What Material Is A Wingsuit Made Of?

‍Anyone thinking about going wingsuit flying likely wants to know everything they can about the suit. Find out what it’s made of in this complete guide.

Wingsuit flying is without a doubt one of the most exciting things that you can do in your life. But before you get up there and take to the skies, it’s important to know as much as you can about the sport. You can find out all sorts of information about wingsuit flying elsewhere on the site, but for now, let’s figure out what wingsuits are actually made of.

Modern wingsuits are almost always made of nylon. More specifically, wingsuits are typically made of softer and stretchier nylon than other types of nylon. Striking the right balance between stretchiness and rigidity is vital for allowing the suit to generate lift while remaining intact.

A wingsuit is a piece of equipment worn by skydivers during a jump. It is made of nylon fabric and looks like a flying squirrel. Wingsuits are used to fly through the air and glide for long distances. They are also used to slow down your descent rate when you're landing. In this article, we will discuss what material wingsuits are made out of and why nylon is the best option. We will also talk about how durable they are and how long they last, and more.

At FlightNotch, we strive to offer our readers only the best, most accurate, and most helpful content we can when it comes to air sports. With this article, we looked at the manufacturing process of wingsuits and compared what we found to our own personal experience in order to really get into the details of what a wingsuit is made of. So let’s find out.

‍What is a Wingsuit?

I know that you're here to learn about the actual material that a wingsuit is made of, but before we get into that, let's first talk about what a wingsuit is. A wingsuit is a type of suit that wingsuit jumpers (or divers or flyers) wear during a jump. Unlike when you're skydiving, you won't just be wearing normal clothes when you're wingsuit jumping. A wingsuit is designed to help you fly through the air and glide for long distances.

Although the majority of the suit is made to fit tightly against your body, a wingsuit gives you the ability to glide through the air thanks to the "wings" that you can make it with. When you're flying with a wingsuit, you'll spread your arms and legs out to create a wing-like shape. The material of the suit will then fill with air, which gives you lift and helps you fly.

The areas of the suit that really help to generate this lift are between your arms/torso and between your legs. When you spread out, these parts of the suit are able to significantly increase your air resistance so you stop falling vertically as fast and you're able to actually start flying horizontally. These suits are often compared to the way that a flying squirrel travels through the air since they're designed to work in almost the exact same way.

Without a wingsuit, you'd fall almost nearly vertical just like if you were skydiving. Again, this is the biggest difference between skydiving and wingsuit flying, and it's what makes them entirely different sports from top to bottom. So now that you have a better idea of what a wingsuit is, let's talk about what they're made out of.

What is a Wingsuit Made of?

Just about all modern wingsuits are designed in roughly the same way and also made using the same general process; this includes the same material. In the case of wingsuits, the material of choice is almost always a form of nylon.

Nylon is a type of synthetic polymer that's made by combining various chemicals and fibers together. In the world of fabric, it's often used as an alternative to cotton thanks to its many benefits. When it comes to wingsuits, nylon is chosen for a few different reasons.

Why are Wingsuits Made out of Nylon?

The first reason that wingsuits are made of nylon has to do with its durability; nylon is a very strong and sturdy fabric, which is important when you're dealing with something like a wingsuit. The last thing you want is for your suit to rip or tear while you're flying through the air.

The second reason has to do with its weight; nylon is a very light material, which is important when you're dealing with something like a wingsuit. The last thing you want is for your suit to be too heavy and cause you to fall faster. Even more so, you don't want to feel like you're being weighed down when you're flying, since you want to be in control as much as possible throughout the entire jump. Every little thing that helps you feel more in control greatly increases the chances of an exciting, successful jump.

The third reason, and arguable the most important, is nylon's pliability in conjunction with its durability. When you're wingsuit flying and you spread your arms and legs, you're stretching the fabric of your wingsuit in order to generate enough lift to help you stay airborne. If the fabric was too stiff, it would tear easily; if it was too flexible, it wouldn't provide you with enough resistance to actually fly. Nylon strikes a perfect balance between these two qualities, which is why it's pretty much the ideal wingsuit material.

How Long Does a Wingsuit Last?

Assuming you don't crash into anything and rip your suit, a wingsuit can last for quite a while. In fact, most wingsuits are designed to last for around 200 jumps, give or take. Of course, this number will depend on how often you're using your suit and how well you take care of it.

In general, though, you can expect a wingsuit to last for around 200 jumps before it starts to show any real signs of wear and tear. And even then, most of the wear and tear will be cosmetic; the structural integrity of the suit won't be affected at all. So if you're looking for a long-lasting wingsuit, you can rest assured knowing that they're built to last.

What Kind of Helmet Should You Wear While Wingsuit Flying?

Now that we've gone on and on about the actual wingsuit itself, let's talk about the other important piece of gear that you'll need while wingsuit flying: a helmet. Just like with the actual suit, there are a few different materials that your helmet could be made out of. The most common material is Kevlar, which is a type of synthetic fiber that's known for being incredibly strong and durable.

In the end, having the right equipment is just as important as having the right skills while wingsuit flying. So make sure you have a high-quality helmet that's made out of a durable material like Kevlar. And of course, make sure your wingsuit is also made out of a durable material like nylon. With the right gear, you'll be one step closer to having an amazing, safe, and successful wingsuit flying experience.