Ever dreamt of having your own aerial silks and a setup? Or maybe you are just getting started and want to learn more about what aerial fitness is in general. You are probably wondering how to hang aerial silks and what best practices are. You’ve come to the right place to learn all the necessary information to make an informed decision on what type of silks, aerial rigging point, and hardware to purchase.
Wish you can just rig from the park tree? Think again about the dynamic weight your body bears on the tree branch, the untellable signs of a decaying tree, and if your livelihood and well being are worth this risking it all.
Aerial sometimes gets a bad rap because of the inherent danger of it – but as long as you practice safe rigging you will be able to minimize a lot of that.
A disclaimer: I’m not a professional rigger – so always make sure to consult a structural engineer for building out any rigging structures or make sure that the rig you purchase is certified by a structural engineer and tested for.
Aerial Rigging Point
The biggest barrier to entry is definitely figuring out how to hang aerial silks and where to rig it from – whether its a rig, beam, or mount on the ceiling. This is called a rigging point.
Studios have a hard time closing in on locations that have high enough ceilings and are able to bear enough weight for aerialists. The weight is counted in kN – which stands for kilonewtons. Not only does the point on the ceiling or rig have to hold the dead weight of an aerialist, but it also has to hold live weight. This is the dynamic weight that comes from drops and natural swinging pressure from all sides.
When structural engineers assess the beam or point on the ceiling, they have to test for how much weight it can bear. A very trusted brand for aerial rigging point equipment is Vertical Art Dance.
For aerial rigs – all certified rigs are approved by a structural engineer – and it is super important to do your due diligence when purchasing a rig. I personally purchased my rig from Suspendulum. Another very well recognized and established brand is Ludwig. The main structural difference between the two is that the Suspendulum rig is a tetrahedron and the Ludwig rig is an A-Frame.
Rigging on Trees
There is a lot of scary information out there related to tree rigging and the possibilities of injury that comes from it. This is due to the nature of the tree, as only a trained arborist can truly examine and identify if the tree is strong enough to bear your dynamic weight.
There’s a lot that goes into examining for the health of a tree, like the species of tree, branch angles and thickness, and overall health of the tree. Also taking into account that the current condition of the tree is not forever permanent – as drought and rainy seasons come upon us the root system and strength will also be altered.
Trees are living organisms, so they have their own vascular system to transport water and nutrients up their trunks to their branches and leaves. When the dynamic weight of a person is burdened on this branch, the vascular tissue is constricted. Every time a rope rubs against the tree, it leaves raw openings and wounds for disease or pests to enter.
If you are seriously considering rigging from a tree, make sure you do your due diligence before attempting anything. Yes, a lot of people install tree swings so here is an article I read when I was researching into this.
Regardless, I personally would not feel comfortable doing a back dive double star drop from an Oak tree – as mighty and large as it may be.
Aerial Fabrics
There are two main types of fabrics, two-way stretch polyester lycra or nylon tricot. There is also a low and medium stretch. Personally, I like the low stretch because I find it more secure and less bouncy. But it’s really all up to your preference.
Many of the studios I’ve visited use low stretch nylon tricot. There are so many colors and choices – it’s amazing! I bought my silks from Aerial Essentials – I think they’re very informed and sell very high-quality aerial equipment!
Crucial Hardware to Hang Silks
Don’t worry, it’s not as complicated as it sounds. Just make sure that you purchase from a trusted source with tested quality. This is not just your average Amazon purchase that is usually made from China with a reduced quality. Continue reading to see some trusted sources within the aerial community.
If it seems too cheap to be true, it probably is. NOTHING is worth risking your neck and breaking your limbs. You have one life – veer on the safe side.
Hardware Details
For the standard aerial silks set up, the hardware you will need is an aerial swivel, two carabiners, and an aluminum Aerial-8.
When looking into hardware, always make sure to check the manufacturer and understand what the breaking point and load are. This will not be just a trip to your local hardware store.
Swivel (left)- The swivel is totally needed for the dramatic effects of spin for aerial silks, hammock, lyra, etc. Swivels are mounted on enclosed stainless steel bearings and the load rating is 8000+lbs. The swivel is a must purchase for a smooth and safe spin, as it can bear dynamic weight.
Aerial 8 (middle)- also known as an aerial 8, and it is the most important part of aerial rigging hardware. It is extremely strong and the shape of it creates a natural split between your fabrics. The shape also minimizes wear and tear of the fabric – giving your fabric longevity! This load rating stands at a whopping 10,000+lbs.
Carabiner (right) – The image above showcases the D shape carabiner with an automatic lock. This means that you have to twist the textured area to unlock, and it locks automatically. The opposite is the manual lock, which requires a manual screw lock. The industry standard is 5,000+lbs for the breaking point of a carabiner.
Aerial Essentials is one of the leaders in trusted brands for the circus community. I found this brand to be very reasonably priced and I love the variety of colors and stretches they offer. I personally have bought hardware and silks from here.
Other trusted brands are Fire Toys and Vertical Art Dance.
Crash Mat
A proper crash mat can end up costing hundreds, but a hospital visit with a broken limb is going to cost thousands. Not to mention the opportunity cost of you being out of commission for however long it takes to recover. The proper crash mat is also super important, aside from learning how to hang aerial silks with the proper hardware.
This is no joke and using an old mattress could suffice for a bit but the risk is JUST. NOT. WORTH. IT. The risk of practicing aerial without a thick crash mat is high in case you slip or accidentally don’t catch the silk when performing a trick. Obviously, even with a mat, there is an inherent risk but this does mitigate it because it reduces the impact on your joints and muscles if and when you fall.
Crash mats have manufacturing specifications and those mats have undergone tests to see the impact it could reduce. When pursuing your aerial practice, I recommend that you get a mat at least 8″ thick. 4″ is not really going to cut it if you fall from 15 feet in the air. I personally prefer it to be a little thicker at 12″ since I love practicing drops. The one that I have is from Rubber Flooring and the specifications are 4’ x 8’ x 12”. Another place that I originally looked into was We Sell Mats since they also sell on Amazon. I also got another quote from Mats Mats Mats. Eventually, I just made a decision to go with Rubber Flooring and it’s totally worth every penny!
Final Words
I hope this guide was able to help you with safety in aerial equipment and how to hang aerial silks! Or if you’re just here to learn more because it fascinates you, that’s wonderful too ☺️
Whatever you do, fly high and fly safe! As always, let me know if you have any questions!
-Katelyn Ewe
