Why Do Skydivers Wear Helmets? 

Helmets are a pretty common piece of safety equipment for anyone taking part in high-adrenaline, adventurous activities. But when it comes to skydiving, the role of a helmet is much more nuanced than you may think. 

While protection is the obvious reason behind sporting some head protection, skydiving helmets hold various purposes. Let’s explore why skydivers wear helmets – and why sometimes they don’t! 

Do You Wear A Helmet When Skydiving Tandem? 

Do you wear a helmet skydiving tandem? No – tandem skydiving students are not required to wear helmets. If you see a tandem student geared up in a helmet, it’s most likely a frap hat. These old-school helmets are soft, while still offering a decent amount of protection from the ole bump on the noggin inside of the airplane. 

Why do tandem skydivers not wear helmets? There are a couple of reasons:

• It’s not really needed! Tandem skydiving instructors are professionals with tons of experience. This means they have hundreds or thousands of skydives AND have gotten in and out of a jump plane just as many times – which is when a tandem student is most likely to bump their brain bucket on something. Tandem instructors are there to ensure you have the best time ever on your skydive, and this includes guiding you and your pretty lil’ head away from anything in the way. 

• Safety! When you’re a tandem student, you’re secured to the front of your instructor. This means that the back of your head is aligned with the front of their face. It may seem a bit counterintuitive, as helmets seem like the ultimate safety measure, but a tandem student wearing a helmet can actually present some dangers. Imagine the tandem student gets excited (as one should – it’s a skydive!), and whips their encased noggin into the face of their instructor. Ouch! We don’t want to give our instructors any bloody noses, or anything worse, as they’re beginning they’re mid-leap with you! 

Why Do Skydivers Wear Helmets (When They Don’t Really Need To)? 

Do you need to wear a helmet when skydiving? Nope! The only skydivers who are actually required to wear head protection are those who are learning to skydive solo and have yet to achieve their solo skydiving license. What happens if you skip over a helmet as part of your regular skydiving garb? Generally speaking, nothing drastic. But it’s worth noting that the added layer of safety, comfort, and utility are reasons that many avid jumpers opt to wear them. Let’s jump into some pros of wearing a helmet while skydiving.

Comfort.
Comfort is KING in skydiving. Wearing a helmet keeps your hair in check and significantly reduces the volume of the wind zipping around. While some find the roar of the wind exhilarating and even refreshing, those who are jumping multiple times per day could use the occasional break from the breeze. 

Audibles.
Have you ever wondered how skydivers are able to tell how high up they are? How do they always deploy the parachute right on time? Altimeters! Altimeters are digital, analog, or audible devices that let skydivers know which altitude they’re at. Although all skydivers sport altimeters on their wrists, many choose to have an added one tucked inside their helmets. These little guys loudly beep at pre-set altitudes to alert the jumper about how high up they are. Audibles are an added safety measure, and without helmets, they would cease to exist! 

Self-expression.
Many jumpers adorn their helmets with custom paint jobs or stickers; this adds a fun and personal touch to the gear. Think about skydiving gear – the rig, parachute, jumpsuit, etc. – like a school uniform that you can’t really mess with. Then think of the helmet as the jewelry, hair or makeup you get to wear however you want! 

Videography.
Where do skydiving videographers put their cameras? On their heads, of course! When jumpers wear cameras, they’re falling way too fast to be able to keep them in their clutches. Having cameras secured to the helmet prevents them from being a distraction during the jump, making for some awesome, hassle-free snapshots. 

Safety.
We saved the best for last! Although many skydiving helmets are not rated for high-impact collisions, it’s rare to catch a solo jumper without one due to them wanting to prioritize safety. How? Helmets offer valuable protection from less severe impacts – dinking your head on the plane door, taking a tumble on landing, or having another jumper unintentionally whack an extremity into you during freefall – annoying!  

First-Timer, Are You Ready? 

As a tandem student, you’ll get to experience the thrill of freefall without the need for a helmet. Embrace the excitement, take the leap of faith, and get ready for an unforgettable experience – book today! Blue skies!