How to Choose a Bungee Jumping Cord

Thrill-seekers worldwide have experienced the rush of bungee jumping. But allowing yourself to be suspended by an elastic rope, jumping from great heights and rebounding like a toy does have its risks. Jumpers depend greatly on their equipment to give them a safe ride. Here are some tips on choosing the right bungee jumping cord, the lifeline for a bungee jumper.

Things You'll Need

  • Bungee cord
  • Safety harness
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Instructions

    • 1

      Ask the bungee operator to show you sheathed cord, also called shock cord or military-spec cord. This cord resembles the bungees used for tie downs (except bigger). Sheathed cord has a rubber core and a cotton or nylon sheath covering.

    • 2

      Check out the all-rubber cord, developed specifically for bungee jumping. All-rubber cords are made of more that 1,000 strands of rubber tied together into a solid cord. All-rubber cords create a bigger rebound than shock cord.

    • 3

      Understand that the cord needs to be considerably shorter than the jumping-off height to allow for stretching during jumps. A typical shock cord stretches more than 2 times its resting length during a jump, and an all-rubber cord stretches 4 times its resting length! Rely on the bungee operator's expertise on this one--it's a mathematical calculation that is best not left to chance!

    • 4

      Know your exact weight before you attempt a jump. For sheathed cords, the operator could select anywhere from 3 to 6 5/8-inch diameter cords bundled together, depending on your weight. Make sure the bungee operator records your weight and the cord selected into a log, a sign that he is running his business by the book.

    • 5

      Ask the operator if she has a system for recording the number of jumps performed on each cord, and request to see it. Bungee cords will deteriorate and should be destroyed after a predetermined number of jumps, regardless of whether they are showing signs of wear. Ask the operator the max number of jumps for the cord you are using!