fast, and we use our body weight to grab you, this can sometimes get physical and being in top shape is best to prevent minor injuries.
Ziplining Safety Tips to Follow:
Always Tie Up Your Long Hair
You must tie up your hair if it is long when you go ziplining. The last thing that you want is for your long hair to get tangled with the lines. Use a scrunchie or hair tie to protect your hair and head from serious injury.
NEVER Smoke in your Harness
I cannot tell you how many times I have seen people try to smoke in their harnesses. This is extremely dangerous and can threaten the integrity of your harness. Even a small burning ember can burn or melt part of your harness and make it unsafe for you to go ziplining.
Wear Your Helmet
Failure to wear a helmet is one of the biggest mistakes that you can make when ziplining. A helmet can protect you from trail falls and from sagging cables hitting you or rubbing against your head. Most ziplining operators require customers to wear a helmet.
At least once a week someone would say “why do we have to wear helmets, if we fall they won’t do anything”. Yes, if you fall the 500 feet they won’t help, but that’s not why we required helmets. Certain lines sag as the current zipliner jumps from the platform, and if you are standing under it the line can smack you very hard in the head. This happened often even when you say to stand on one side of the zipline.
Wearing Gloves Ziplining is a Good Idea!
Many ziplining tours offer you gloves to wear to protect your hands if you try to slow yourself. Gloves also help to stop you from pinching your hands on the gear. However, gloves are unnecessary if you are doing a hands-free ziplining course.
Read my full post “What to Wear Ziplining: Tips from an Experienced Guide” here.
NEVER Play/Mess Around with Your Gear
It can be tempting to mess around with your zipline gear, but this is quite dangerous. Clicking buttons on your pulley and carabiner can compromise your safety and can lead to serious injuries. Tell your zipline operator right away if you mess with your gear and hear a click.
They will be able to refasten it and make sure it’s safe. The gear is arguably more important than the lines themselves when ziplining. You should never go ziplining with an insecure harness or pulley.
Always Listen to Your Tour Guides
Pay attention when your tour guides tell you what to expect when ziplining. They will tell you how to safely zipline and explain the importance of the gear. Ziplining guides have plenty of experience that they can share with you to make you more comfortable and prepared.
Don’t Be Scared to Ask Questions
Ask questions if you have any concerns so that you are fully prepared when it is your turn. This can help you feel more secure and make the experience much safe. The best way to be as comfortable as possible when ziplining is to approach it prepared and confident.
How Common Are Zipline Accidents?
There are typically 3,700 zipline accidents per year in the United States. This may sound like a lot, but most of them are minor. The rate of accidents is also quite low when you consider how many ziplining courses there are in the country.
People experience zipline courses roughly 70 million times per year. The low rate of accidents and injuries is comforting when compared to everyday activities, such as driving. Only 12% of people involved in ziplining accidents need medical treatment.
There were only 16 ziplining deaths from 2006-2016, and they haven’t become any more common. You are more likely to die in an elevator accident than in a ziplining accident. However, ziplining accidents do occur so it’s important to choose a reputable zipline operator and follow the safety instructions.
Once a zipliner ran into a sloth when ziplining in Costa Rica, so uncommon things happen!
Final Thoughts
Ziplining is quite safe, and there are around 3,700 injuries each year. Most of these injuries are minor and hospital visits only occur 12% of the time. There were 16 ziplining deaths over 10 years and that is quite low compared to other extreme sports, such as skydiving. Ziplines only have a 1 in a billion chance of snapping and breaking.
Minor injuries such as hand burns are more common than concussions and broken bones. That is why you should wear gloves when ziplining to protect your skin. Listen to your zipline operator and refrain from adjusting your gear so that it is as safe as possible. Ziplining is one of the safest and most fun extreme activities, and there is no reason to be scared.
Interested in ziplining? See how much it costs by reading How Much Does Ziplining Cost? (The Ultimate Guide)
Jamie is the founder of Action Sporter. He is the chief zipline writer and the lead editor. He has 5 years of zipline experience being a tour guide in Newfoundland. Most of the time you can find Jamie adventure traveling, hiking, skiing, skateboarding, or anything action related!
