What is the Weight Limit for Bungee Jumping?

People intending to bungee jump have several questions and one of their questions is just how scary the activity is. And the answer to this question depends on each individual. Some people are risk takers, daredevils who live for extreme sports. And for this set of people, bungee jumping won’t be that scary. But if you have a fear of heights and aren’t the adventure junkie type, the experience will be scary for you and that applies to only the first time.

Bungee jumping isn’t about being fearless. It’s about jumping in the face of fear and stretching the limits of fun for the singular purpose of having fun. Yes, there is a unique type of thrill and fun that you get only from bungee jumping. The adrenaline rush is almost addictive and you may find yourself jumping a couple of times after your initial jump.

Another question people ask about bungee jumping is about the weight limit. They want to know if they are too heavy or light to participate in the sport. And it’s a legitimate concern because jumpers’ weights matter in bungee jumping. In fact, when you go bungee jumping, your weight is taken. Some companies arrange jumps in decreasing order of weights.

In general, you need to weigh a minimum of 43 kg (95 pounds) to bungee jump. The average maximum weight limit is 118 kg (260 pounds). However, the exact minimum and maximum body weight may vary among operators. Most operators will still allow you to bungee jump if you exceed the maximum weight although you will need to pay a bit extra.

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Why Does Body Weight Matter in Bungee Jumping?

There are many principles of physics involved in bungee jumping, especially when it comes to the termination of free fall. However, I’m not going to bore you with that. A jumper’s weight is one of the key factors in the calculation of the length of rope to use during a jump. Heavier jumpers will fall faster than lighter jumpers and this necessitates the need to use less rope length.

So, by arranging jumps in decreasing order of weight, bungee companies can increase the length of the rope as jumps progress. Of course, not all bungee jumping companies do this and some simply calculate the length of rope to use for each jumper based on their body weight.

Bungee Weight Limits of Some American Operators

I wrote a list of bungee jumping companies in all the states in the US. You can find them in the bungee jumping section. The weight limits of these operators vary. Check below for some examples of the weight limits of American bungee operators.

Bridge to Nowhere, Los Angeles: from 36 kg (80 pounds) to a max weight of 120 kg (265 pounds)
Highway Bridge 21 Idaho: from 52 kg (115 pounds) to a max weight of 102 kg (225 pounds)
San Gabriel Canyon: from 36 kg (80 pounds) to a max weight of 120 kg (265 pounds)

How do You Get Back up After Bungee Jumping?

After finding the courage to jump, you free fall for a few seconds before the bungee cord breaks your fall. The cord, which is elastic, will stretch and then contract. It’s important that the bungee cord is elastic to make the force required to stop the jump easy on the body.

So, there will be multiple “stretching-and-contracting” cycles after which the jumper is carefully lowered onto a cushion on the ground. And this happens as a result of the jumpmasters increasing the length of the cord. If you are jumping over a river, the bungee operator will have a boat on the water to receive you.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, the jumper’s weight plays has a lot of influence on the planning and the execution of the jump, such as the cord’s length. Many operators actually charge more for more weight, for safety. Hopefully you now have a good ideas of what are common weight limits for bungee jumping across the US. Any more question? Let me know in the comment section below!