I was a zipline guide for 5 years in Newfoundland, Canada, and I have gone ziplining in the hot summers and in snow during the winter. It became a simple task to wake up and choose what to wear daily to go ziplining as an instructor. What you wear ziplining as a guest is pretty much the same as what I would choose to wear to work. In short, here is what you can wear ziplining:
When ziplining in hot weather, you can wear shorts and a T-shirt. When the weather is cooler, choose active-wear pants with a windbreaker. Ziplining in the winter, bundle up in layers; choose a breathable base layer, an insulation layer, and a waterproof winter jacket.
For the most part, choosing an outfit for ziplining doesn’t have to be challenging. Technically, you can wear almost anything you want, I have taken people on tour wearing jeans, short shorts, tank tops, and some odd outfits. What matters most is being comfortable, and there are a few things that just won’t work when in a zipline harness.
What NOT to Wear on a Zipline Tour
I think the easiest way to start off this article is to let you know what to avoid wearing during a zipline tour. A tour can last 1-2 hours long, and being uncomfortable in a tight harness for that long sucks. Just do your best and do not wear these items ziplining:
Dresses: A harness wraps around each leg individually, and a dress wraps around your body once. This doesn’t add up nicely, your harness will bundle up the dress around your legs, and this will not be comfy.
Skirts: Similarly with a skirt, the harness will pull your skirt up higher than it should. I don’t wear skirts myself, but I can’t imagine that would be comfortable for 2 hours.
Jeans: If you only have jeans, you can still go ziplining, but it won’t be super comfortable. Ziplining tours require some walking, small nature hikes, and ziplining numerous times. When you start a zipline, your harness pulls up as it catches all your body weight. Wearing jeans makes the constant rubbing on your skin irritating. Also, for us guys, tight jeans along with a tight harness can really make it painful during the zipline. When the harness rides up, it can push/pull/squat your (you know what), and you DO NOT want that to happen.
Short Length Shorts: A harness wraps around your thighs, if your shorts are not longer than that then your harness will rub on your skin directly. This can cause fabric burns, pinched skin, and irritation. Longer-length shorts are recommended.
Tank Tops: Many wear tank tops in the summer, even us instructors, but on some zipline tours you will wear a full body harness (or modified rock climbing harness), that wraps around your shoulders/neck. It is possible that it will rub and pinch you, so having a bit more arm protection is never a bad idea.
Sandals/Flip Flops: You do not want to wear any open-toe footwear. I have taken people up wearing sandals because that’s all they have, but you risk hurting your feet on the trails and platforms; the minimum support isn’t good either when you come in hot to the landing platform.
Backpacks/Luggage: I don’t know why you would want to carry extra items, but no, you cannot take a backpack or other luggage with you. This can interfere with your harness and it also gets in the way for the instructors hooking you up and catching you on the landing platform. I know I wouldn’t enjoy a backpack to my face as you come in too fast as I am catching you.
Loose Jewelry: Ok, you can wear jewelry and a lot of people do. I wear a chain and always have when I was working. I listed it as “loose jewelry” because loose items can fall off and then it’s gone forever. If it can fall off I recommend packing it away during your tour.
What to Wear Ziplining (Piece by Piece)
Shoes
Closed-toe shoes are the best option when it comes to ziplining. Depending on the tour, you may be hiking in the jungle, on wooded trails, along rocky surfaces, and much more. For your own safety, choose closed-toe shoes to prevent twigs and rocks from jabbing at you for cutting your feet up.
I recommend choosing a pair of shoes you would wear on an easy hiking trail, not too heavy, but something with a bit of extra support. The most ideal footwear for ziplining is hiking shoes, you get extra grip, and they are not too heavy to interfere with your overall comfort. You can choose hiking boots too, but they don’t have to be too large, especially in the summer.
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Bottoms
The best bottoms to wear when ziplining are a pair of pants that are comfortable to move around in, such as athletic pants, performance pants, active-wear pants, or motion-friendly pants. Anything that is stretchy and breathable that allows you a full range of motion is acceptable.
Shorts are allowed too; I often wore a pair of athletic-style cargo shorts. They looked nice, making me look somewhat presentable as a zipline guide; they were comfortable to wear with a harness for hours at a time. Just avoid super short pairs of shorts, you do not want the harness chafing all tour long.
Always avoid tight, heavy-duty, non-breathable bottoms as they can make your zipline tour uncomfortable for a long duration.
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Tops
The best tops to wear ziplining are an athletic t-shirt, long sleeve, sweater, or a windbreaker jacket. What you choose to wear should highly depend on the weather. Many ziplines down south are in hot climates and temperatures reach high numbers. You do not want to wear too much clothes!
Wear a t-shirt in the heat, if things get cooler, choose a long sleeve/sweater, and if the wind is chilly you can choose a windbreaker jacket to deflect that wind away.
Avoid tank tops if you don’t want the harness chafing and pinching around your shoulders and armpit area.
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Headwear
I almost forgot to mention this one! You will be given a helmet, but this doesn’t mean you can’t wear a hat. A baseball hat and a winter hat should fit no problem; just make sure it won’t shift and interfere with your vision. Avoid wearing large-style hats, as they won’t fit under a helmet.
You don’t have to wear any hats or headwear; however, if you have long hair, you really need to tie it up in a ponytail or something similar. The last thing you want to do is have your hair get caught in the trolley as you zipline at high speeds. It will eat your hair and cause serious damage, please be careful! I notice in random zip videos I see online that people with loose hair let it go free, and it’s a disaster waiting to happen.
Headbands are also a good option to keep hair out of your eyes so you can see the entire time.
Glasses are also okay to wear ziplining! You should have them wrapped around you with glasses ties/straps to keep them from falling off as you zip.
Action Cameras
I always recommend you wear an action camera on your helmet or chest (if allowed). Being able to wear a camera like a GoPro allows you to capture some of the best action moments of your life! I have so many videos of crazy tours I have done in my life, and I am so happy I took my camera.
Here are a few screenshots from my old GoPro of me ziplining with my mom, girlfriend, and my co-worker’s (& good friend) family:
If I hadn’t worn my action camera I would never have these memories of my mom and girlfriend ziplining! I highly recommend if you have one, to bring it with you. Most locations have the mounts installed on helmets for you to use. If not, you can usually carry an action camera at most zipline locations too.
What to Wear Ziplining in the Rain
Ziplining in the rain is a bit different when it comes to what you should wear. You want to do your best to stay dry throughout the tour, so this means weatherproofing your outfit is a must.
When ziplining in the rain, a top I recommend wearing is a rain jacket or a shell that will repel away water. Fully waterproof jackets are best, as no water will seep in throughout the duration of the tour.
Same with bottoms, you want to wear water-repellent or waterproof pants. You can also wear rain-shell pants that you pull over your ordinary outfit to keep you dry.
You can bring a hat to help keep your head dry, but you will be required to wear a helmet, so keep that in mind.
Note that you are likely to get a bit wet, bundle up according to the temperatures, and do your best to stay dry.
What to Wear Ziplining in the Winter
Winter ziplining is not extremely popular compared to summer ziplining, but it exists because I worked at a location at a ski hill and we zipped year-round. We had to climb out on the lines to beat ice chunks that had accumulated on them, now that’s a workout.
When it comes to what to wear ziplining in the winter, you need to do whatever it takes to stay warm. Where I worked it was common for guests to wear what they would skiing or snowboarding. So this means, layer up from the bottom:
Base layer: This layer needs to be breathable, typically tight, and will wick away moisture. The better your baselayer, the warmer you will be.
Middle/Insulation layer: Your insulation layer can be a part of your ski jacket, or you can wear a cozy sweater to add more insulation.
Top layer: This is your winter jacket, it should be waterproof and wind resistant. If water can seep through, you are more likely to get cold during your zipline. Make sure to choose a high-quality top layer.
Your hat, gloves, neck warmers, ski goggles, and other accessories are important. Ensure they are waterproof and will keep you dry throughout your tour. If its really chilly, pack some heat warmers inside your jacket that you can sue just incase.
Bundle up enough to stay warm and dry, but make sure you are able to move around and don’t look like the Michelin man. This is for your harness to secure to your body properly.
What Ziplining Equipment is Typically Worn During the Tour?
When going to do a zipline tour you will be provided with all the required safety gear/equipment needed to go ziplining. This is like your harness, helmet, riding gear, braking gear, gloves, and everything in between. Let me explain each one.
Helmets
You should always wear a helmet ziplining, this isn’t to protect you from a fall; it is specifically to protect you from getting hit by the sagging cables. They also help keep hair from flying up close to the trolleys and getting caught (tie up your hair!).
These helmets are rock climbing helmets; they are super lightweight and fit comfortably.
Harness
There are numerous types of harnesses you may be wearing ziplining.
- There are full-body harnesses which wrap around your legs, back, chest, and shoulders.
- There are 2 piece harness sets, which is basically a modified rock climbing setup, you get the bottom harness piece that wraps around your waist and each leg. Then you get the chest harness piece that wraps around your shoulders. The lanyard then connects to your lower harness, goes through your chest carabiner, then to the trolley. (This is what I used where I worked)
- Some locations only offer the bottom-seated harness piece, which is safe, but having something keep you sitting upward, and wrap over your shoulders, is much safer.
There may be other things attached to you, don’t touch things unless told to do so. These items are your riding gear pieces and you need them to connect to the cables safely.
Gloves
You may be given gloves, and you may not be. If you are given gloves, you are likely riding an active braking zipline. This means you are the brakes, you use a glove to slow yourself down. The glove must be heavy duty as it rubs against the cable using friction to control your speeds and bring you to a gentle stop.
If you are not given gloves, do not panic, you are just ziplining on a fully automatic zipline or a gravity-braking zipline. Both do not require you to do anything to help stop or slow down, just focus on the requested landing position provided, which is usually knees up and feet tucked. Your guides will either be catching you, or there are springs to slow you down.
Feel free to wear bike gloves if you want when ziplining on automatic or gravity-braking, but they are not required. Always wear winter gloves during cold zipline tours though.
What to Wear Ziplining FAQs
Should You Wear Sunscreen Ziplining?
If you are going to wear sunscreen on a zipline tour, you need to apply it before you are wearing any zipline gear. Also, make sure you are applying sunscreen from a plastic bottle, and always avoid spray/aerosol sunscreen. Spray sunscreens are solvent, and over time this can make some harness materials brittle and unsafe to use.
Can You Wear Bug Spray Ziplining?
Bug sprays are a no-no when ziplining! There are chemicals in the spray, such as DEET, that are known to degrade plastics. Some harnesses are made of various plastics and you do not want to weaken what is holding your body up! There are alternative options such as picaridin-based insect repellents, these are safe around harnesses and ziplining gear.
Is it Colder on the Zipline?
Many people ask before the tour if it is colder on the zipline. If the sun is out and your zipline is in the sun, the temperatures are pretty much the same. Higher and faster ziplines can add some wind chill, so it may feel a bit cooler during your ride.
If you are ziplining between trees, in the shade, on windy mountains, or over waterfalls, you may experience a bit of a chill, and layering up may be a good idea. The best way to determine what the temperature is going to be like is to ask the guides at the zipline, they will know the answer.
Can I Take My Phone Ziplining?
Where I worked, you could take your phone ziplining if you wanted to but it was at your own risk. I have seen people drop their phones down the 285-foot fall, they never saw that phone ever again. Most ziplines will have their own rules about phones, asking beforehand is a good idea.
If you are going to take your phone, treat it like an action camera and either connect it to you, or get a strap that wraps around your wrist, so if you do drop it the strap catches it.
Can I Bring My Own Ziplining Gear?
You may have a harness, helmet, gloves, or anything you think may work well for the zipline. However, for safety and possible legal reasons, you cannot take your own zipline gear.
Final Thoughts
If you are completely unsure what to wear ziplining, head to the tour company’s website and check their FAQ section. Almost all zipline company websites list what to wear, and it will likely answer other questions you may have. Or just pick up the phone and call to ask them!
However, I hope my tips and information provided helped answer some questions about what to wear ziplining and maybe help you piece together an outfit.
If you have any specific questions feel free to comment in the section below.
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!