Everything You Wanted to Know About Jumpsuits

TL;DR
Skydiving jumpsuits are designed to improve comfort, safety, and performance by protecting you from the wind, helping with body flight, and keeping you comfortable at altitude. While first-time tandem skydivers aren’t always required to wear a jumpsuit, they’re highly recommended and often provided by the dropzone. As you gain experience, different types of skydiving suits are designed for specific disciplines like formation skydiving, freeflying, and wingsuiting. Whether you’re preparing for your very first jump or shopping for your own gear as a licensed skydiver, understanding the purpose of a jumpsuit will help you make the most of every skydive.

There’s a moment before every skydive when something changes. You zip up your jumpsuit, cinch your gear down, and before you know it, you’re (physically) ready to jump out of an airplane! This feeling can be exciting, terrifying, or both. 

If you’re planning your first tandem skydive, chances are you have questions about skydiving jumpsuits, what they do, and whether you’ll need one. This guide will cover it all, from first-time tandem students to licensed jumpers shopping for their own gear.

Here’s everything you need to know about the iconic skydiving suit! 

What Is a Skydiving Jumpsuit?

A skydiving jumpsuit is a full-body garment that zips up the front and generally covers your arms and legs. You may also hear it called a flight suit. In skydiving, the terms are often used interchangeably, although many jumpsuits are designed for dynamic flying, not just body protection from the elements, such as those pilots wear. 

Modern skydiving outfits are made from materials such as nylon, Cordura, polycotton, and spandex blends. Skydiving suit types vary, but the general purpose of a skydiving jumpsuit is constant: improving comfort, safety, and performance in the sky. 

Why Do Skydivers Wear Jumpsuits? The 5 Real Reasons

There are a number of advantages to wearing a jumpsuit. Here are five of the top reasons skydivers, from first timers to pros, choose to wear a jumpsuit.

Body Protection

During freefall, you’ll experience wind speeds around 120 mph. A jumpsuit helps protect your skin from windburn and shields your everyday clothes from grass stains, dirt, and general wear and tear during landings. 

Flight Control & Aerodynamics

The fit and fabric of a jumpsuit affect how a skydiver moves through the air. Some suits create more drag, while others are designed for speed. The right skydiving attire helps maintain stability and proper body position. Plus, wearing a suit consistently allows skydivers to practice maneuvers without changing the variable of clothing! 

Instructor Control

Student and AFF jumpsuits often include reinforced grips that allow instructors to maintain control and more-easily provide assistance when necessary. These grippers are also present on suits designed for formation skydiving and they allow team members to take grips on one another in freefall. 

Temperature Management

Even on a warm day, temperatures at altitude can be 20-30°F colder than on the ground. A skydiving jumpsuit helps block wind chill during freefall, and can help keep you comfortable in the plane. 

Team Identity & Visibility

Bright colors, custom designs, and logos help skydivers stand out in the sky and in photos. Visibility matters, especially for formation jumps and camera flyers. 

The Different Types of Skydiving Jumpsuits Explained

The jumpsuit a skydiver wears depends on the type of jump they’re making. Some licensed jumpers have need for just one, others who practice multiple disciplines have need for different skydiving suit types.

Solo Student & Tandem Student Jumpsuits

Designed to be durable, comfortable, and easy to fit a wide range of body types, these are the jumpsuits most first-time jumpers and Accelerated Freefall (AFF) students wear. At Skydive Orange, tandem students are provided with appropriate gear, including a jumpsuit if they’d like – it’s up to you! 

Formation Skydiving or “Belly Suits”

These suits feature grippers and booties that help skydivers fly precisely in formation while flying belly-to-earth. 

Freefly Suits

Built for vertical flying, freefly suits are typically more streamlined and fitted, while some offer bagginess in certain areas. They help skydivers maintain control during head-up, head-down, and dynamic, mixed-formation flight.

Wingsuits

The famous “flying squirrel” suit uses fabric wings between the arms and legs (around the knees or lower) to create lift and forward movement using an airfoil design. Wingsuiting requires significant experience, and jumpers need at least 200 skydives before beginning wingsuit training.

“Shorty” or Summer Suits

With shorter sleeves and legs (like shorts), these lightweight skydiving suits are popular in hot weather and provide comfort while still offering protection from the elements! 

Do First-Time Skydivers Have to Wear a Jumpsuit?

One of the most common questions we hear is: Do you have to wear a jumpsuit when skydiving? The answer is not always, but it is recommended.

At Skydive Orange, jumpsuits are available for tandem students and are commonly used to improve comfort, protection from the wind and grass, and overall experience. For first-time jumpers, they also help create a more polished look in photos and videos while making you feel like part of the skydiving community! 

So, what do tandem skydivers wear if they choose not to wear a jumpsuit? (Or if the dropzone doesn’t provide them?) And what do skydivers wear underneath their jumpsuits? Good questions all around. Let’s take a closer look! 

What to Wear Under (or Instead of) a Jumpsuit

If you’re wondering what to wear skydiving, think comfortable clothing and footwear that is flexible or athletic.

Good choices include:

• T-shirts
• Fitted layers – like pullovers or crewnecks 
• Joggers
• Leggings or yoga pants
• Flexible jeans 
• Lace-up athletic shoes

Avoid:

• Baggy hoodies
• Anything that restricts movement
• Clothing with hooks, chains, or snag hazards
• Sandals, heels, flip-flops, or loose footwear

If you’re planning to jump during Virginia’s cooler months, the best outfit for skydiving will feature close-fitting layers. A comfortable base layer can make a big difference at altitude.

Remember: Keep jewelry to a minimum! Those earrings that have been in for years are generally okay, but anything dangly or able to easily fly away is not permitted. 

What Jumpsuit Is Right for You as a Licensed Skydiver?

If you’re progressing beyond student status, resist the urge to buy the most specialized suit right away – we promise the wait will be worth it for something you truly need and want. 

Start with a versatile jumpsuit that supports the discipline you’re currently learning, or that will work for several disciplines. There are plenty of jumpsuits that are more than good enough for multiple disciplines until you decide which one you want to focus on (if any)! As your interests become more focused – whether that’s formation skydiving, freeflying, or even wingsuiting – you can invest in more specialized gear.

Used jumpsuits are often available through dropzone gear sales and skydiving community groups – like on Facebook buy/sell groups. Once you’ve established your preferred discipline and body measurements, a custom suit may be worth considering, but don’t make that your first step. 

The experienced skydiving community at Skydive Orange is always happy to help newer jumpers make informed decisions when it comes to buying jumpsuits. When in doubt, ask an instructor! 

Jumpsuit FAQs

How much does a skydiving jumpsuit cost?

Used jumpsuits can often be found for $100 to $300, while new custom suits typically range from $300 to $800 or more, depending on materials, customization, and features.

Can I bring my own jumpsuit to Skydive Orange?

Licensed skydivers are welcome to use their own equipment. Students should plan to use the gear recommended by their instructors. Although it’s likely fine, tandem students should call ahead before committing to bringing their own to make sure it’s eligible.

What colors are skydiving jumpsuits?

Almost any color imaginable – and even multiple colors in the same suit! Bright colors are especially popular because they improve visibility and look great in photos. 

Are skydiving jumpsuits waterproof?

Most are water-resistant to some degree rather than fully waterproof. They’re designed for airflow, durability, and comfort rather than wet-weather use. Mostly because we don’t skydive in the rain! 

Do I need a jumpsuit for indoor skydiving?

Indoor wind tunnels, like iFly, provide flight suits for their customers, even if you’re going to train as a licensed skydiver and don’t own your own tunnel-worthy suit.

Ready to Suit Up?

Whether you’re preparing for your first tandem skydive or working toward your skydiving license, putting on a jumpsuit is often the moment the adventure starts to feel real.

At Skydive Orange, we’re passionate about creating an experience that’s equal parts exciting, professional, and welcoming. Our team has helped many thousands of people take their first leap, and we’d love to help you do the same! Book your tandem skydive or AFF First Jump Course at Skydive Orange today!