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.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Bungee cord
• Safety harness

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!

Tips & Warnings

• Examine the bungee cord you are using for signs of damage or wear. If you notice a problem with the cord, do not use it. Any questionable cord should be destroyed.