What to wear for skydiving in Thailand comes down to one rule: dress as if you were going to the gym, not the beach. Fitted sportswear, lace-up sneakers, hair tied back and nothing loose or dangling. The dropzone provides the jumpsuit, harness, goggles and altimeter, so your packing list is short. This guide covers clothes, shoes, hair, glasses and contacts, jewellery, what is provided, and what to leave at the hotel.
Quick answer
As of September 2026, both Pattaya dropzones (Thai Sky Adventures and Dropzone Thailand, on the Chonburi coast) ask tandem passengers to arrive in sporty clothes and lace-up sneakers. A jumpsuit goes over your own clothes, and the harness, goggles and altimeter are provided. You exit at 13,000 ft over the Gulf of Thailand, so choose thin, breathable layers that cope with a cool minute in freefall and a hot morning on the ground.
- Bring: fitted t-shirt or long-sleeve top, leggings or tracksuit trousers, lace-up sneakers, hair tie
- Provided: jumpsuit, tandem harness, goggles, altimeter, 20-minute briefing
- Leave behind: flip-flops, jewellery, sunglasses, personal camera, valuables you do not need
- Weight limit around 100 kg, small surcharge possible above 90 kg, so wear light shoes if you are near the limit
Clothes: dress for a gym session, not the beach
The jumpsuit is a thin, one-piece suit that goes over what you are wearing. It protects your clothes and gives your instructor clean fabric to grip, but it is neither warm nor cool; it simply covers you, which is why your base layer matters more than people expect.
Pattaya is hot and humid for most of the year. You will spend about 4 to 5 hours on site, most of it on the ground waiting for your load, then about 15 minutes climbing to altitude in an aircraft that gets cooler as it climbs. The best outfit is one that is comfortable across all of that.
| Wear this | Avoid this | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Fitted t-shirt or sports top | Crop top or vest | Harness straps cross the chest and shoulders and rub on bare skin |
| Thin long-sleeve top (optional) | Hoodie with drawstrings | Drawstrings and hoods flap at 200 km/h and can catch on the harness |
| Leggings, tracksuit trousers or fitted shorts | Jeans | Jeans restrict the arch position and are hot under a jumpsuit |
| Sports underwear | Anything with hard fastenings | Metal parts press into you under the leg straps |
| Fitted sports jacket for the cool season | Loose rain jacket | Loose fabric balloons in freefall and blocks the handcam |
| Bright colours | Black or white | Bright tops stand out on video against sky and sea |
Long trousers are slightly better than shorts even in the hot season, because the harness leg straps sit on the upper thigh and fabric between strap and skin is more comfortable on landing. Shorts are allowed if they are fitted and reach at least mid-thigh.
Shoes: lace-up sneakers only
Shoes are the item most often got wrong, and the one the desk is strictest about. Both Pattaya dropzones require closed, lace-up shoes for tandem passengers; running shoes, trainers or any lightweight sports shoe with laces is ideal.
- Allowed: running shoes, trainers, cross-trainers, lightweight walking shoes with laces
- Not allowed: flip-flops, sandals, slides, Crocs, slip-on canvas shoes, high heels, boots with hooks or open lacing loops
- Borderline: chunky hiking boots (heavy, and hooks can catch lines); ask the desk before you rely on them
Two reasons. An open or slip-on shoe can leave your foot during freefall, and a shoe with hooks or loops can snag a line. Double-knot the laces before you gear up. If you arrive in flip-flops with nothing else, the desk may have to move you to a later load or another day.
Hair, glasses and contact lenses
Long hair should be tied back low, in a plait or a low ponytail, so it sits under the leather or soft helmet and does not whip across your face or your instructor's. A bun on top of the head does not fit under the helmet. Bring a spare hair tie; they break.
Glasses are fine. Tell the desk at check-in and you will normally be given over-the-glasses goggles, which seal around the frame. Contact lenses are also fine; the goggles are sealed enough that lenses stay put, and many jumpers find them more comfortable than glasses under goggles. Sunglasses are not worn during the jump; the goggles replace them.
Jewellery, watches, phones and other loose items
Anything that can come off in freefall will come off in freefall. Remove before gearing up:
- Rings, bracelets, watches and fitness bands (they also sit under the wrist of the jumpsuit and press on the skin)
- Necklaces and long earrings
- Facial piercings that hang or hook; small studs are usually fine
- Hats and caps
- Phones, wallets and keys from your pockets
Phones are the biggest one: a phone in a jumpsuit pocket is a snag hazard and, at 13,000 ft, a lost phone. Personal cameras, including GoPros, are not allowed on tandem jumps at either Pattaya dropzone for the same reason. If you want footage, choose a camera package; the options are compared in skydiving camera packages in Thailand.
What the dropzone provides
Both Pattaya dropzones provide the jumpsuit, harness, goggles and altimeter, so the only equipment a tandem passenger brings is a pair of lace-up sneakers. Every passenger is issued the same set:
- Jumpsuit, worn over your clothes
- Tandem harness, fitted and adjusted by your instructor
- Goggles (over-the-glasses versions available on request)
- Altimeter on the wrist, so you can watch the altitude on the way down
- A soft helmet where the dropzone uses one
The rig your instructor wears carries a main parachute, a reserve parachute and an automatic activation device (AAD). You do not need to check, pack or touch any of it; the ground briefing of about 20 minutes covers what you do need to know, which is the exit position, the freefall arch and the landing position.
What to leave at the hotel
Pattaya Skydiving arranges hotel pickup around Pattaya with the booking, so you will be collected and returned. That makes packing light easy. Leave behind:
- Valuables you do not need
- Jewellery and watches
- Beachwear; you will not have time or place to swim
- Heavy jackets; a thin long sleeve is plenty even in the cool season
- Large bags; a small daypack with water, sunscreen and a spare top is ideal
- Alcohol; do not drink before the jump
Bring cash in Thai baht for the package, because payment is made at the dropzone desk at check-in. Card or bank transfer can be arranged on request. Prices for all seven packages are on the prices page.
Dressing by season in Pattaya
Thailand's climate has three seasons, and the sensible outfit shifts slightly with each.
| Season | Roughly | On the ground | Suggested outfit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cool and dry | November to February | Pleasant mornings, clear skies | T-shirt plus thin long-sleeve top, leggings, sneakers |
| Hot | March to May | Hot and bright by mid-morning | Breathable t-shirt, light trousers or fitted shorts, sunscreen |
| Rainy | May or June to October | Humid, short afternoon showers | Quick-dry sportswear, a spare top in your bag |
Swipe sideways to see every column
In the rainy season, showers are usually short afternoon bursts and mornings are often jumpable, which is why the desk prefers morning slots; the Thai Meteorological Department publishes the daily forecast for Chonburi if you want to check the evening before. A spare dry top for the drive back is worth packing. For planning around the calendar, see the best time for skydiving in Thailand.
Whatever the season, add sunscreen and a bottle of water to your bag. You will spend most of your 4 to 5 hours on site outdoors near the landing area.
Choosing colours for the camera
If you have booked a handcam or outside cameraman package, your clothes will be in every frame. Bright, saturated colours (red, orange, yellow, royal blue) stand out against the sky, the sea and the pale jumpsuit; black flattens into shadow and white blows out against clouds. Fitted beats fashionable here too, because a loose top rides up in freefall and the camera sees fabric rather than a face.
A one-minute packing checklist
- Fitted t-shirt or sports top, bright colour if you are being filmed
- Thin long-sleeve top (cool season, or if you feel the cold)
- Leggings, tracksuit trousers or fitted mid-thigh shorts
- Lace-up sneakers, double-knotted
- Hair tie, plus a spare
- Glasses or contacts, plus a case
- Cash in Thai baht for the package
- Sunscreen and water
- A spare top for the drive back
- Nothing loose, dangling or valuable
Everything else is provided at the dropzone. For the rest of the day, from breakfast to booking lead time, see how to prepare for a tandem skydive.
Frequently asked questions
What should I wear for skydiving in Thailand?
Wear fitted sportswear: a t-shirt or long-sleeve top, leggings or tracksuit trousers, and lace-up sneakers. A jumpsuit goes over your clothes, so choose thin, breathable fabrics for the tropical heat. Avoid jeans, skirts, dresses, loose sleeves, scarves and anything with hooks, drawstrings or dangling parts.
Can I skydive in flip-flops or sandals?
No. Both Pattaya dropzones require closed, lace-up shoes such as running shoes or trainers. Open shoes can fly off in freefall, and boots with hooks can catch on the harness or lines. If you arrive in flip-flops you will be asked to change before you are allowed to gear up.
Can I wear glasses or contact lenses while skydiving?
Yes. Goggles are provided at both dropzones, and over-the-glasses goggles are usually available if you mention it at check-in. Contact lenses are fine under sealed goggles and are usually the more comfortable option. Sunglasses are not worn during the jump; leave them with your bag.
What does the dropzone provide for a tandem skydive?
Both Pattaya dropzones provide the jumpsuit, the tandem harness, goggles and an altimeter, plus the ground briefing of about 20 minutes. You only need to bring yourself in sporty clothes with lace-up sneakers. Cash in Thai baht for the package is paid at the dropzone desk at check-in.
Is it cold at 13,000 feet over Pattaya?
It is noticeably cooler than on the ground, but the freefall lasts about 60 seconds and the canopy ride about two and a half minutes, so you are back in the tropical heat quickly. A thin long-sleeve top under the jumpsuit is enough for most people; a heavy jacket is unnecessary.
Can I wear shorts for skydiving in Thailand?
Yes, if they are fitted and reach at least mid-thigh, because the harness leg straps sit on the upper thigh and loose shorts ride up under them. Long leggings or tracksuit trousers are slightly more comfortable on landing, even in the hot season. Whatever you choose, the jumpsuit goes over the top.
Next step
Ready when you are
What to wear for skydiving in Thailand is simple: fitted sportswear, lace-up sneakers, hair tied back, glasses or contacts sorted, and nothing loose. The jumpsuit, harness, goggles and altimeter are waiting for you at the dropzone, and hotel pickup around Pattaya is arranged with the booking. Pick a package on the prices page, then send a booking request and pack your sneakers.
