The perfect clothes for aerial practice

Aerial is kind to the body and hard on the skin. The right clothes make the difference between a good class and a week of friction burns.

Cover the backs of the knees and the armpits

Hammock wraps and silk climbs run across these two places. Leggings that reach the ankle and a top with sleeves, or at least a fitted shirt that covers the armpit, are the minimum.

Fitted, not loose

Loose fabric catches in the hoop and bunches in a wrap. Choose stretch fabrics that stay close to the body. Cotton-lycra or nylon-spandex both work; avoid anything with a slippery finish for hoop.

No zips, no jewellery, no lotion

Metal snags fabric and scratches hoops. Rings and watches off, hair tied back, and no body lotion on the day: it makes you slide and stains the apparatus.

Grip

Bare feet or grip socks for hammock; bare feet for silks. Chalk is fine for hoop and silks if the studio allows it. Gloves only for rigging work.